314 v Description of an improved Tckgrap'\ 



use, and therefore liable to many errors. That which I now 

 submit to your consideration, seems to me to have removed 

 every objection of the kind ; it is simple, easy to compre- 

 hend, and extensive in its means its combinations, which 

 by simple numeration may be carried to 40,000, might with 

 ease be extended to almost infinite numbers; bat the present 

 seems sufficient to answer every purpose. All the words in 

 Entick's Dictionary amount to about 25,000; every one of 

 which may thus be numbered. With how much more di- 

 spatch would a letter be communicated by signals which 

 express words, than by signals which express only letters ! 

 Words may be forwarded as fast as they can be looked for 

 in a dictionary ; and even whilst only an equal number of 

 letters could have been communicated by the present mode. 

 Another advantage resulting; from the use of words in tele- 

 graphic correspondence is, that the words of the same 

 meaning in the several languages having the same number, 

 correspondence may be carried on from one language into 

 another, which though not grammatically correct, yet 

 would be sufficiently intelligible. 



Proper names must be spelt, which may easily be done, 

 every letter having a corresponding number. 



Though the use of telegraphs has to this time been con- 

 fined to military purposes, yet a machine of this kind is 

 well adapted to accelerate commercial communication from 

 one end of the kingdom to the other. The arrival, the de- 

 parture of vessels, the various transactions of commerce, 

 might be speedily announced, to the very great advantage 

 of trade. By this method inaccessible places might com- 

 municate their wants, and correspondents, though at a di- 

 stance of five or six miles, might erect them for a trifling 

 expense. I made the experiment with one of eight feet by 

 ten, and, with the use of a telescope, I took down every 

 number from a distance of a mile and a half. 

 I remain, sir, 



Your most obedient and humble servant, 



Charles Le Harqx\ 



London, Jan. 13, 1808. 



To C. Taylor, M.D. Sec, 



Ti.ejerev.ce 



