1858,] Electric Telegraph in relation to Science, 657 



part of that application, in the present case. Thoughts of an elec- 

 tric telegraph came over the minds of those who had been instructed 

 in the nature of electricity as soon as the conduction of that power 

 with extreme swiftness through metals was known, and grew as *the 

 knowledge of that branch of science increased. The thought, as 

 realized at the present day, includes a wonderful amount of study 

 and development. As the end in view presented itself more and 

 more distinctly, points at first apparently of no consequence to the 

 knowledge of the science generally, rose into an importance, which 

 obtained for them the most careful culture and examination, and 

 the almost exclusive exercise of minds whose powers of judgment 

 and reasoning had been raised first by general education, and who, 

 in addition, had acquired the special kind of education which the 

 science in its previous state could give. Numerous and important 

 as the points are, which have been already recognised, others are 

 continually coming into sight as the great development proceeds, 

 and with a rapidity such as to make us believe that much as there 

 is known to us, the unknown far exceeds it ; and that extensive as is 

 the teaching of method, facts, and law, which can be established at 

 present, an education looking for far greater results should be 

 favoured and directed. 



The results already obtained are so large, as even in money 

 value to be of very great importance; — as regards their higher 

 influence upon the human mind, especially when that is con- 

 sidered in respect of cultivation, I trust they are, and ever will be, 

 far greater. No intention exists here of comparing one telegraph 

 with another, or of assigning their respective dates, merits, or spe- 

 cial uses. Those of Mr. Wheatstone are selected for the visible 

 illustration of a brief argument in favour of a large public recog- 

 nition of scientific education, because he is a man both of science 

 and practice, and was one of the very earliest in the field, and 

 because certain large steps in the course of his telegraphic life will 

 tell upon the general argument. Without referring to what he had 

 done previously, it may be observed that in 1840 he took out 

 patents for electric telegraphs, which included, amongst other things, 

 the use of the electricity from magnets at the communicator, — 

 the dial face, — the step-by-step motion, — and the electro-magnet at 

 the indicator. At the present time, 1858, he has taken out patents 

 for instruments containing all these points ; but these instruments are 

 so altered and varied in character above and beyond the former, that 

 an untaught person could not recognise them. The changes may be 

 considered as the result of education upon the one mind which has 

 been concerned with them, and are to me strong illustrations of the 

 effects which general scientific education may be expected to 

 produce.* 



• Tlie former and the present apparatus were set to work in illustration of 

 the points as they were noticed. 



Vol. II. 2 q 



