267 



this discovery has been claimed by others, he communicated to the 

 Institute of France, published documents of a date proving his right 

 to it, and invited all who might have preceded him by similar publica- 

 tions, to establish their right to the priority. No response having 

 been made, he considers himself entitled to the credit of the discovery, 

 and sends to the Society a copy of his communication to Dr. GintI, 

 in which he invited all the claimants to reply. 



He prays the Society to call the attention of those in this country, 

 who may have a knowledge of the subject, to his " Telegraph of 

 double correspondence by direct successive currents of simultaneous 

 derivation," so that experiments with regard to it may be made upon 

 the great telegraphic line which is to connect America with Europe. 

 He expresses his belief, that on a single internal conducting wire, a 

 simultaneous correspondence of America with Europe, and of Europe 

 with America, may be successfully accomplished ; — and that, by 

 multiplying the apparatus, opposite despatches from the two continents 

 may be distinctly transmitted simultaneously. 



The pamphlet containing a description of his telegraph is in the li- 

 brary of the Society, and if drawings to illustrate it should be desired, 

 he offers to send them. 



He concludes by referring to the pleasure it w^ould give him to be 

 aided in this matter by the countrymen of Franklin, who was the 

 first to extend a line connecting the heavens with the earth. 



This letter of Prof. Zantedeschi gave rise to some discussion 

 on the subject of the passage of electric currents, in which Mr. 

 Justice, Judge Kane, and Dr. F. Bache, participated. 



Stated Meeting, September 18. 



Present, thirteen members. 



Prof. Frazer, Vice-President, in the Chair. 



Letters were read : — 



From the Massachusetts Historical Society, dated Boston, 

 June 8, 1857, acknowledging the receipt of Vol. XI. Part 1, 

 of the Transactions of this Society: and — 



From G. B. Airy, Astronomer Royal, dated Royal Obser- 



