208 ^r. G. Marconi [June 13, 



at Poldhu for the execution of these plans and for creating the elec- 

 tric waves of the frequency which I desired to use were made by 

 Er. J. A. Fleming, F.K.S., who also devised many of the details of 

 the appliances for producing and controlling the electric oscillations. 

 These, together with devices introduced by me, and my special system 

 of syntonisation of inductive circuits, have provided an electric wave- 

 generating plant more powerful than any hitherto constructed. 

 Mr. R. !N. Yyvyan and Mr. W. S. Entwistle have also greatly assisted 

 me in the experiments carried out with the very high tension 

 electrical apparatus employed. 



The first experiments were carried out in Newfoundland last 

 December, and every assistance and encouragement was given me by 

 the Newfoundland Government. As it was impossible at that time of 

 the year to set up a permanent installation with poles, I carried out 

 experiments with receivers joined to a vertical wire about 400 ft. long, 

 elevated by a kite. This gave a very groat deal of trouble, as in con- 

 sequence of the variations of the wind constant variations in the 

 electrical capacity of the wire were caused. IVly assistants in Cornwall 

 had received instructions to send a succession of " S's," followed by a 

 short message at a certain pre-arranged speed, every ten minutes, 

 alternating with five minutes' rest during certain hours every day. 

 Owing to the constant variations in the capacity of the aerial wire it 

 was soon found out that an ordinary syntonic receiver was not suit- 

 able, although a number of doubtful signals were at one time recorded. 

 I, therefore, tried various microphonic self-restoring coherers placed 

 in the secondary circuit of a transformer, the signals being read on a 

 telephone. With several of these coherers, signals were distinctly 

 and accurately received, and only at the pre-arranged times, in many 

 cases a succession of" S's," being heard distinctly although, probably in 

 consequence of the weakness of the signals and the unreliability of 

 the detector, no actual message could be deciphered. The coherers 

 which gave the signals were one containing loose carbon filings, 

 another, designed by myself, containing a mixture of carbon dust and 

 cobalt filings, and thirdly, the " Italian Navy Coherer," containing 

 a globule of mercury between two plugs. For the good results 

 obtained I was very much indebted to two of my assistants, Mr. G. S. 

 Kemp and Mr, P. "W. Paget, who gave me very efficient aid during 

 the tests, which the extremely severe weather prevailing in December 

 in Newfoundland made exceedingly difficult to carry out. 



The result of these tests was sufficient to convince myself and my 

 assistants that, with permanent stations at both sides of the Atlantic, 

 and by the employment of a little more power, messages could be 

 sent across the ocean with the same facility as across much shorter 

 distances. The experiments could not be continued or extended in 

 consequence of the action which the cable company, which claims 

 all telegraphic rights in Newfoundland, saw fit to take at the time. 

 Having received a most generous invitation from the Government of the 

 Dominion of Canada to continue my operations in the Dominion, it 

 was thought undesirable to continue the experiments in Newfound- 



