302 HENEY AND THE TELEGRAPH. 



seven hundred feet, more tlian half a mile of a reduced size of wke. The 

 register still recorded accurately. Arrangements have been made for 

 constructing new and accurate machinery. Professor Gale, of the IS'ew 

 York City University, is engaged with Professor Morse in making some 

 interesting experiments connected with this invention, and to test the 

 effect of length of wire on the magnetizing influence of voltaic elec- 

 tricity." * 



Mr. Vail has given the following account of his connection with the 

 enterprise : " On the 2d of September, 1837, the author with several 

 others witnessed the first exhibition of this electric telegraph, and soon 

 after became a partner with the inventor. Immediate steps were taken 

 for constructing an instrument for the purpose of exhibiting its powers 

 before the members of Congress. This was done at the Speedwell Iron 

 Works, Morristown, IS". J. and exhibited in operation with a circuit of 

 two miles. A few days after, it was again exhibited at the University of 

 the City of New York, for several days, to a large number of invited 

 ladies and gentlemen." t 



About a month after this " successful experiment," (on the Gth of Octo- 

 ber, 1837,) Professor Morse filed in the United States Patent Office a 

 "caveat," signed October 3, stating in the petition (dated five days 

 earlier) " that the machinery for a full practical display of his new inven- 

 tion is not yet completed, and he therefore prays protection of his right 

 till he shall have matured the machinery." The specification declares : 

 " I have invented a new method of transmitting and recording intelli- 

 gence by means of electro -magnetism : . . . for the purpose afore- 

 said, I have invented the following apparatus, namely : First, a system 

 of signs by which numbers, and consequently words and sentences, 

 are signified ; second, a set of type adapted to regulate and communi- 

 cate the signs, with cases for convenient keeping of the type, and rules 

 in which to set up the type ; third, an apparatus called a port-rule, for 

 regulating the movement of the type-rules, which rules by means of the 

 type in their turn regulate the times and intervals of the passage of 

 electricity; fourth, a register which records the signs permanently; fifth, 

 a dictionary or vocabulary of words numbered and adapted to this sys- 

 tem of telegraph ; sixth, modes of laying the conductors to preserve 

 them from injury." These several parts are then more particulary de- 

 scribed. "The signs are the representatives of numerals." The register 

 comprises an electro-magnet actuating by its armature a lever or pen- 

 dulum carrying a pencil or fountain pen, or small printing wheel, for 

 marking on a strip or sheet of paper as already described. The modes 

 of laying the conductors are bj'- insulating the wires with silk or cotton 

 wrapping, and coating with caoutchouc or other non-conductor, and also 

 by inclosing them in iron, lead, or wooden tubes. The document con- 

 cludes : " What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by letters 



* Silliman's Am. Jour. Sci. October, 1837, vol, xxxiii, p. 187. 

 tA. Vail's Electro-Magnetic Telegraj)h, 8vo. 1845, p. 154. 



