304 Mr. W. H. Preece on Wieatstone. [Feb. 13, 



telegraphic apparatus (thanks to Wheatstone) is at the head of that 

 of the world, and my own impression is that the time is not far 

 distant when even America will take advantage of the inventions we 

 are now using. 



On the table before you are specimens of the telegraphic achieve- 

 ments of Wheatstone which are worthy the attention of those who are 

 interested in the subject. 



One of the chief characteristics of Wheatstone was his extreme 

 devotion to science. I doubt whether anyone ever gave himself up 

 so completely to science, in every shape or form. He was not a 

 philosopher, nor was he a deep investigator ; but he was essentially 

 an experimenter, and designer of delicate apparatus. The chief 

 merits of his apparatus were their wonderful originality, their refined 

 beauty, their marvellous fecundity, and their eminent adaptability 

 for the purposes for which they were designed. I told you he was no 

 lecturer, nor was he a prolific writer ; but he was an unrivalled con- 

 versationist, and those who had the pleasure of his conversation could 

 never forget the lucidity with which he explained his apparatus. His 

 bibliographical knowledge was almost incredible. He seemed to 

 know every book that was written and every fact recorded, and any- 

 one in doubt had only to go to Wheatstone to get what he wanted. 

 His power of deciphering puzzles was marvellous — it was instinct. 

 A secret despatch of Charles I., that puzzled everybody since the 

 days of that monarch, was placed into Wheatstone's hands, and was 

 almost instantly explained. His mind, as I told you, was eminently 

 practical. His powers over the forces of Nature are shown by his 

 telegraphic achievements in the beauty of the apparatus before you. 

 The elegance of the design of everything Wheatstone accomplished 

 must always maintain him in the very first rank of the wonderful 

 geniuses of this wonderful century. 



[W. H. P.] 



