t MS, ] 



convidion, or to explain what he has demonftrated. But the 

 fads which he has with fo much accuracy and elegance arranged 

 in fyftematic order have been remarked in detail by others in 

 the common bufinefs of life, for on thefe common obfervations 

 compared and arranged all fyfteais that are juft muft be 

 founded. 



♦ 



Every perfon muft have obferved the effcd which quick and 

 eafy communication between the parts of a country has upon 

 its profperity. With the faculty of gratifying our tafte for the 

 conveniencics of life the tafte itfelf encrcafes, and whatever fa- 

 cilitates the means of giving orders encreafes the produdions of 

 induftry. 



By this freedom of intercourfe, as both expenfc and time are 

 faved, the conveniencies, comforts and innocent luxuries of life 

 are brought within the limits and reach of our prudence. Tele- 

 graphy we may flatter ourfelves will extend thefe limits, and 

 " will bring our wiflies nearer to our view*." 



There is no reafon to doubt that fuch a communication will 

 cxifl; between the different parts of the European continent and 



* P 2 Great 



* Puck promifes Oberon to put a girdle round the earth in forty minutes. It 

 is not phyfically impoffible (I do not fpeak of probability) to fend a meflage from th§ 

 extremity of Siberia to Cape Horn and to receive an anfwer in twenty minutes.— 

 a time and fpace nearly equal to the fi£lion of Shakefpeare 



