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fixteen miles afunder. My intention at that time was to con- 

 trive not only a fwift but an unfufpecfled mode of intelligence : 

 By means of common windmills this might have been efFedled, 

 before an account of the French Telegraph was made public *. 



My machinery confifls of four triangular pointers or hands, 

 each of which points like the hands of a clock to different 

 fituations in the circles which they defcribe. 



It is eafy to diflinguilh whether a hand moving vertically 

 points perpendicularly downwards or upwards, horizontally to 

 the right or left, or to any of the four intermediate fituations. 



The 



* Since this paper was written, I received a letter from Mr. Perrot, which has 

 been feen by the Prefident, containing the following paflage : 



♦' I perfeftly recolIe£l: having feveral converfations with you in 1767, on the 

 " fubjeft of a fpeedy and fecret conveyance of intelligence ; I recolle£l our going up 

 " the hills to fee how far, and how diftinftly, the arms (and the pofition of them) 

 '< of Nettlebed windmill were to be difcovered with eafe. As to the experiments 

 " from High-gate to London by means of lamps, I was not prefent at the time, 

 " but I remember your mentioning the circumftance to me, I believe in the fame 

 ■" year. All thefe particulars were brought very ftrongly to my memory when the 

 " French a few years ago conveyed intelligence by fignals ; and I then thought and 

 <' declared, that the merit of the invention undoubtedly belonged to you. — I am very 

 " glad that I have it in my power to fend you this confirmation, bccaufe I imagine 

 " there is no other perfon now living who can witnefs your obfervations in Berk- 

 « (hire. 



