.SY/i' \\'n.l.IA.\f SIEMENS, F.R.S. 37 



space has prevented me from describing in the paper. The 

 pMpfr is, I am aware, deficient in many respects ; but I shall be 

 satisfied if I have succeeded in showing, by what has been done, 

 what greater results may yet with certainty be accomplished, and 

 if, by inviting discussion, I have contributed to hasten the period 

 when the electric telegraph will no longer be the wonder of the 

 a-v, hut will become the simple and ever-ready agent to extend the 

 range of human intelligence and power upon the earth, fettered 

 no longer by the limits imposed by distance. ' 



In conclusion, Mr. Siemens explained the numerous instruments 

 and diagrams before the meeting, amongst which were the early 

 needle telegraphs, by Cooke & Wheatstone ; Professor Wheatstone's 

 dial instrument, and early magneto-electric arrangements ; Bain's 

 chemical telegraph, and Henley's double needle telegraph ; the in- 

 struments in actual use by the Electric and British Telegraph 

 Companies ; the arrangement of instruments used in working the 

 Dutch cables, consisting, on the English side, of Mr. Varley's 

 arrangements, and on the Dutch side of Siemens and Halske's 

 recording instruments ; the recording instruments worked by in- 

 duced currents (produced by a Ruhmkorff coil) used on the 

 Mediterranean cables ; Siemens and Halske's new step-by-step 

 or dial instruments, and the recording instruments by the same 

 firm which were used upon the East India lines and elsewhere ; 

 besides a variety of rotary apparatus, alarums, etc. 



DISCUSSION. 



The CJuiirman (W. R. Grove, Esq., Q.C., F.R.S.), in inviting 

 discussion, said that perhaps it would be as well that speakers 

 should apply themselves more to general topics, than to the 

 mechanical details of the instruments before them. In looking 

 at the array of apparatus on the table, it was wonderful to think 

 that the whole of these inventions had resulted from the scientific 

 researches of the last half century, which showed how rapid had 

 been the progress of electric science. He thought that important 

 points for discussion were, the best means of insulation, and the 

 best form of battery power. It would be interesting to hear ob- 

 servations upon these two subjects. At present it did wot appear 



