66 THE ADDRESSES, LECTURES, ETC., OF 



testing the joints of insulated wire, which would be a subject 

 peculiarly suited for our society. The Institution of Civil 

 Engineers has, on the other hand, received, at certain intervals of 

 time (varying from two to three years) a general paper on the 

 progress of telegraph engineering ; but it is self-evident that 

 such an occasional paper must be quite inadequate to constitute a 

 record of the progress of a branch of engineering which gives 

 daily proof of its public importance, which is distinguished for its 

 rapid development, and which comprises within itself a wide 

 range of scientific inquiry. Nor would there be time, on such 

 rare occasions, to discuss questions of detail which are of special 

 interest to the telegraph engineer. 



We may, therefore, safely conclude that a Society of Telegraph 

 Engineers is necessary for the more rapid development of a new 

 and important branch of applied science ; I further maintain that 

 such an institution is desirable in order to afford telegraph 

 engineers frequent opportunities of meeting each other in friendly 

 intercourse, and of impressing them with the conviction that 

 their united action will be advantageous to the material interests 

 of all. 



The measure, of usefulness of the new society must depend, 

 however, in the first place, upon its constitution and upon the 

 amount of support which it is likely to receive, and in the second 

 place upon the well-directed and continued exertions of its mem- 

 bers, particularly of those members and associates who have 

 accepted posts of trust in the council, or as members of the pub- 

 lishing committee. As regards the constitution of the society, a 

 code of rules has been prepared by the committee appointed by the 

 preliminary meeting of the original members, which have been 

 placed in your hands. These rules do not differ materially from 

 those of other societies having similar objects in view. The 

 election of the President and members of council of the society 

 takes place annually according to certain rules which have been 

 framed with a view of combining efficiency of action with a 

 gradual renewal from year to year of the governing body. The 

 society is open to all persons above 23 years of age, who are inter- 

 ested in telegraphy without being necessarily telegraph engineers 

 by profession they may be physicists, engineers, administrators, 

 or operators in the telegraphic service. They have to be proposed 



