DISCOURSE OF W. B. TAYLOR: — NOTES. 385 



for this application, and I have not the least doubt, if proper means 

 be afforded, of the perfect success of the invention. The idea of 

 transmitting intelligence to a distance by means of electrical action 

 has been suggested by various persons, from the time of Franklin 

 to the present; but until within the last lew years, or since the 

 principal discoveries in electro-magnetism, all attempt- to reduce it 

 to practice were necessarily unsuccessful. The mere suggestion 

 however of a scheme of tin- kind, i- a matter for which little 

 credit can lie claimed, since it is one which would naturally arise in 

 the mind of almost any person familiar with the phenomena of 

 electricity: hut the bringing it forward at the proper moment when 

 the developments of science are able to furnish the means of certain 

 success, and the devising a plan for carrying it into practical oper- 

 ation, are the ground- of a just claim to scientific reputation as well 

 as to public patronage. About the same time with yourself, Pro- 

 fessor 'Wheat-tone of Loudon, and Dr. Steinheil of Germany, pro- 

 posed plans of the electro-magnetic telegraph; hut these differ as 

 much from yours as the nature of the common principle would well 

 permit; and unless some essential improvement-; have lately been 

 made in these European plans, I should prefer the one invented by 

 yourself. 



"With my best wishes for your success, I remain with much 

 esteem, 



" Yours, truly, 



"Joseph Henry." 



"This" says Morse's biographer, "was tin/ most encouraging 

 communication Profes-or Morse revived during the dark ages 

 between 1839 and 18 13." And appended to his memorial, it was 

 undoubtedly influential in enlisting a more favorable attention to 

 the unfamiliar project of an electro-magnetic telegraph. In Decem- 

 ber of the same year a bill appropriating thirty thousand dollars 

 for testing the system invented by S. F. I!. .Morse, was reported 

 in the House of Representatives by the Hon. C. < >. Ferris of 

 New York : passing that body February 23rd, and the Senate 

 about a week later — March 3d, 1843, on the eve of the close of its 

 ---ion. 



Under the appropriation thus secured, a line of four wire- was 

 extended from Washington to Baltimore, a distance of 40 miles; 

 and on the 24th of May, 1844, the first message was satisfactorilv 

 transmitted between the two cities. The rapid success of the tele- 

 graph soon stimulated competition; and before many years elapsed, 

 a series of resisting litigations was the natural consequence. 



♦Prime's Li/i of Morse, chap. x. p. 423. 



