DISCOUESE OF W. B. TAYLOR: NOTES. 385 



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

 be aiForded, 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 few years, or since the 

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

 to practice were necessarily unsuccessful. The mere suggestion 

 however of a scheme of this kind, is a matter for which little 

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

 the mind of almost any person familiar with the phenomena of 

 electricity : but 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 grounds of a just claim to scientific reputation as well 

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

 fessor Wheatstone of London, and Dr. Steinheil of Germany, pro- 

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

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

 permit; and unless some essential improvements 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 the most encouraging 

 communication Professor Morse received during the dark ages 

 between 1839 and 1843."* 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. B. Morse, was reported 

 in the House of Representatives by the Hon. C. G. 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 

 session. 



Under the appropriation thus secured, a line of four wires was 

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

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

 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 Life of Morse, chap. x. p. 423. 

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