4i8 SECTION MECHANICS. 



graphy. We have here the dream of Sommering, of Schilling ; we 

 have the genius of Wheatstone and of Steinheil. On the other hand, 

 Ave have the practical enterprise of Cooke, of Morse, and of Siemens. 

 We have again the financial foresight of men who are little known 

 Ricardo, Bidder, Weber, of the great railway companies of this 

 country, of the Government, and of the Governments of Europe all 

 of whom have lent their assistance in establishing telegraphy on its 

 present great basis. Take again one of the greatest branches of tele- 

 graphy submarine telegraphy. See how our coasts are joined to the 

 Continent, how our country is joined to all parts of the world, enabling 

 us to waft a sigh from Indus to the Pole, or put a girdle round the 

 earth in far less time than forty minutes ! Here we have a specimen 

 of the submarine cable which connected our shores with France and 

 Holland. The great genius Wheatstone, as early as the year 1839, I 

 think, formed the idea of a cable connecting England with France. 

 The genius of Faraday and the skill of Siemens succeeded in making 

 submarine cables practicable ; but it was the foresight of Crampton, 

 of Carmichael, and others who succeeded in rendering this project 

 successful ; so that we see in all branches of telegraphy the philo- 

 sopher, the engineer, and the commercial man must take their fair 

 share of credit. 



Time will not allow me to pursue this matter further. There 

 are many points I have omitted. I have been unable to say 

 anything to you of relays and translators which enable us to 

 speak to distant places ; for instance, every day we hold incessant 

 communication with India by means of translators. We have that 

 beautiful system of time apparatus downstairs which transmits time 

 to all parts of the United Kingdom at one o'clock every day, 

 and we have various forms of apparatus used for signalling upon 

 our railways ; and before I conclude, I will simply ask this question, 

 which probably has suggested itself to many minds : If the past 

 shows so much indication of progress, is that progress still in force ? 

 Has perfection been reached ? I am quite sure it has not. We are 

 still in the infancy of telegraphy. Scarcely a day passes by without 

 some improvement. Some defect shows itself requiring a remedy. 

 Some improvement is suggested increasing speed, and the condition of 

 our lines, the condition of our apparatus, and the various processes by 



