ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHY. 419 



which messages are sent and messages are prepared are daily receiving 

 improvement and accession ; and you may depend upon it that if the 

 direction of our telegraphists is maintained as it is at the present 

 moment, if it is succoured by such exhibitions as this, we may expect 

 in a very short time not only to produce greater speed in telegraphy, 

 but what the public want a great deal more we shall be able to 

 introduce cheaper telegraphy. 



The PRESIDENT : Ladies and gentlemen In rising to propose a 

 vote of thanks to Mr. Preece for his very lucid and satisfactory ex- 

 planation of the progress of telegraphy, I can but bear testimony to 

 the great difficulty with which the subject is surrounded. We have 

 seen that telegraphy dates from a comparatively short time ago, but 

 that its progress has been very rapid, involving researches in science 

 as well as the practical work of the engineer to an extent which is 

 perhaps unrivalled by the development of any other invention. The 



Note as to the origin of Submarine Telegraphy. 



Submarine telegraphy in 1851 was deemed by most engineers and the public to be 

 visionary, if not impracticable. 



Its extension over the whole world since its first practical introduction in 1851 has been 

 immense, and the advantages to the world at large incalculable. It was established in the 

 following manner : 



Various propositions were from time to time put forth to effect the object, but few people 

 were prepared to take the risk until a Company was formed having most influential men on 

 the direction, who advertised in the usual manner for subscriptions. Such, however, was the 

 want of confidence felt in the scheme, that only about two per cent, of the necessary capital 

 was subscribed, and this money was consequently returned to the applicants. Notwith- 

 standing this apathy of the public, some of the directors and their friends did not cease to 

 entertain a full conviction of its possibility ; and they subsequently consulted Mr. T. R. 

 Crampton, C.E., on the subject, and offered to assist towards providing the funds if he felt 

 sufficiently confident of ultimate success. Mr. Crampton undertook the entire charge and 

 responsibility of the form, construction, and laying of the cable ; also took upon himself 

 rather more than one-half the pecuniary risk, the other half of the money being found by 

 Lord de Mauley, Sir James Carmichael, Bart., Messrs. Davies, Son, and Campbell (the 

 Solicitors of the Company), t'ie Hon. Frederick W. Cadogan, and Mr. Haddow. The 

 calle.was in the same year (1851) successfully laid by Mr. Crampton between Dover and 

 Calais. 



The great risk the parties ran can be appreciated from the fact that three successive 

 attempts to establish submarine cables between England and Ireland by other paities 

 occurred soon afterwards, and all failed, 



The above-named gentlemen were also instrumental in laying the next successful cable 

 between Dover and Ostend, which was constructed in a similar manner to the original one. 



No great improvement has yet been effected in the form and mode of construction of heavy 

 cables, thus proving satisfactorily that the first type of submarine cable laid upwards of 

 twenty- five years ago is practically right in principle. 



