328 COMMUNICATION BY SIGNALS. 



SIR, 



Date of the I ACKNOWLEDGE the receipt of your letter respecting my 



infentiun. , , ,,, ,,., t, 



homograph, and bog leave to express the hjgh sense 1 enter- 

 tain of its having been noticed by so distinguished an insti- 

 tution as that of the Society of Arts, &c. I am positively 

 the first inventor of it, and I put it in exceution at the com- 

 mencement of this war, on board his Majesty's ship Defiance, 

 commanded by P. C. Durham, who did me the honour to 

 express his approbation of it, and promised to bring it to the 

 notice of his Royal Highness the Duke of York ; buthaving 

 the honour of getting a fractured leg in the battle of Trafal- 

 gar, I was prevented from getting attention to ray homo- 

 graph. 

 Visible at the I have frequently conversed in this manner with my mess- 

 distance of 4 mates at Spithead, from the green ramparts at Portsmouth, 

 and froYn Plymouth Sound to the Hoe, which is still a 

 greater distance. The conversation may be carried on at 

 the distance of four miles by a common telescope. 

 Its various uses. ^^^ various uses to which the homograph may be applied 

 at any moment, without expense, will not fail to attract the 

 notice of persons of discernment. In active military ser- 

 vice it will be found very important. It will be found use- 

 ful to naval captains lodging on shore, who may thus com- 

 municate any orders with ease and accuracy to the com- 

 manding officers of their ships at anchor. Passengers on 

 board ships in fleets may keep up a constant and friendly 

 intercourse, to console themselves for the tediousness of a 

 long voyage; and the country gentleman may, at amoment's 

 warning, summon his neighbours to the sports of the field, 

 or to the hospitable board. 



If my homograph should meet with the approbation of 

 "the Society of Arts &c., and tend to the good of the com- 

 munity at large, I shall be highly gratified. 

 I have the honour to be, 



With respect and esteem. 

 Sir, 

 Your humble servant, 

 Teignmoufh Sfgmd-Post, JAMES SPRATT. 



Dec. 26lh, 1808. 



The 



