On Telegraphic Communication. 43 



number than any other writer), Milton about 8,000; while the 

 Old Testament contains but 5,642 words. " 



In the Times of the 12th November, 1866, the usual tele- 

 gram column furnishes the following estimate of the number 

 of letters per word : — 



tYords of ] 



letter 



1 



giving* 1 



letter 



}) 







letters 



37 



}) 



74 letters 



>) 



3 



33 



48 



>> 



144 



}> 



>> 



4 



93 



30 



}) 



120 



33 



)) 



5 



S3 



9* 



i) 



45 



33 



>> 



6 



3} 



23 



>) 



138 



33 



)> 



7 



33 



14 



)) 



98 



33 



» 



8 



33 



17 



)) 



136 



3 3 



33 



9 



or more 



21 



„ say 



•210 



33 



Total 200 words containing 966 letters 



Average 4*8 



* The paucity of five lettered words is not unworthy of note. It possibly is 

 due to the step from monosyllabic to bisyllabic utterance. 



