165 
Joseph Glanvill, in his Scepsis Scientifica (1665), dis- 
cusses the objections of Sir Thomas Browne, and concludes 
that there are some hints in natural operation that give 
us probability that it is feasible.” How can we read with- 
out wonder these words written by Glanvill more than 200 
years ago. Though this pretty contrivance possibly may 
not yet answer the expectation of inquisitive experiment, 
yet ’tis no despicable item that by some other such way of 
magnetick efficiency it may hereafter with success be at- 
tempted, when magical history shall be enlarged by riper 
inspections; and ’tis not unlikely but that present disco- 
veries might be improved to the performance.” It is evident 
that Glanvill treats the matter quite seriously as a scientific 
possibility. The Marquis of Worcester probably refers to 
the magnetic telegraph when he speaks of “ intelligence at 
a distance communicative, and not limited to distance, nor 
by it the time prolonged.” (Dirck’s Life of Worcester, 
p. 857.) 
I tried to trace these notions to the first inventor, but, as 
might be expected, without much success. Strada attributed 
the invention to the celebrated Cardinal Bembo, the secre- 
tary of Leo X., but as Bembo (who died 1547) was a historian 
and literary character, it is hardly likely that he would 
originate a scientific conception of the sort. The earliest 
books in which I have found allusions to a magnetic tele- 
graph is the Natural Magic of Baptista Porta, published in 
1589. In the seventh book he describes the “wonders of 
the magnet,” saying in the preface, “ I do not fear that with 
a long absent friend, even though he be confined by prison 
walls, we can communicate what we wish by means of two 
compass needles circumscribed with an alphabet.” In the 
eighteenth chapter of the same book, he describes the experi- 
ment of putting a magnet under a table and moving thereby 
a needle above the table. This experiment, as Porta remarks 
was known to St. Augustine, and an exact description will 
