886 
Communication by Signals . 
found useful to naval captains lodging on shore, who 
may thus communicate any orders with ease and ac- 
curacy to the commanding officers of their ships at an- 
chor. Passengers on hoard 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 a moment’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, &c. 
James Spratt. 
Teignmouth Signal-Post,, 
Dec. 26th, 1808. 
The following Certificates were received from Lieut. 
Glanville, 11. N. ; Lieut. Tayler, It. N. ; Mrs. Spratt, 
of Burlington -House ; and Miss Taylers, daughters of 
the mayor of Devizes. 
I do lipreby certify, that being at Hyde in the Isle of 
Wight in the summer of the year 1806, 1 frequently con- 
versed with Lieut. Spratt, by means of the homograph in- 
vented by him ; and previous to the battle of Trafalgar, 
Lieut. Spratt conversed in this way with many officers 
at Gibraltar. I also certify, that I have heard from offi- 
cers of the Brest, Cadiz, and Mediterranean fleets, that 
Lieut. Spratt was the inventor, and the first person who 
made use of such invention. Given under my hand this 
10th day of Jan. 1809. 
J. N. Tayler, 
Lieut, of his majesty’s ship Spencer, 
We the undersigned do hereby certify, that being at 
Hyde in the Isle of Wight in the summer of the year 
