106 
Description of a 
the prior signal. The closure of the lower chamber im- 
plies a stop between each word or number. 
The thirteen chambers of the telegraph are numbered 
from one to thirteen. When number one is obscured, 
by raising the paddle or shutter from its rest, below the 
boundary of the semicircle, the letter a is implied ; num- 
ber two obscured, means 5; and so on till the completion 
of the first thirteen letters of the alphabet. The second 
shutter now comes into play, and the residuary letters 
are constructed by keeping the number 13 perma- 
nently closed^ and resuming the revolution of the first 
shutter. The following table demonstrates the meaning. 
A by sliuttin 
S 1 
0 shutting 1- 
-13 permanent 
B . . . 
2 
p . 
2 
Do. 
C . . . 
3 
q . 
3 
Do. 
D . . . 
4 
R . 
4 
Do. 
E . . . 
5 
S . 
5 
Do. 
F . . . 
6 
T . 
. 6 
Do. 
G . . . 
7 
U . 
. 7 
Do. 
H . . . 
8 
y . 
. 8 
Do. 
I . . . 
9 
w . 
. 9 
Do. 
K . . . 
10 
x . 
. 10 
Do. 
L . . . 
11 
Y . 
. 11 
Do. 
M . . . 
12 
Z . 
. 12 
Do. 
N . . . 
13 ! 
I have said that one paddle might suffice by some pro- 
per contrivance ; I shall merely hint that the intention of 
the second paddle; which is here to obscure number thir- 
teen; according to the agreement of the parties, may be sup- 
plied by a flag hoisted to the right or left, or by shutting 
a window in the chamber above, or in various other ways, 
which ingenuity might contrive, so that A and O, B and P, 
C and Q, &c. should be constituted by the same signal of 
closing number one, two, or three, &c. with some slight 
addition or subtraction in the latter case. 
