22 Scientific Progress of the Past Year, [January, 
Court of Appeal, regarding questions of difference in tele- 
graphic matters arising between the contracting countries. 
The second Conference took place at Vienna in 1869, in 
which several countries, including Turkey, Persia, and 
British India, took part for the first time. On this occasion 
it was resolved that the leading telegraph companies should 
be admitted to the discussions, but should not be allowed to 
vote ; the power of voting being confined to the Governments, 
and each country having one vote only, irrespective of its 
size and importance. 
The third Conference was held at Rome in December, 
1871, when the British Government (Post Office) was for the 
first time represented, and also the Indo-European and 
Cable Companies, which latter are bound by the resolutions 
of the Conference only in matters of international adminis- 
tration, and of tariff in cases where lines join two countries 
belonging to the Union. 
The fourth Conference met at St. Petersburg in 1876, and 
the fifth at London in 1879. At the latter meeting difficult 
questions of tariff arose, which protracted the sittings over 
nearly two months. At previous Conferences it had already 
been decided to treat each country as a unit, its particular 
charge being the same, whether a message had only to cross 
the frontier or had to pass over long distances into the 
interior. At the London Conference it was proposed by 
Germany to adopt a uniform rate per international message 
for the whole of Europe, analogous to the uniform postal 
rate for letters, while France went further and urged the 
adoption of a universal rate per word. Neither of these 
measures, however, was adopted, but a compromise was 
effected : and after the 1st April, 1880, each word will be 
charged at a specified rate for each country, five words being 
added to each message to cover time spent in advising, com- 
mencing, and finishing it. 
All European countries, as well as Brazil, Persia, India, 
and Japan, belong to the Conference, and are bound by its 
decisions. 
Any of twelve modern languages using the Roman cha- 
radter may be employed ; Russian, Greek, Turkish, being 
thus excluded from use. 
It would be difficult to over estimate the beneficial results 
produced by these Conferences in stimulating and perfefting 
international communication. 
Material is not wanting to extend these notices of scientific 
activity over a wider range ; for our foreign neighbours are 
always ready to furnish us with information of whatever is 
