i88o.] 
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ANALYSES OF BOOKS. 
Catalogue of Books and Papers relating to Electricity , Mag- 
netism, the Electric Telegraph , &°c., including the Ronalds 
Library. Compiled by Sir Francis Ronalds, F.R.S. 
With a Biographical Memoir. Edited by Alfred J. Frost. 
London : E. and F. N. Spon. 
We have here a very valuable compilation issued to the world 
under the auspices of the Society of Telegraph Engineers. After 
Sir Francis Ronalds retired from the direction of the Kew Ob- 
servatory, he made the collection of a library of works on 
Electricity and the allied branches of Science, and the compila- 
tion of this Catalogue, which contains 13,000 entries, the objeCl 
of his life. On his death, in 1873, he bequeathed the library to 
his brother-in-law, the late Mr. Samuel Carter, with the stipula- 
tion that the books should not be dispersed, but preserved so as 
to be accessible to persons engaged in the study of eledfrical 
science. This condition Mr. Carter very wisely fulfilled by 
handing over the library to the Society of Telegraphic Engineers, 
represented by a special body of trustees. The Society under- 
took the publication of the Catalogue and the binding of the 
books. When this latter task is completed the library will be 
open not merely to the members of the Society, but, under the 
necessary regulations, to the public. 
It is doubtless forgotten by many that as early as 1816 Ronalds 
demonstrated, by adlual experiment, the possibility of an eledtric 
telegraph, and attempted to bring his invention under the notice 
of the Government. The following communication, which he 
received from the Secretary of the Admiralty, Mr. Barrow, after- 
wards Sir John Barrow, and the author of the article “Tele- 
graph” in the seventh edition of the “ Encyclopaedia Britanmca,” 
is a treasure worth preserving : — 
<< Mr. Barrow presents his compliments to Mr. Ronalds, and 
acquaints him, with reference to his note of the 3rd inst., that 
telegraphs of any kind are now wholly unnecessary, and that no 
other than the one now in use will be adopted . — Admiralty Office , 
August 5, 1816.” . , 
The “ one now in use ” was the old semaphore, useless in the 
night and in foggy weather. Long afterwards, at the age of 
eighty-three , he received the honour of knighthood ! 
VOL. II. (THIRD SERIES.) 
55 K 
