288 
THE Telegraph. 
We have only now to mention one more application of tele¬ 
graphy, which was in use in England for a short time. We 
refer to the telegraphic ship, the Brisk , that was anchored in 
the Channel, and connected by a cable to the mainland. The 
object of this floating telegraph-station w T as the following:— 
When the gale is strong in the Channel, a great number of 
vessels are detained at its mouth, and obliged to keep to the 
open sea. Their captains could then telegraph their position 
to the ship’s agents, and homeward-bound ships could telegraph 
their approach to the Thames. This project was unsuccessful; 
the telegraph ship was badly anchored, and repeatedly broke 
her cable. Under such circumstances there was much risk for 
the operators; but these matters of detail might have been 
rectified. Mr. F. C. Webb, in fact, undertook to secure the 
ship by special appliances. These were not adopted, and in 
the end the company formed to work this scheme was wound up. 
The plan, nevertheless, appears practicable. 
Stationary floats attached to a sunken cable could, it was 
then suggested, be laid down, and ships desiring to communi¬ 
cate with the shore might fish them up. A disabled ship 
might thus give its position in order that aid might be sent. 
It would not, of course, be necessary to lay such cables m deep 
waters. But lighter cables might be attached to one sunk at any 
depth from 3 to 400 fathoms, and might radiate towards the 
open sea. If buoys provided with bells were attached to the end 
ot these light cables, ships desiring to communicate with the 
shore could easily find them, haul the cable on board, ard 
connect it with their telegraphic instruments. Outward-bound 
ships might also thus receive their last instructions from the 
freighters. The advantages of such stations are sufficiently 
obvious, and their realisation appears practicable, while they 
would certainly be the means of preventing many a disaster. 
Such a loss, for example, as that of the Atlanta , when so much 
of youthful hope and promise perished, would have been 
avoided if the ship had had the means of communicating 
witn tne stiore. 
In concluding this work, we thank the indulgent reader who 
has followed our story to this point, and who, we are con¬ 
vinced, must participate in our admiration of these marvellous' 
