1808. ] 
shew that the nitrous acid is inferior in 
point of effect, 
Your’s, &c. Aes 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
NE telegraph produced by the 
French and first ridiculed and atf- 
terwards copied by us, is not a new idea, 
although ‘the manner of its construction 
isnew. Inthe “ Travels of: John Bell 
of Antermony” from St. Petersburgh to 
Pekin in 1720, he describes the following 
mode of signals then used in China. 
«* Near the populous city of Siang Fu, 
we met with many turrets upon the "road 
called post-houses, erected at certain dis- 
tances from ong another, with a flag-staff, 
on which 1s hoisted the imperial pendant. 
These turrets are so contrived as to be in 
sight of one another, and by signals they 
can convey intelligence of any remark- 
able event. By this means the court 1s 
informed in the speediest manner imagi~ 
nable of whatever disturbance may bap- 
pen im the most remote provinces of the 
empire. These posts are also very useful, 
by keeping the country free from high- 
‘waymen; for should a person escape at 
one house, on asignal being made 
would certainly be stopped at the next,” 
But so far back as the year 1596, a 
sort of night telegraph was invented by 
an Englishman, Captain John Sach, 
one ot: the first ous of Virginia, 
sometime president of that province, and 
admiral of New England. © This gentic- 
man, who*was of a most enterprizing ye- 
nius, being on his traveis-at the early age 
of seventeen, arrived at the seat of Ferdi- 
nand Archduke of Austria in Stiria. 
Here he was introduced to Count Eber- 
spaught, Baron Kizel, and other officers 
of distinction ;and the emperor being then 
at war with the Turks, he entered into 
his army as a volunteer. 
He commumicated to Eberspaught a 
method of conversing at. a distance by 
means of torches, in this manner. First, 
three torches were shewn in a line equi- 
distant from each other, which were an- 
swered by three others placed in the 
same manner; then the message being 
made as brief as possible, and the alpha- 
bet divided into two parts, the letters 
om A to L were signified by shewing 
hiding one light as often as there are 
from A to the letter meant: the 
fom M to Z by two lights in the 
er. ‘Lhe end of a word was 
bewing three lights. At 
livht steod till = other 
each of them is 4l. 5s. per annum. 
he | 
Chinese, Kc. Telegraphs.—Book Societies. Dee best 
party could write it down, and answer by- 
his sional which was one hight. ‘This ex- 
peritnent was approved of, ‘and very soon 
put successfully in practice. 
I wish to communicate the above 
through the medium of the Monthly Ma- 
gazine, not only asa curious fact, but be- 
cause [ think it might be the foundation 
of a telegraph at this time, 
Your’ ay &c. ee 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
STR, - 
OUR Correspondent who sclicits 
intelligence concerning Book So- 
cieties, wishes, I should conceive, to learn 
guid fugiendum, as well as guid utile. 1 
therefore take the like: rty of sending you 
a few particulars respecting two “Sub- 
scription Libraries, established in this 
town, one of them of venry or thirty 
years’ standing, The subscription to 
in 
one, the books are the joint property of 
the subscribers, and are solid at the year’s 
end; in the other, a bookseller of this 
place subscribes a sum equal to a fourth 
of the aggregate of the other subscrip- 
tions, in consequence of which, and of 
his managing the.concerns of the ‘library, 
the books become his property, at the ex- 
piration of two years. ; 
For the sum arising from thirty or fort 
subscribers at this rate, together with that 
added every year by the sale of the old 
books, a considerable portion of literary 
enjoyment might be had by every sub- 
scriber, if any plan-could be devised of 
making an equal distribution of the 
books. But, strange as it may ap~ 
pene that ae never yet been done, 
Some years ago an attempt was made to 
accomplish this, by sending the books 
from subscriber to subscriber in a regular 
rotation, that every one might have an 
opportunity, for a limited time, of reading 
every book, if he thought proper, in his 
turn, and after it had vone through the 
society, of having it again, if he chose, 
fora longer period. But it is dangerous 
to make innovations. ‘* My father, 
(said the farmer, in reply to one who 
wanted hii to begin to reap at that part 
netke field where the corn was drop >ping 
out of the ear, and not at that where it 
was yet green,) always began on this side, 
aid he did very well, and I am deter- 
mined to persevere in his plan.” In the 
same manner amongst us, Mumpsimus got 
the better of Sumpsimus, and ‘ Chaos is 
come again.” Oe forsooth, would be’ 
burdened with books! It did not occur, 
Se : that 
