by which every thing may be said, and may be faid rapidly.

The Telegraph from PARIS 10 LISLE is repeated 18 times in the interval. The first is established on the principal pavillion of the Louvre. It has been found, by experience, that when the operators are prepared, a fignal, which is executed by a fingle movement, may be tranfmitted from Paris to Lifle, and back again, in the courfe of a few feconds.

The machine is compofed of the long indicator, A B, fufpended by its middle, like the beam of a pair of fcales. At the extremity of the large indicator are the fmaller ones, A and B, of which one of the branches only is vifible at a distance; the other branch ferves merely to carry a counterpoife, as P. That thefe indicators may be at once folid and light, and afford lefs draught to the wind, they are formed by a chafe, the interior of which is furnished with little, oblique, and feparate, boards, which, however, being feen in front, appear contiguous, The great indicator is turned upon its axis, and the leffer ones upon their's, by means of pullies, which act by metallic cords. The cords connect with the cabinet beneath the machine, and are there attached to other pullies, by which the whole is moved.

as

It is easy to find the number of fignals poffible to be made with this telegraph; for if we confider the great indicator being fixed, we hall find that every fmaller one may diftinctly take five different pofitions; two where it makes a right angle with the great indicator; two where it makes an angle of 45 degrees, and one where it falls back upon the great one. Three other distinct pofitions might alfo be created; one where the fmall indicator would be horizontal with the great one, and two where it would make with the fame an angle of 135 degrees.

The leffer indicators, then, confidered as fingle movers, will furnish five times five, or 25 fignals. As the great indicator, however, is alfo a mover, there are 25 times as many fignals as this indicator has diftinct pofitions. And as it has but four diftinct pofitions; one horizontal, onc vertical, and two inclined, there are in all four times 25, or one hundred fignals.

The Telegraphs in the line from PARIS 1 LANDAU are not yet completed: the firft of them is erected on a pavillion of the palace of the Tailleries. A fixed

black bar, 50 feet long, is fupported by four uprights. This bar carries five indicators, fimilar to the smaller ones, No. I. Two of the pofts which support the bar carry each a fimilar indicator, Thefe feven indicators are moved by pullies, in the ufual way.

Each of the indicators may take seven diftinct pofitions; two vertical, four inclined, and one horizontal, for those which Join to the bar; and one vertical, four inclined, and two horizontal ones, for those which join to the uprights. The number of combinations is 7 X 7 X 7 X 7 X 7 X 7 X 7 which gives the astonishing number of 823,543 fignals. This number, which is eight thousand times larger than that of the fignals of the firft telegraph, is, doubtlefs, more than fufficient. It will allow them, however, to abridge confide rably the telegraphic language, and to tranfmit whole phrafes at a time.

It must be admitted, that the ENG LISH TELEGRAPH is confiderably inferior to the telegraph, No. I, fince, although it has twice as many indicators, it furnishes far fewer fignals; the reafon of which is, that every indicator can only admit of two distinct changes. The fignals are, of courfe, more complicated, and require more time in their operation. For example: cafes occur, wherein, in paffing from one fignal to another, it is neceffary to change all the indicators, and to execute fix movements at once.

The French telegraphs, above mentioned, may be used by night, by attaching to the indicators lamps or flambeaux, which, by their pofition, may render that of the indicators confpicuous. The telegraph of the Louvre, which communi cates with Lifle, already carries lamps. Thofe of the line of Landau are alfo to be provided with them.

To fuch a pitch of improvement is this new art already carried, by the means of which thoughts may be coinmunicated from one extremity of the ftate to another! This discovery may

one day, perhaps, become advantage ous to individuals as well as to governments; and the prefent ingenious procefs give way to one infinitely more perfect. The rules we are to follow, in order to exprefs ideas by figns, will furnish a curious fubject of refearch to thofe who fhall make it their bufinefs to investigate the analys of the human understanding. This may lead to the moft rational philofophical grammar.

We must learn to exprefs, by tele

graphic

To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine.

SIR,

AMONGST the fingular inftitutions

which diftinguish a period teeming with novelty, may be named a fociety, established in the city, for the purpofe of religious improvement, where, instead of preaching and catechifing, the mode of fimple converfation has been adopted. The members of this religious community are fo anxious to avoid any thing like a priesthood, that they even object to the appointment of a chairman. Every individual, man and woman, is fuffered, and even invited, to fpeak: and that nothing fhould prevent the timid from communicating their opinions, the parade of speechifying has no exiftence; the members, fitting, deliver themselves with the freedom and eafe of parlour converfation. A moral or theological queftion is propofed, and adopted, the week before; and it is thus difcuffed, with all the freedom and urbanity of un. reftrained communication.

No opinions are the bafis of this fociety. The Calvinist, the Arminian, the Arian, the Socinian, the Catholic, and the Deft meet here on equal ground. Prophecy and miracle, parable and maxim, are examined, and commented upon, with equal freedom. The character of Mofes and Joshua, of Jefus and Paul, with their various pretenfions to a divine miffion and power, come under a candid and impartial review. The fociety meet on Sunday evenings; neither prayer nor finging is publicly ufed; and it is generally defignated, we understand, by the members, the "Sunday Converfation Society.' If this be an attempt, as it is

...

Remarks on Converfation. 773

faid to be, to try an experiment, whether religious knowledge may not be communicated without a priesthood, it certainly may claim the merit of great fimplicity of plan. We understand, though there is no prefident or chairman, no inftance of diforder or confufion in converfation has ever been known. HOMO,

London, Oct. 12, 1796.

To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine.

MR. EDITOR,

ALTHOUGH I am difpofed to be on

the fide of thofe who contend, that the prefent is a moft enlightened age, I yet cannot help thinking, that our luminary of knowledge has fo many dark fpots, that we may look upon it with the naked eye, even in its meridian fplendour. Befides wars, funding fyftems, continental alliances, and a few other trifles, which have occafioned our "gold to become dim, and our most fine gold changed," there are a variety of things which create an opacity in our fcientific firmament, and, to drop all metaphor, incline us, in our cool moments, to think that we are really not quite fo wife as we might be.

There is one fpecies of knowledge in which we are remarkably deficient, and which, neverthelefs, has become very neceffary, from an alteration in our modes of life. It is well known, that thofe habits of clofe ftudy which diftinguished our ancestors, are now rarely to be feen, and that we have fubftituted the inftrúc tion which arifes from converfation in the place of that which was formerly acquired in folitude. Now, fir, in or der to render converfation far more amufing, as well as inftructive than we commonly find it, I humbly prefume, that the knowledge I have alluded to is highly neceffary, namely, that one man fhould know the precife degree of impor tance, which he and his affairs bear to another man.

It is a common error, to fancy ourselves of too much confequence, and into this error nations, as well as individuals, have often fallen, and have not been undeceived, but by an experience of the most expenfive kind. But it is in converfation that we are moft difpofed to difplay our confequence, and to fuppofe, that our perfons and affairs must be highly entertaining to those who, unfortunately, care little about the one or the other. In former days, this difplay was confined to ftage coaches and churchyards. Whoever travelled in the one, was fure to

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have for his companions people of great note, particularly in the article of wealth; and whoever walked in the other, could not but be ftruck with the affemblage of affectionate bufbands and dutiful wives, that furrounded him.

And, by the bye, fir, let me remark here one moft remarkable good effect which followed the reformation from popery. As I am a dividend of an antiquary, I can fpeak with fome confidence on this fubject. Previous to the reformation, there was not to be feen either in church or church-yard, fuch a thing as an affectionate husband, or a loving wife, nor even a faithful friend. There was nothing to be feen among high or low, rich or poor, but miferable jinners. All monumental infcriptions then went to the tune of "Orate pro anima miferrimi pecatores," and in this refpect, at leaft, pofterity was led into no error. Since that period, however, I need not tell you, that every cemetery is an affemblage of all the virtues and graces that can adorn life. But this is a digreffion. Regarding the falfe notions we entertain of our own confequence, as a confiderable deduction from the advantages of converfation, I would humbly fuggeft, that before a man goes into company, he fhould confider well, how much of him it would be proper to take there, and how much to leave at home." For want of a previous confideration of this kind, it is that my old friend, HYPOCHONDRIACUS, fills every room he enters with difeafes. Begin. ning with his rheumatism, which, though acute in noflogy, is terribly chronic in detail, he converts all the company into pupils, while himfelf vibrates between the duties of a lecturer, and the patience of a clinical fubject. Difeafe, it is well known, attacks a man when and where it pleafes, and HYPOCHONDRIACUS is equally abrupt in feizing his friends with mortal diftempers. I have known him get rid of the causes of the war by a vehement inflammation, and place a violent cholic between the armies on the Rhine. More than once, he has prevented the immortality of the foul from being proved, by a differtation on nine times dyed flannel; and it was but the other night, he pitted a hiftory of his dyfentery against the increafe of the national debt.

UXORIUS has fuch good health himfelf, that he would be a moft agreeable companion, if he could forget his wife's diforders. But he feldom goes into company without producing a pocketful of

her fpafms and nervous affections, which he places regularly, articie for article, against the news of the day; while his neighbour, PATERNUS, jealous of fo much medical fame, gently interposes his boy's fmail-pox, which being of the confluent kind, take up a confiderable time in the cure, befides leaving certain fymp toms, which lengthen the differtation beyond all poffibility of interruption. Thefe two, who are very friendly men upon the whole, are a little irrafcible occafionally, and at our laft club, had like to have come to a downright quarrel. UXORIUS was in the midst of a nervous fever, when PATERNUS entered with his little boy's crudities. UXORIUS appealed to the company, whether a man ought to be disturbed in a fever; and was proceeding very rationally to the delirious part, when his antagonist obferved, with fome degree of fhrewdness, that even kibed heels would make a young perfon mad. I know not to what length thefe diforders might have proceeded, had not the prefident announced, that the hour of departure was come.

MOROSUS has no diforder of body that we can difcover, but so many cares and diftreffes in trade, that every other fubject of converfation muft give way to them. He has no great turn for politics, and, therefore, it is difficult to prevent him from interfering with Mr. QUIDNUNC, who is continually discharging battles and victories at his friends. In the midst of the engagement, the roar of cannon, and the cries of the wounded, MOROSUS will defcant on the lofs he fuffered by a cargo of damaged figs; and while QUIDNUNC is traverfing the Tyrol, and carrying all before him to the very gates of Rome, MOROSUS is walking the Change in a fit of despair, The fact is, QUIDNUNC's attention is fwallowed up in affairs which he cares little about, while MOROSUS is engaged on afflictions which no perfon elfe cares abour, QUIDNUNC would talk as he does, though no war exifted; and MoROSUS would be as tedious, if all his bills were discounted.

But, fir, thefe are only a few fpeci mens. We have others who introduce the merits of their taylor-fome the laft boxing-match they were engaged in-and fome who detail the last dinner and drinking-bout. Yet all these are tolerable, in comparifon; they are the light infantry, and may be difperfed; but they are nothing to the preachers of felf-importance, who enter a room on horseback, or in a

gigg. They bear down all oppofition; every one is obliged to get out of their way, and the inatter is not much mended, if they happen to be unhorfed. I know one of this breed, who had nearly been killed by a fall from his horfe, and who lived for fome years on the circumftance, greatly to the entertainment of his numerous acquaintance Unfortunately, however, there are some men, and those of converfation-talents too, who understand many things much better than they do the properties of a horse. When a gentleman, therefore, of the ftable, gallops among fuch, he has great advantages; he may say what he pleases without the risk of contradiction, and there is a volubility about men who love horfes, that is rarely to be found among other men, and which they themfelves cannot exercife upon any other fubject. Many inconveniences arife from this in promifcuous company. Some men pride themfelves on their honour, fome on their veracity, fome on their wit, and fome on their valour; but, when a man prides himself only on his horfe, he ought to meet his friends in the mews, and never prefume to come into the prefence of parlour company, until he has difmounted.

While thefe gentlemen are prancing and galloping at the most furious rate, it is neither a paradox nor a pun to fay, that of all men they are the most confined. They have often reminded me of certain lunatics, who are perfectly quiet and orderly, until you throw out a hint on the particular fubject which difturbs them. The stable ftudents are as dumb as the animals they prize, unlefs fome perfon unfortunately mentions the words, "gallop," "gigg, 66 race," "bett."-They are then mounted in an inftant, and if it be not dangerous to ftop them, it is always impoffible, and I have known inftances of both. On the other hand, we often find, that the perfons I have enumerated above, may be diverted occafionally from their favourite topic. Fond as HYPOCHONDRIACUS is of difeafes, I have known him join in a differtation upon eating; and although UXORIUS feems to dwell with rapture on his wife's infirmities, he has more than once played his part in a dialogue on the inconveniences of the mar ried ftate. PATERNUS, although he carries the nursery about him wherever he goes, will not hesitate to join 'in the praifes of thofe young statefinen to whom

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this country is fo infinitely indebted. Even QUIDNUNC once partook heartily of a converfation on humanity; and MoROSUS entertained us lately for nearly half an hour, without mentioning the courfe of exchange. Thefe inftances, although perhaps rare, are yet to be found now and then, but the gentlen.e, "Quos curriculo pulverem Olympicum "Collegiffe juvat: metaque fervidis "Evitata rotis,"

are not to be expected to vary their fub ject

"Attalicis conditionibus "Nunquam dimoveas.”.

In the former part of this letter, L ftated, that it was worth confideration, how much of himself a man ought to take into company, and how much he ought to leave at home. From what has been advanced, it will appear, that there is fomething which we ought to leave behind. But here I protest against a cuftom, rather too frequent, which is that of having two difpofitions, one for home, and one for abroad. I only, however, hint at this, it being a matter of matrimonial concern.

As to what a man ought to leave behind, when he comes into company, it would certainly be proper, in the first place, that he left all his diforders and complaints of body, efpecially fuch as are very violent, and of long continuance. In all decent families, there is a very convenient room allotted for the fick, and we may fafely prefume, that a man is not very ill, who can " take up his bed and walk." I am, however, afraid, that fome exception must be made in favour of a cold, and fome, perhaps, in favour of a fpafm. The former is fo general, that every body has a part; and the latter fo convenient, that every body wishes for a cordial. But I would pofitively interdict all mortal diforders, from which the patient has escaped, and all incurable maladies from which he has been fuccefsfully relieved. In this prohibition, I would alfo include the diforders of our relations to the third and fourth generation, with perhaps an exception in favour of refiduary legatees, who cannot help dwelling a little upon the last illnefs of their much lamented friend. As to the relation of a battle, it will be fufficient if, as dramatic critics fay, it be confined within the time of action; and MOROSUs will mend confiderably, if he does not draw his stories beyond the date of his bills. For the cavalry, I