"If anybody should think this way tiresome, let him, instead of the balls, suspend a range of bells from the roof, equal in number to the letters of the alphabet, gradually decreasing in size from the bell _a_ to _z_; and from the horizontal wires let there be another set reaching to the several bells; one, viz., from the horizontal wire _a_ to the bell _a_, another from the horizontal wire _b_ to the bell _b_, &c. Then let him who begins the discourse bring the wires in contact with the barrel, as before, and the electric spark, breaking on bells of different size, will inform his correspondent by the sound what wires have been touched. And thus, by some practice, they may come to understand the language of the chimes in whole words, without being put to the trouble of noting down every letter. "The same thing may be otherwise effected. Let the balls be suspended over the characters, as before, but instead of bringing the ends of the horizontal wires in contact with the barrel, let a second set reach from the electrificator, so as to be in contact with the horizontal ones; and let it be so contrived, at the same time, that any of them may be removed from its corresponding horizontal by the slightest touch, and may bring itself again into contact when left at liberty. This may be done by the help of a small spring and slider, or twenty other methods which the least ingenuity will discover. In this way the characters will always adhere to the balls, excepting when any of the secondaries is removed from contact with its horizontal; and then the letter at the other end of the horizontal will immediately drop from its ball. But I mention this only by way of variety. "Some may perhaps think that, although the electric fire has not been observed to diminish sensibly in its progress through any length of wire that has been tried hitherto; yet, as that has never exceeded some thirty or forty yards, it may be reasonably supposed, that in a far greater length it would be remarkably diminished, and probably would be entirely strained off in a few miles by the surrounding air. To prevent this objection, and save longer argument, lay over the wires, from one end to the other, with a thin coat of jeweller's cement. This may be done for a trifle of additional expense; and as it is an electric _per se_, will effectually secure any part of the fire from mixing with the atmosphere. "I am, &c., "C. M." Surely among the numerous readers of "N. & Q." some one will be found to tell us who C. M. was. J. Y. {275} * * * * * FACTITIOUS PEDIGREES: DIXON OF BERSTON. (Vol. ix., p. 221.)