Old times : $b A picture of social life at the end of the eighteenth centuryAshton, John
History
Old times : $b A picture of social life at the end of the eighteenth century
Ashton, John
Great Britain -- Social life and customs
"The invention of the Telegraphe, does not belong alone to the
French. About ten years ago, Count Possini at Rome, invented a
mode of getting intelligence from Naples, in the course of an
hour. The Lottery at Rome, depends upon that drawn at Naples. It
differs from our Lottery, materially, for there are but six
prizes, and these are the first six numbers drawn, and the
remainder are all blanks. The Count, whose house is on an
eminence near Rome, managed with his confederates, who were
placed at certain distances, between Naples, and his estate, to
have sky rockets let off, by which they had previously fixed with
each other, to ascertain by such signals, any particular number,
or numbers, drawn. The plan succeeded, as Tickets continued to be
sold in Rome, for several hours after the drawing commenced at
Naples, the account of which was always brought by the ordinary
courier. By this scheme the party got about 100,000 crowns, and
the plot would never have been discovered, had not the Count
purchased the whole of the six prizes, which caused suspicion,
and of course, excited enquiry."--(_Times, Sept. 16, 1794._)
* * * * *
"Astley, who is always employed in the production of something
new, brings out, this evening, an exhibition of the much talked
of, and ingenious Machine, called the Telegraphe, at the
_Lyceum_, in the Strand."--(_Times, Sept. 19, 1794._)
* * * * *
"The invention of the Telegraphe, is now traced back to 1655, and
particularly mentioned in a little book, then written, and
published, by the Marquis of Worcester, inventor of the Steam
Engine. He there gives it the name of _Visual Correspondence_,
and calls it his own invention."--(_Times, Sept. 20, 1794._)
* * * * *
"Experiments are now making at Woolwich with a new species of the
Telegraphe, to ascertain at what distance intelligence can be
conveyed by it during the night. It is composed of letters, or
figures, nine feet high, cut out in a board, which is painted
black in front, and strongly illuminated behind by patent lamps
with reflectors; it is placed on the top of the butt against
which the cannon are proved, and proper persons are stationed at
Purfleet, and other intermediate places, with telescopes, to
determine at what distance letters of that size are legible at
night, by which means any word may be written, by a succession of
letters, and intelligence may be conveyed, with astonishing
celerity, during the night, by having a series of different
signal-houses at proper distances between whatever places
information is intended to be communicated."--(_Times, Oct. 7,
1794._)
* * * * *
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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