The "velocity" referred to was regulated to an average of about twenty miles an hour; but the diarist makes mention of a foolhardy driver who ventured to run forty miles an hour, and was promptly dismissed by the directors. [Illustration: THE GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY BROAD GAUGE ENGINE "NORTH STAR." This engine was designed by Sir Daniel Gooch in 1836 and built by Robert Stephenson & Co. in 1837. It was one of the first engines belonging to the Great Western Railway Company, and continued at work until 1870, running a total distance of 429,000 miles.] [Sidenote: Electric Telegraph.] The application of another of the forces of Nature to the service of human intercourse has brought about a change in political, military, social, and commercial relations even more complete than that wrought by steam. The invention of the electric telegraph coincided very nearly with the beginning of Queen Victoria's reign. In 1835 Mr. Morse, an American citizen, produced a working model of an instrument designed to communicate alphabetical symbols by the interruption of the electric current, but he failed to persuade Congress to furnish him with the funds necessary to the practical application of his discovery. Next year he tried to take out a patent for it in this country; but, meanwhile, Cooke and Wheatstone had anticipated him with one instrument, and the brothers Highton with another, both of which were soon in use on railways. The growth of this means of communication may be seen in the "Post Office Annual," which shows that in the year 1895-96 about seventy-nine million telegrams were delivered through the Post Office, besides those dealt with by certain public companies. [Sidenote: The Coronation.] The Queen's Coronation was deferred till June 1838. It would be tedious to dwell on the splendour of the ceremonial. Perhaps the most readable, and not the least truthful, account has been preserved in one of Barham's _Ingoldsby Legends--Mr. Barney Maguire's Account of the Coronation_, set to the tune of _The Groves of Blarney_, and beginning-- "Och! the Coronation, what celebration For emulation with it can compare? When to Westminster the Royal Spinster And the Duke of Leinster all in order did repair. 'Twas there ye'd see the new Polishemen,[A] Making a skrimmage at half afther four; And the Lords and Ladies, and the Miss O'Gradys All standing round before the Abbey door." [Illustration: _J. Doyle_ ("_H. B._").} {_"Political Sketches," 1838._ LA BELLE ALLIANCE. This sketch represents Marshal Soult meeting his old antagonist, Lord Hill, at the Duke of Wellington's. "At last," he says, "I meet you, I, who have run after you so long!" "La Belle Alliance" is well known as the name of a particular spot, which was one of the points of attack at the Battle of Waterloo.] [Illustration: _C. R. Leslie, R.A._} {_From the Royal Collection._