The estimates of Professor Morse, as will be seen by his letter, marked 9, amount to $26,000; but, to meet any contingency not now anticipated, and to guard against any want of requisite funds in an enterprise of such moment to the Government, to the people, and to the scientific world, the committee recommend an appropriation of $30,000, to be expended under the direction of the Secretary of the Treasury; and to this end submit herewith a bill.
It is believed by the committee that the subject is one of such universal interest and importance, that an early action upon it will be deemed desirable by Congress, to enable the inventor to complete his trial of the invention upon the extended scale contemplated, in season to furnish Congress with a full report of the result during its present session, if that shall be practicable.
All which is respectfully submitted.
| FRANCIS O. J. SMITH, | JAS. M. MASON, |
| S. C. PHILLIPS, | JOHN T. H. WORTHINGTON, |
| SAMUEL CUSHMAN, | WM. H. HUNTER, |
| JOHN I. DE GRAFF, | GEORGE W. TOLAND, |
| EDWARD CURTIS, | |
| Committee on Commerce, U. S. H. R. | |
[No. 7.]
Hall of the Franklin Institute, Feb. 8, 1838.
Report of the Franklin Institute Philadelphia.
The sub-committee, from the committee of science and arts, appointed to examine the electro magnetic telegraph of Professor Samuel F. B. Morse, report:
That this instrument was exhibited to them in the hall of the Institute, and every opportunity given by Mr. Morse and his associate, Mr. Alfred Vail, to examine it carefully, and to judge of its operation; and they now present the following as the result of their observations: