"It has been said, that a conversation had actually taken place across the Channel, between Donaghadee and Port Patrick, by means of a Telegraph. The following are the particulars: Two Gentlemen of the county of Longford have been, for sometime past, making experiments, in different positions, in that county, and they succeeded so well, as to induce them to undertake the journey to Donaghadee, where the Channel between Britain and Ireland is the narrowest, being about 18 Irish miles across. They brought down their machinery with them, and, having erected one on each side, they conversed with each other, on Monday evening last, the weather being tolerably clear. The conversation that passed was as follows—The Gentleman on this side said 'I see you, being white, distinctly.' The other replied 'I see you; I wish your's was white also.' (The machine on this side being black.) The Gentleman on this side then asked 'What o'clock is it?' and was answered 'Six.' He then said 'I will shew lights at nine o'clock, do you attend.' He was answered 'I will attend, but I have only one light.' They then made signals of 'good night,' and the communication ended. The machine consists of a triangle, with two long sides and a short one, suspended in the air vertically; it turns on a pivot, and is capable of being put into eight different positions, very distinct from each other. These positions represent eight of the common numerical figures, and these figures, according to their position, denote certain words and sentences, according to a preconcerted dictionary, or vocabulary, alphabetically, as well as numerically, arranged. It is believed this machine is on a principle totally different from the French."—(Times, Sept, 11, 1795.)
"A chain of Telegraphs is erected from Shuter's Hill to Dover. Gad's Hill, and Barham Hill, are the intermediate posts."—(Times, Dec. 30, 1795.)
"Telegraphe.—An improvement on this post-haste mode of travelling, has been offered to the Administration, by two foreigners, who demand £40,000 for the discovery, if it should be found to answer; if it does not, like quacks of another description, they retire with nothing but the shame of the attempt. These foreigners undertake to convey intelligence to all parts of the world, by letter as quick as thought. Certain globes are to be constructed, that, by the power of electricity and attraction, a packet, large as a horse can carry, shall be sent to and from Dublin, in about the time requisite for dispatching a breakfast!! Credat Judeus!"—(Times, Jan. 12, 1796.)
In or about 1796, was instituted the semaphore telegraph—which, until the introduction of the Electric Telegraph, was the best system out.
"The most important services which can be rendered to the public by the Telegraph, is in cases similar to that which occurred last week, in forwarding the news from Deal to London, of the sailing of the Dutch Fleet, within the space of five minutes. This prompt conveyance of the intelligence enabled the Admiralty Board to take such speedy measures for sending a fleet out after the enemy. When the Telegraph is established between London and other ports as well as Deal, the advantage will be very great indeed."—(Times, Mar. 2, 1796.)
"The English are remarkable for improving upon the inventions of their Gallic neighbours. It is well known, that while these aerial wanderers were tumbling down like so many Phaetons from Heaven, we were driving about securely in balloon-coaches, and eating balloon-cakes, and balloon-oysters. The same advantage has resulted from the telegraph, which, beside christening a coach, and a newspaper, is now transferred to the heads of our ladies, and has given us telegraphic hats and telegraphic caps. By this invention a female will travel to Edinburgh, through the observatory at York, Doncaster, Grantham and Huntingdon, from the principal machine in Bond Street, in the time of three Operas, or twenty-four Routs."—(Times, Oct. 15, 1796.)
"Since the invention of the Coiffure télégraphique it is scarcely possible to follow the rapidity of the fashions. The morning dress and the evening dress mean literally the dress of the day they are worn in. It was observed, with concern, at Drury Lane the other evening, that the Lady P's were more than half an hour out of fashion."—(Times, Oct. 21, 1796.)
Among the various tyrannies of fashion, none, perhaps was more curious than that of powdering the hair. Taxation, and the French mode of "Cropping" killed it, but it died hard.—The Tax was treated both jocularly, and au grand serieux.
EPIGRAM.
"On the Hair Powder Licence Tax, at a time when general Expectation looked for a tax on Dogs:—