In order to give some idea of the accuracy with which the telegraph
transmits intelligence, we here give two games of chess, as played by
distinguished gentlemen in Baltimore and in Washington. The two games
are selected from the seven played. The number of moves made in playing
the seven games, were 686, and were transmitted without a single
mistake or interruption. The Baltimoreans played with the white pieces,
placed on numbers 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, and 64, figure 32. They
were commenced November 16th, 1844. B, Baltimore; W, Washington.
[Illustration: FIG. 32.]
_First Game of Chess._
W 12 to 28
B 53 “ 37
W 6 “ 30
B 51 “ 46
W 7 “ 22
B 52 “ 36
W 28 “ 36
B 46 “ 36
W 30 “ 18
B 63 “ 46
W 13 “ 20
B 56 “ 41
W 9 “ 24
B 58 “ 43
W castles
B 59 to 45
W 14 “ 19
B 45 “ 51
W 3 “ 21
B 61 “ 45
W 22 “ 5
B 55 “ 39
W 2 “ 17
B 49 “ 48
W 19 “ 30
B 36 “ 29
W 21 “ 13
B 39 “ 26
W 11 to 29
B 26 “ 24
W 10 “ 23
B 62 “ 26
W 4 “ 3
B 43 “ 40
W 30 “ 35
B 45 “ 42
W 7 “ 9
B 40 “ 23
W 5 “ 14
B 23 “ 6
W 3 “ 6
B castles
60 to 62
& 64 “ 61
W 17 to 30
B 26 “ 38
W 14 “ 5
B 57 “ 58
W 30 “ 45c
B 51 “ 45
W 35 “ 45
B 42 “ 23c
W 9 “ 8
B 61 “ 52
W 27 “ 37
B 24 “ 9
B 18 “ 36
B 23 “ 7
W gives up.
_Second Game._
B 52 to 36
W 11 “ 27
B 62 “ 38
W 13 “ 20
B 53 “ 44
W 7 “ 22
B 51 “ 35
W 12 “ 21
B 59 “ 45
W 14 to 19
B 49 “ 48
W 9 “ 24
B 56 “ 40
W 10 “ 23
B 58 “ 43
W 2 “ 13
B 63 “ 46
W 4 “ 14
B 50 to 34
W 21 “ 28
B 36 “ 28
W 20 “ 28
B 38 “ 42
W 22 “ 25
B 42 “ 56
W 6 “ 20
B 43 “ 52
W 14 to 4
B 45 “ 27
W castles
B 27 “ 21c
W 7 “ 8
B 61 “ 39
W 13 “ 22
B 39 “ 41
W 3 “ 21
B 41 to 21
W 6 “ 5
B 21 “ 11
W 4 “ 45
B 64 “ 62
W 1 “ 4
B 52 “ 37
W 22 “ 37
B 46 “ 37
W 45 “ 37
B castles
W 4 to 2
B 62 “ 61
W 37 “ 27
B 11 “ 14
W 5 “ 3
B 14 “ 12
W 27 “ 6
B 12 “ 21
W 6 “ 5
B 3l “ 39
W 25 “ 22
B 39 to 53
W 3 “ 4
B 35 “ 30
W 4 “ 61
B 59 “ 61
W 24 “ 25
B 44 “ 37
W 22 “ 39
B 56 “ 42
W 2 “ 4
B 61 “ 60
W 5 “ 13
B 53 “ 35
W 39 “ 24
B 58 “ 57
W 13 “ 52
B 54 “ 43
W 8 “ 9
B 35 “ 21
W 52 “ 13
B 21 “ 47
W 13 “ 12
B 42 to 54
W 4 “ 52
B 57 “ 58
W 12 “ 13
B 48 “ 33
W 52 “ 45
B 47 “ 51
W 24 “ 11
B 60 “ 63
W 16 “ 17
B 63 “ 62
W 10 “ 24
B 62 “ 60
W 11 “ 4
B 54 “ 42
W 45 “ 52
B 51 “ 46
W 52 “ 45
B 46 “ 64
W 13 “ 36c
B 64 “ 36
W 28 “ 36
B 42 to 54
W 4 “ 21
B 55 “ 42
W 45 “ 47
B 43 “ 38
W 47 “ 34
B 38 “ 27
W 23 “ 27
B 37 “ 27
W 21 “ 30
B 42 “ 39
W 25 “ 39
B 54 “ 42
W 24 “ 44c
B 58 “ 57
W 30 “ 37
B 42 “ 28
W 37 “ 54c
B 57 “ 55
W 54 “ 45
B gives up.
_Improvement in the Magneto Electric Machine, and Application of this
Instrument to operate the Magnetic Telegraph._
The magneto electric machine was originally contrived by Mr. Saxton,
soon after the announcement of the interesting discovery of Faraday,
that magnetism was capable of exciting electricity. The conditions
necessary for obtaining electricity in this way were, chiefly, the
disturbance of magnetic forces in a bar of soft iron surrounded by
coils of wire. A number of mechanical contrivances were resorted to,
in order to effect this disturbance, by causing the bar of iron, thus
surrounded, to approach to and recede from the poles of powerful
magnets; but the ingenuity of Mr. Saxton far exceeded them all, by
giving to the coils and enclosed bar a rotary movement about the poles
of a U-form magnet. This instrument afforded bright sparks and strong
shocks; but the currents of electricity thus obtained could not be
converted to any useful purpose, as, in each half revolution of the
coils, the currents were in opposite directions. In 1838, Professor
Page published in Silliman’s Journal an account of an improved
form of the machine, doing away with many existing objections, and
furthermore rendering it at once a useful instrument, by a contrivance
for conducting these opposing currents into one channel or direction,
which part of the contrivance was called the _unitrep_. The current
produced in this way was capable of performing the work to a certain
extent, of the power developed by the galvanic battery; and the machine
was found adequate to the furnishing of shocks for medical purposes,
for exhibiting the decomposition of water, furnishing the elements
oxygen and hydrogen at their respective poles, and producing definite
electro-chemical results. These two last results could not be obtained
without the aid of the unitrep. But, with this improvement, the
instrument was still wanting in one property of the galvanic battery,
viz. that property which chemists call quantity, or that power upon
which depends its ability to magnetize, and also to heat platinum
wires. This last property has been given to the machine by the recent
contrivance of Professor Page. The machine, in its novel construction,
under his improvement, developed what is called, by way of distinction,
the current of intensity, but had a very feeble magnetizing power. By
a peculiar contrivance of the coils, (not to be made public until his
rights are in some way secured,) the current of quantity is obtained
in its maximum, while, at the same time, the intensity is so much
diminished that it gives scarcely any shock, and decomposes feebly. It
has been successfully tried with the magnetic telegraph of Professor
Morse, and operates equally well with the battery. It affords, by
simply turning a crank attached to the machine, a constant current
of galvanic electricity; and as there is no consumption of material
necessary to obtain this power, it will doubtless supersede the use
of the galvanic battery, which, in the event of constant employment,
would be very expensive, from the waste of zinc, platinum, acids,
mercury, and other materials used in its construction. It particularly
recommends itself for magnetizing purposes, as it requires no knowledge
of chemistry to insure the result, being merely mechanical in its
action, and is always ready for action without previous preparation;
the turning of a crank being the only requisite when the machine is
in order. It is not liable to get out of order; does not diminish
perceptibly in power when in constant use, and actually gains power
when standing at rest. It will be particularly gratifying to the man of
science, as it enables him to have always at hand a constant power for
the investigation of its properties, without any labor of preparation.
We notice among the beautiful results of this machine, that it charges
an electro magnet so as to sustain a weight of 1,000 pounds, and
it ignites to a white heat large platinum wires, and may be used
successfully for blasting at a distance; and should Government ever
adopt any such system of defence as to need the galvanic power, it must
supersede the battery in that case. Professor Page demonstrates, by
mathematical reasoning, that the new contrivance of the coils affords
the very maximum of quantity to be obtained by magnetic excitation.
_Report of Commissioner of Patents, for 1844._