“In the meanwhile, if ever this invention should be revived or put in practice, I would propose that upon the lover’s dial-plate there should be written not only the four-and-twenty letters, but several entire words which have always a place in passionate epistles, as flames, darts, die, language, absence, Cupid, heart, eyes, hang, drown, and the like.  This would very much abridge the lover’s pains in this way of writing a letter, as it would enable him to express the most useful and significant words with a single touch of the needle.—­C.”

Thus far Addison, a hundred and seventy years ago, and Strada (whoever he may be, for ordinary biographical dictionaries ignore him), perhaps fifty before him, and the two unknown experimentalists, perhaps twenty beyond that, making in all two hundred and forty or fifty years ago as the date of electrical invention:  whereof we see no further mention in the Spectator.  But is it not also among the “Century of the Marquis of Worcester’s Inventions"?—­as is possible; the scarce volume is not near me for reference.  Let the curious reader who can, turn to it and see.  Meanwhile, how strangely Addison and Strada have anticipated the dial-plate, and the needles, and the letters, and the short forms for common words, all so familiar to our telegraphists.  Verily there is nothing new under the sun.

* * * * *

Extract from my Archive-book, No. 8.  Date October 15, 1856.

“I was again an electric guest, this time at the Great Albion dinner (Liverpool) to Mr. Morse, whom I had met at Erith and in America.  A day or two afterwards I sent him a letter of invitation to Albury, enclosing the sonnet below; and not knowing his London address I posted it to my brother Charles in London for him to read and forward.  Lucky enough that I did so, for Mr. Morse had just sailed for America:  so Charles had both prose and poetry telegraphed to him in New York,—­and the Company would not charge any money for it!  This is perhaps the only time a sonnet ever travelled by telegraph, and certainly the only time it ever so travelled gratis.”

Here it is, for which I had a very complimentary and grateful note from “Samuel F.B.  Morse, as an ardent admirer,” &c.  As never in print till now, I trust it will be acceptable to my readers.  Mr. Morse’s published speech was religiously high-minded and true-hearted, as indicated in the sonnet.

    To Professor Morse, in pleasant memory of October 10, 1856,
    at the Albion.

    “A good and generous spirit ruled the hour;
      Old jealousies were drowned in brotherhood,
    Philanthropy rejoiced that skill and power,
      Servants to science, compass all men’s good;
      And over all Religion’s banner stood,
      Upheld by thee, true Patriarch of the plan
    Which in two hemispheres was schemed to shower
      Mercies from God on universal man.