stone and Mr. Cooke. The whole apparatus may, for the sake of simplifying the matter, be divided into four parts. 1st. The generation of the galvanic, or electric fluid. 2nd. The conducting wires. 3rd. The motive or electro-magnetic arrangement. 4th. The dial. The fluid is generated in the usual way, by the aid of a galvanic battery. The conducting-wires are about one-eighth of an inch in thickness, and are kept separate from each other, along the whole line, by posts, placed at intervals of about one hundred yards; these conductors terminate in wires of less diameter, protected with a covering of cotton in the ordinary way, and so arranged as to form the coiled magnets, the source of the motive power. The property possessed by these wires, of rendering iron magnetic when subject to the galvanic currents, may be simply exhibited by passing copper wire a few times round a glass tube, so as to form a coil like a bell-spring, taking care that the turns of the wire are nowhere in contact; if the ends of the coil are then connected with the poles of a battery, and a small sewing-needle is placed in the glass tube, it will be immediately drawn to the centre, and if examined, will be found to be permanently magnetic. If, on the contrary, a piece of soft iron wire had been introduced into the glass tube, in the place of the steel needle, it would be found to be only magnetic so long as it remained under the influence of the exterior coil of wire. It is then to the magnetising property of the electric current, under a certain form of arrangement, that we owe our motive power, and it is to the varied motions or vibrations of the needles on

the face of the dial-plate, produced by this agent, that a form of alphabet has been adapted which shall rapidly explain what is intended to be communicated by a person operating at a distance of eighty, one hundred, or probably thousands of miles. Having thus, in some degree, explained the means employed for procuring and transmitting intelligence through the agency of electricity, we proceed to describe the extremely happy device which was adopted, when the wires were completed between London and Gosport, for testing the practical application of these means— —namely, the playing a game of chess by two parties seated at opposite ends of the railway, and ninety miles asunder. The idea originated with Mr. Staunton, while conversing with Professor Wheatstone on the influence which this extraordinary method of intercourse was likely to have upon our social relations; and being readily embraced by the authorities connected both with telegraph and railway, the suggestion was carried into effect, with a success which exceeded the anticipations of the most sanguine. It was intended, at first, that this novel contest should take place between two persons only, as in an ordinary game over the table-one stationed at London, and the other at Gosport; but as no player could be found who was willing to cope with Mr. Staunton single-handed, it was at length arranged that, in conjunction with Captain Kennedy, he should conduct the game at one terminus against half a dozen of the ablest players in the kingdom at the other. To obviate other difficulties, as to which parties should take the distant end, &c., Mr. Staunton volunteered

himself to play at Gosport. Accordingly, on the day appointed, he took his station, with his ally, at the chess-board in the telegraphic apartment at Gcsport; while his opponents, surrounded by a numerous assemblage, consisting of friends of the directors and persons eminent in science, art, and literature, were at their post in the saloon of the terminus at Vauxhall. The contest began about half-past eleven A.M., and terminated about seven in the evening,-nearly the whole of this time being occupied by the consideration of the players over their moves; the mysterious messenger who conveyed the intelligence performing his noiseless journey with the speed of thought.

The mode of playing was by numbering the squares of the chess-board, and the men: thus the moves were conveyed; and the mysterious messenger imparting the intelligence, must have travelled backward and forward during the game, upwards of 10,000 miles.

The telegraph was not solely devoted to the game, but throughout the day it conveyed various messages. The following are the moves of this interesting match, the first certainly ever played under such circum.

Drawn Game.

NOTES TO THE GAME.

(From the Chess-Player's Chronicle.) *

(a) The B. should have been taken off at once.

(b) Had there been any time for deliberation, Mr. Staunton remarked, he should have hesitated to change Queens without examining the effect of moving K. Kt. to K. second.

(c) About this period considerable delay occurred at Gosport, in consequence of an intimation from Southampton that a number of chess players had congregated there, and required to have the moves telegraphed to them. Those already played were forwarded, and every subsequent move was sent at the moment of its being played. This double duty, however, seriously retarded the progress of the game, which would otherwise have terminated, we believe, in time for the players at Gosport to have reached London that night.

(d) This was evidently played without due consideration of the consequences of Black's rejoinder.

(e) From this point the game is decidedly in favour of Black, who, with ordinary time for circumspection, would not have had much difficulty in winning.

(f) The wishes of both Mr. Staunton and Capt. Kennedy now pointed to the advance of K. B.'s Pawn, which they conceived to be the best move; but they hoped by bringing out the Kt. to induce a change of pieces, and thus to simplify and shorten the game. Subsequent analysis shows that, by playing on the Pawn at this juncture, they would have won a Pawn, and have still farther improved their present advantageous position.

(g) Far better then taking the Q. R.'s Pawn.

(h) We look upon this as the best move made by White throughout the game; indeed, we see no other which would have relieved them from the embarrassment they laboured under. The merit of this excellent move is due to Captain Evans, the well-known inventor of the Evans' Gambit.

(i) But for their anxiety to terminate the partie, Black would now have thought it prudent to protect the Pawn they had won. (k) The return of this R. to B. second is well conceived. Mr. Perigal, we believe, is entitled to the credit of having suggested it.

*Edited by Mr. Staunton.