The New Hampshire Gazette

MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH.—The following extraordinary dramatic scene, we will venture to say, has never had its parallel on this earth, and is the legitimate offspring of that strange invention the magnetic telegraph, an invention to which the public attention at this moment is so much and so universally attracted.

On Saturday evening last, June 6, Professor Morse, the inventor and superintendent of the magnetic telegraph, and his assistant, Mr. Vail, in their office at Washington, wished to test the integrity of the telegraphic line the whole distance through from Washington to New York, a distance of no less than 260 miles. The better to understand the singularity of the scene, we are about to record, the reader must imagine four individuals, one at the office in Washington, one at Baltimore, 40 miles distant, one at Philadelphia, 108 miles farther, and one N. York, 112 miles farther. The telegraphic line passes through the instruments at the offices at each of these places, and a communication despatched from any one is written and understood instantly at all the others. We shall designate the operators by the names of the places at which they are stationed:

Washington.—Baltimore, are you in connexion with Philadelphia?
Baltimore.—Yes:
Wash.—Put me in connexion with Philadelphia.
Balt.—Ay, ay, sir; wait a minute. (After a pause.) Go ahead. You can now talk with Philadelphia.
Wash.—How do you do, Philadelphia?
Phila.—Pretty well. Is that you, Washington?
Wash.—Ay, ay; are you connected with New York?
Phila.—Yes.
Wash.—Put me in connexion with New York.
Phila.—Ay, ay, wait a minute. (After a pause.) Go ahead. Now for it.
Wash.—New York, how are you?
(New York does not answer.)
Phila.—Hallo, New York, Washington is talking to you. Don't you hear him? Why don't you answer?
N. York.—I don't get anything from him.
Wash.—I get that from New York.
Phila.—New York, Washington says he gets that from you.
Balt.—How is it that Washington hears from New York, and New York does not hear from Washington.
Phila.—There's where I am floored.
Balt.—What is the reason, Washington?
Wash.—Because New York has not properly adjusted his magnet.
Phila.—I have been hard at work all day. I feel like bricks. Had no supper. I have had a stiff evening's work; there have been so many messages tonight—one alone that gave us seventeen dollars. I want to go.
Wash.—Wait a little.
Balt.—Go it ye cripples:
Phila.—Who is writing
Wash.—Don't talk all at once.
Balt.—Mary Rogers are a case, so are Sally Thompson;
General Jackson are a hoss, so are Colonel Johnson.
Phila.—Who is that? I will discuss that pint
Wash.—Baltimore, keep quiet. Philadelphia, tell New York to ask me to write dots, (that is, to adjust the magnet.)
Phila.—Ay, ay, sir; wait a little. New York, ask Washington to write dots.
N. York.—Ay, ay. Washington, write dots. (Washington begins to write dots.) That's it: O. K. Now I have got you: go ahead.
Wash.—Do you now get what I send you?
N. York.—Ay, ay.
Wash.—Did you get Prof. Morse's message for his daughter?
N. York.—Yes, from Philadelphia; but it is too late to send it over the river to-night. I am all alone; the two boys are gone.
Wash.—Very well; no matter.
Balt.—Good night; I'm going
Wash.—Good night all.
Phila.—Good night.
N. York.—Good night.

And so ends this curious scene; not an imaginary one; but one of actual occurrence. Let any one reflect upon the fact, that all these questions and answers occurred in a space of time but very little longer than that in which this unique drama has been related.—Union.