THE COPYING TELEGRAPH.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SPECTATOR.
Electric Telegraph Office, L,othbury, 7th June 1848. SIR—I am informed that during my recent absence in America an article ap- peared in the Spectator containing a notice of the "Copying Telegraph," which was erroneously described as the invention of Mr. Bakewell.
Permit me, as an act of justice, to inform your numerous readers that the in- vention is not at this time new, neither is Mr. Bakewell the inventor.
The "Copying Telegraph" was invented by me in 1842, and patented in Eng- land in the year following. I also obtained patents for this invention in Scotland. France, and Belgium. The English patent is now the property of the Electric Telegraph Company, who purchased it of me; the foreign patents I still hold. The specification of my English patent is deposited at the Enrolment Office, Chancery Lane; where it is accessible to the public at all times. My "Copying Telegraph" is capable of transmitting the fac-simile of any communication in writing or printing, or of any other figure, including a profile of the "human face divine," so that the physiognomy of a runaway could be sent to all the outports of the kingdom in two or three minutes. The "Copying Tele- graph "has not yet been pat in practical operation, from the circumstance of its requiring greater accuracy in the machinery, and more perfect insulation of the wire, than has yet been attainable for grestdie.ances: but these difficulties are not insurmountable, and daily progress is making towards the necessary perfection in this department of the yet infant science of electric communication. I remain, Sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Aura. BAIN.
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