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the bounds of existence and account for the evolution of history; but the scientific man remembers that however complicated the facts which he reduces under the grasp of his laws, yet beyond all doubt there remain other groups of facts of surpassing complication. Science may ever advance, but, like an improved telescope in the hands of an astronomer, it only discloses the unsuspected extent and difficulty of the phenomena yet unreduced to law.

OUR Government—always the last among European Governments to endow the nation with any benefit resulting from the advance of science—has at length awakened to the fact that the electric current is the scientific modern equivalent for the ancient post-boy, and we are to have a State Telegraph as we have a State Postal system.

As early as 1854, Mr. Thomas Allan, the electrician, published a paper entitled "Reasons for the Government Annexing an Electric Telegraph System to the General Post Office," in which he recommended the adoption of a shilling rate, for messages of twenty words, throughout the United Kingdom. This paper was published a second time in 1863. In 1856, Mr. Baines, an officer in the General Post Office, submitted to the Lords of the Treasury a plan for the annexation of the telegraphs, and a general charge of sixpence for messages of twenty words. In 1861, a memorandum by Mr. Ricardo, chairman of the Electric and International Telegraph Company, recommending the transfer of the telegraphs to the Government, was forwarded to the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Late in the year 1865 the proposition was again brought forward in the report of a committee appointed by the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce "to consider the present condition of telegraphic communication in the United Kingdom, with a view to its improvement." In June 1866, Mr. Edwin Chadwick also forwarded a like scheme to the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The substance of all these papers was to the effect that the existing charges were too high, that the rapidity of transmission of messages was bad, that improvements are slow where they have to be made by competing companies fighting for high dividends, and that telegraphing in consequence was in a more backward state in the United Kingdom than in Switzerland and Belgium.

In September 1865, Mr. Scudamore was requested by the Postmaster-General to take the whole subject into consideration, and to report thereon. His first report was presented in July 1866, followed by a second in February 1868. These reports set forth that before December 1862 messages of twenty words were transmitted for fifteen pence to or from any part of Belgium, in which country the telegraphs are under the control of the State. At the end of 1862 the charge was reduced to tenpence, and in December 1865 the charge was still further reduced to fivepence. The hours of business in the telegraphic offices in Belgium are much the same as those adopted in England. The clerks have the power, which they use largely, of altering the wording of messages so as to make them read clearer, and to prevent mistakes—a plan which manifestly would not work in England, and which would lead to many legal and other difficulties. The result of the reductions in charges was, that in 1860 one telegram was transmitted in Belgium to every 218 letters passing through the post; in 1863, one message was transmitted to every 114 letters; and in 1866, the proportion was one telegram to every 37 letters. He also reported that the charge for the transmission of messages of twenty words between any two towns in Switzerland was tenpence. In 1860, one telegram was transmitted in Switzerland to every 84 letters; in 1863, one telegram to every 74 letters; and in 1866, one telegram to every 69 letters. In the United Kingdom the proportion of telegrams to letters was, in 1860, one to 296; in 1863, one to 197; and in 1866, one to 121. At the close of the year, the telegraphic systems of Belgium and Switzerland had been in operation about fifteen years, and the working expenses during that period had amounted in the case of Switzerland to about 68 per cent., and Belgium 62½ per cent. of the total revenue during the period. At the end of the year 1866, both Governments had a good surplus on hand from the telegraphic departments. The post offices of Switzerland and Belgium have less work than that of the United Kingdom, as shown by the following table, giving national statistics for the year 1865:—

From these figures, Mr. Scudamore concluded that the use of the telegraphs was in a more backward state in the United Kingdom than in Switzerland or Belgium; and he recommended their transference to the Government. one principal reason urged by him to prove that the Government could better afford to send messages at a lower rate than the companies was, that the post offices could spare for the use of the telegraph 12,000 offices rent-free, and a large staff of officials at present engaged, but not all of them fully employed throughout the whole of their hours of duty.

He therefore recommended the purchase of the telegraphs by the State. In August last an Act of Parliament was passed by the late Government sanctioning the plan, and authority was given to buy up the telegraphs by paying the companies £5,715,048 8s. 11d. (The odd elevenpence shows the extreme nicety of the calculation.) The Electric International Telegraph Company will receive £2,938,826 9s. 0d.; the British and Irish Magnetic, £1,243,536; Reuter's Telegram Company, Limited, £726,000; the Universal Private Telegraph Company, £184,421 10s.; the London and Provincial Telegraph Company, Limited, £60,000; and the United Kingdom Telegraph Company, Limited, £562,264 9s. 11d.

At the present time everything relating to the transfer of the telegraphs to the Government is in a transition state, very many of the arrangements not having as yet been completed. It is intended, if possible, to effect the transfer on the 1st of January next; but so much preliminary work remains to be done, that it is doubtful whether all will be ready by that date. A large room has