CHRISTOPHER COLLES, AND THE FIRST PROPOSAL OF A TELEGRAPH SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES. WITH INCIDENTAL ALLUSIONS TO THE ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF OUR CITY WATER-WORBK AND OF OUR STATE CANALS, ETC. A LETTER TO HENRY B. DAWSON, EDITOR OF THE HISTORICALCMAGAZLNE, BY HENRY O'RIELLY. MORRISANIA, N. Y. I869. CHRISTOPHER COLLES. To HENRY B. DAWSON, Esq. In July, 1812, the Telegraph Question was introEditor of THE HISTORICAL MAGAZINE: duced by advertisements like the following, copied DEAR SIR-In unison with the proposed Collec- from the New York Columbian, one of the halftion of Data concerning the Origin and Progress dozen little daily newspapers then printed here, of Electric or Electro-MagneticTelegraphs, a brief of which, the Commercial Advertiser and the article may be appropriately devoted to the efforts Evening Post, now enlarged to mammoth size of CHRISTOPHER COLLES for arousing public at- with corresponding spirit, are the sole survivors: tention towards the establishment of Telegraphic "TELEGRAPH. communication between important places-espe- "Mr. Colles, having completed his Telegraphs, cially along the coast of the United States-when "informs the public that their operations will be the last War with Great Britain was about to com- "shown from the top of the Custom-House, on mence. His plan seemed to be an improvement "Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, from 4 till on the French system, including the best means "6 in the afternoon. Admittance 50 cents-,the of signalling available before the application of "subscribers' tickets will be received." electricity in correspondence. It will be seen, by the way in which he mentionThe first formal public proposal for telegraphic ed the subject in another advertisement, that Mr. intercourse along the whole American coast "from Colles was probably as fully sensible of the value "Passamaquoddy to New-Orleans," was made by of telegraphic intercourse as any one among his Mr. Colles, in public lectures and through the successors who witnessed the wonders of electric newspapers of New-York, in the Summer of 1812, correspondence in later years. Even if he lived when the dangers of invasion were threatening in these days, the venerable philosopher could our country. He earnestly urged the construction hardly write more enthusiastically than he did of such a telegraph range, as a measure calculated when urging the organization of Telegraphs on greatlyto aid our Naval and Military defences, as the best practicable plans known among men half well as for Commercial and Governmental pur- a century ago. Such an advertisement as the folposes, at all times. lowing, taken from another Columbian, about the Such a proposition, at such a crisis, was well same date, is well worthy of preservation, as a mecalculated to arouse wide-spread attention among mento alike of the subject, the time, and the man: intelligent minds-especially among men familiar "TELEGRAPH. with the clear-minded practical character of the "As the conveyance of intelligence to remote proposer. And it may be said here that, though "distances, with accuracy and despatch, must be mentioned by Mr. Elkanah Watson as an " obscure "considered as a matter of national as well as in"man, of no consideration, wholly incapable of "dividual importance, both in War and Peace, "conceiving great projects," Colles was one of the "the subscriber, viewing the subject in this light, remarkable persons of his time, and was so recog- "has lately contemplated the invention and imnized by such men as De Witt Clinton, Cadwal- "provement of that necessary instrument, the Telader D. Colden, Charles King, Dr. Hosack, Dr. "legraph, and has, with the assistance of God, J. W. Francis, and other prominent gentlemen "the giver of all good things, been able to discoacquainted with his valuable and unobtrusive ca- "ver and invent two or three practical modes of reer. He was as sagacious and enthusiastic, con- "executing this important object-the simplest of cerning the importance of telegraphic correspond- "which exhibits figures, letters, words and senence through the United States, as he was in refer- "tences, by night or by day, either for the univerence to internal commerce and navigation when "sal communication of unexpected intelligence, urging legislative action for improving the water- "letter by letter, or by preconcerted sentences to ways between the Atlantic and the Western re- "any extent, for any event which may be expectgions, and as he was when suggesting the water- ed and registered for that purpose. works whereby New York City was chiefly sup- "Those improvements encourage him to proplied before the Croton was introduced. "pose to the Public a TelegraphicEstablishment, But, even the distinguished men who have hon- "which promises to be worthy of their attention; ored themselves by rendering honor to Christopher "and, in order to convey the full ideas of these Colles have failed to allude fully to his connec- "discoveries, he intends to deliver a LECTURE, tion with Telegraphic Projects; and hence the "in which he will exhibit complete working mohumble effort here now made to place before the "dels, by which an adequate judgment may be reader some memoranda calculated to turn atten- "formed, and by which he will experimentally tion to a matter so interesting in connexion with his "prove, that this art is Now arrived at such a degeneral character and the condition of his times. "gree of perfection and simplicity, as to convince 4 CHRISTOPHER COLLES. "the Public that the proposed establishment is in a time of War, when it was particularly import"highly worthy of being classed with some of the ant that every practicable improvement should "greatest improvements and most profitable spe- have been adopted for transmitting intelligence "culations of the present age, or that has hitherto connected with the national defence. And, be" been laid before them; and that it is also capa- sides, it was not much clumsier or much slower "ble of opening a more copious field for the ex- than the earliest machinery by which Professor "tension of commerce than that important branch Morse, more than five-and-twenty years thereafter, of knowledge has yet acquired or enjoyed: And thought of transmitting numbers with his "saw" altho' it is a lamentable consideration that the " tooth telegraph," so sometimes styled, from the utility of any improvement is not always a suffi- jagged appearance of its marks-the numbers re"cient stimulation to insure success, and although ferring to sentences in a Dictionary prepared for "the minds of intelligent persons are sometimes the purpose-a plan never practically carried out "so obscured by prejudice or influenced by jea- by Prof. M., it being superseded by the use of "lousy as to be invincible even by the most lucid dots and dashes as synonimes for letters, as dots "arguments and incontestable facts, still he hopes, and dashes have in turn been generally superseded "by the evidence of the eye and by numerical by sounds readily recognized by competent tele"demonstrations, to convince the judgment, that graphers. The mode of correspondence by nu"there is no imprudent risk to be feared, but the merals, referring to words and sentences, as promost solid advantages to be hoped by prosecuting posed by Colles, in 1812, was substantially like " it immediately. CHRISTOPHER COLLES. that temporarily adopted twenty or more years "This Lecture will be delivered at the Custom later by Prof. Morse, when trying his primitive " House, on Thursday, the 22d inst. at 4 o'clock abortive saw-tooth machine-as shown by the " in the afternoon. Tickets of admission to be printed quarto Dictionary prepared by one of his' had of Mr. Samuel Wood, No. 357 Pearl-street; partners-a'copy of which curious volume is in"Whiting & Watson, No. 96 Broadway; and of eluded in the Telegraph Collection in the Library " the Lecturer, at the Custom House." of the New-York Historical Society. The greatMr. Colles published an acount of his telegra- est speed claimed by Prof. Morse, in his letter to phic plan in a pamphlet of 1813, with this title: the Secretary of the Treasury, in 1837,even with his then improved machine, was only about "five *' DESCRIPTION OF THE NUMERICAL TELEGRAPH: " words in a minute." ", For communicating unexpected intelligence, "'For communicating unexpected intelligence, It must not be understood, from what is here " by figures, letters, words and sentencesot be understood, fro "by fiurs lter, odsad enece; stated that this proposal of Colles was the first "with directions for writing the Correspondence, stated, th this proposal of Coes was the rst " either public or private-and showing suggestion of a Telegraph in the United States."the manner of working the machine with per- Jonathan J of Belchertown Mass., in " feet accuracy and despatch. 1800, filed an application for a Patent for an im" By CHRISTHER COLLES, of News-York. proved Telegraph-an alleged improvement on the "Brooklyn-Printed by ALDEN SPOONER —83." plans which had been used in Europe for several years; and it is stated that this invention was opeThe title was accompanied by an engraving of rated about that time between Boston and Martha's the Telegraph. The following quotation explains Vineyard, a distance of ninety miles; when a questhe working of the machine: tion was transmitted and answered in less than ten " CELERITY OF THE CORRESPONDENCE. minutes. But no public proposition for a national As it has been found by experiment that 84 range of Telegraph appears to have been made be"letters can be exhibited by this machine in five fore that of Mr. Colles, in 1812. " minutes, or 300 seconds, to the distance of one But, notwithstanding his ardent practical ap" telegraphic station, (averaged at ten miles,) it peals and demonstrations, Mr. Colles could only "follows that each letter can be exhibited at that succeed in getting his Telegraph constructed so "distance in 3.57 seconds, and to a hundred miles far as to signalize intelligence between New-York "in 35.7 seconds;-and by the same proportion, City and Sandy Hook-say forty miles: which "from Passamaquoddy to New-Orleans, a dis- short section he managed for several years. "tance of 2600 miles, in 928.2 seconds, or 15 Had the wise suggestions of Mr. Colles been " minutes 28 secondt; and a communication of promptly sustained by the Government or by the " the length of the Lord's Prayer in 36 minutes business community-had his proposed telegraph "13 seconds-but say one hour. Will not this system been extended along the coast to any con" berapid enough/" * * * * siderable extent "between Passamaquoddy and Let no one sneer at the inquiry thus made about " New-Orleans," —so as to transmit intelligence the speed of correspondence proposed in those rapidly among the American people; many moveprimitive times. Tho' not quite " rapid enough" ments of British fleets and armies might have been to suit this fast age, it should have been sufficient essentially impeded, if not entirely frustrated, and to arouse greater attention than it did, especially our national feelings, as well as the public and CHRISTOPHER COLLES. 5'private interests of our countrymen, might have way to Lake Erie, at Buffalo. By the Ontario'been saved from various painful ordeals. But, in route it was proposed to connect with Lake Erie 1812, even the citizens of New-York were as slow and the Upper Lakes, by a canal of seven miles, in appreciating the value of Colles's Semaphoric with locks, at NiagaraFalls. It is important to re-'Telegraph as they were in 1845, when little or no- member this distinction marking what was origithing could be raised in that city towards extend- nally called the " Ontario Route," as distining the Electro-magnetic Telegraph northward of guished from the "Erie Canal Route"-the credit Baltimore-to which place the National Govern- for the original project of which latter enterprise, ment had built a forty-mile experimental line from with which Governor Clinton was so honorably Washington during the previous year. connected, was ascribed by him to Jesse Hawley, of Western New-York. - A few paragraphs may be appropriately devoted (3.) "In the Session of the Legislature of to Colles and his projects and works in other 1784," says Gov. Clinton, "Mr. Adgate, from the branches of improvement, beyond the telegraphic "Committee to whom was referred the Memorial labors to which this communication is specially "of Christopher Colles, proposing someinteresting devoted-that we may better know the leading "improvements in internal navigation, reported, ~characteristics of the Pioneer Projector of an'That it is the opinion of the Committee that American National Telegraph System.'the laudable proposals of Mr. Colles for reHear, then, what some of his eminent cotem- "'moving the obstructions in the Mohawk-river, poraries-men who knew him long and well-said "'so that boats of burthen may pass the same, about his sagacious and industrious spirit, in con- "'merit the encouragement of the public; but nexion with some of the greatest works of mate- "'that it would be inexpedient for the Legislarial improvement: "'ture to cause that business to be undertaken at (1.) Charles King, late President of Columbia "'the public expense: That, as the performing'College and a distinguished member of the New- "'of such a work will be very expensive, it is York Historical Society, in the M)emoir of the Cro- "'therefore the opinion of the Committee, that, if ton Aqueduct which he prepared for the Corpora- "'Mr. Colles, with a number of adventurers, (as tion, rendered credit to Mr. Colles for his early "'by him proposed,) should undertake it, they and indefatigable efforts to arouse the people of "' ought to be encouraged by a Law giving this'city to a proper sense of the necessity of secu- "'and securing unto them, their heirs and asring ample supplies of water-efforts preceding'signs, for ever, the profits that may arise the construction of the Manhattan Water-Works,' from transportation, under such restrictions which partially supplied the citizens for many "'and regulations as shall appear to the Legisyears before the introduction of the Croton super- "'lature necessary for that purpose; and authorseded that and all other modes of supplying water "'izing them to execute that work through any in New-York city. "'lands or improvements, on payment of the (2.) De Witt Clinton, with the characteristics of "'damages to the proprietors, as the same shall anoble nature, hasborne emphatic testimony to the' be assessed by a jury."' And this favorable services which Colles rendered in early advocating Report was sanctioned by the House of Assembly. a policy of Internal Improvement which, as subse- (4.) Early the next year, 1785, Colles Presented quently modified, has rendered the name of Clin- another Memorial, further advocating the policy ton himself illustrious in history. of Internal Improvements; and on this, also, In his memorable essays under the signature of a favorable Report was made by the Committee "TACITUS," Gov. Clinton frankly declared that to whom it was referred. As a further mark "Christopher Colles, a native of Ireland, who'of legislative approval, an appropriation was "settled in New York, and who had, before the also made in the Supply Bill "for the purpose of "Revolutionary War, proposed a plan for sup- "enabling him to make to make an essay towards "plying that city with good water, was thefirst "removing certain obstructions in the Mohawk "person who suggested to the Government of the "River, and to exhibit a plan thereof to the Le"State the Canals and improvements on the On- "gislature, at their next meeting." (Don't laugh "'tario route." The "Ontario route," be it re- at the smallness of the appropriation-only $125; membered, meant the plan afterwards adopted for even when legislative attention was first Iby the Western Inland Lock Navigation Con- turned to a Survey of the Erie Canal, from Alpany, for connecting the Atlantic coast with the bany to Buffalo, in 1808, the paltry sum of $600 Western Lakes at Oswego, by means of short only! was provided for that magnificent object.) -canals connecting the Mohawk-river, Wood- (5.) On the 17th March, 1786, says Clinton, creek, Oswego-river and Lake Ontario-which "Mr. Jeffrey Smith, from the Committee apSroute was briefiy used for navigation till the "pointed to consider the Memorials of Colles Erie Canal was constructed for connecting the "and his associates, REPORTED FAVORABLY, and:Hudson River by one continuous artificial water- "asked leave, which was granted, to bring in 8 CHRISTOPHER COLLES. "a Bill, entitled' An Act for improving the na- Atlantic Coast and the regions surrounding the"'vigation of the Mohawk River, Wood Creek, great Lakes and Rivers of the West. His Internal "'and the Onondaga [or Oswego] River, with a ImprovementMemorial of 1784 succeeded in arous"'view of opening an inland navigation to Os- ing our Legislature to make its first appropria"' wego, and for extending the same, if practica- tion for surveying the route of the water-courses "'ble, to Lake Erie.'" through the State, such as Mohawk-river, WoodBut, the lateness of the period in the Session creek and Oswego-river, which he urged should seems to have prevented the passage of the Bill, be connected by short canals so as to permit the as the Assembly, after resolving to meet again in transit of boats with freight and passengers beCommittee of the Whole on the subject, ad- tween the seaboard and the interior waters. A journed before such meeting could be held. small appropriation for a survey with that purpose (6.) Hosack, in his Memoir of Clinton and the was made in 1785; and Colles's Report on the reCanals, mentions the "useful labors and enter- suits of his Survey, as well as his Memorials to" prize" of Mr. Colles, and refers particularly to the Legislature, excited and kept alive a feeling in the legislative "measures of 1784, 1785, and favor of inland navigation, for the promotion of: "1786, upon the motions [or Memorials] of that which, other parties united, a few years after, in "personage." forming Inland Lock Navigation Companies" Notwithstanding what has been said of the which Companies and their navigable facilities. "suggestions made by Gen. Schuyler, in 1797, were superseded, after several years, by the con"and by Gouverneur Morris, in 1800, relative to struction of the Erie and Champlain Canals. "the extension of navigation to Lake Erie," says (9.) One of the quickest and most valued results Dr. Hosack, in the same Memoir, "the Jour- of the small legislative appropriation, made in 1785, nals of the Legislature, as early as 1786, show for encouraging Colles in examining the obstruc"that Mr. Jeffrey Smith, and probably Christo- tions in the Mohawk River on the proposed Onta" pher Colles, must have preceded them in this rio Route, was the publication by him, in the same. "view of the measure." year, of a pamphlet under the title of (7.) Col. Robert Troup, who was in the Legis- lature of 1786, remarks, that, on reviewing they S t o t W "For theSpeedy Settlement of the Waste and Journals of the Assembly, he finds that "on the For o ptte n "14th of February, 1786, a Petition from Chris- Unappropriated Lands "topher Colles, with a Report of the practica — "bility of rendering the Mohawk-river naviga- d for te ork, theAnd for the Improvement of the Inland Navi — "ble, was referred to Jeffrey Smith and others;" Improvement of the Inland Ngo. - and adds that " it is therefore very possible th rat gaion between Albany and Oswegon "Mr. Colles may have furnished Mr. Smith with PintedaNew ork, budo: " the idea of extending the navigation to Lake The language of this publication —a remarka" Erie." "blepamphlet," asitis styled by Appleton's Amer(8.) Cadwallader D. Colden, in his Memoir of ican Cayclopedia-indicates some of the many the Celebration consequent on the completion of reasons why such men as Clinton, Colden, Hothe Erie Canal, in October, 1825-prepared by sack, King and Francis spoke as they did conrequest of the New-York Corporation —referred cerning Colles. They knew how to appreciate also in the most honorable manner to the saga- the intelligent spirit which led him, at that cious views and practical efforts of Colles for pro- early period, to expatiate so eloquently on the admoting internal improvement in the earliest days vantages and future greatness of the " glorious of our State Government, after the Revolution; "West." Full fifteen years before Gouverneur Moradding, substantially, that the name of Christo- ris wrote his often-quoted letter of 1800 conpher Colles should be enduringly remembered, cerning "ships sailing" from the Ocean to the among those of the men who contributed, at an Great Lakes-which letter is sometimes actually early period, to arousing and nerving the People adduced as a proof that he, Morris, projected' of this State for undertaking the great works that the Erie Canal!-Mr. Colles published, in that shed lustre on ourhistory: for, immediately after pamphlet and in repeated Memorials to the Legthe establishment of our political independence, islature, sundry statements respecting the induceas already intimated-cotemporaneously with the ments for and advantages of connecting theefforts of Washington, who was then as earnest water-courses between the Atlantic and the in advocating the improvement of internal navi- Western Lakes —and that, too, in languagegation as he had been in asserting our national which would have done no discredit to DeWitt freedom-Colles memorialized the Legislature of Clinton himself. A brief extract from that New-York, in language showing that he vividly memorable pamphlet may enable the reader toappreciated the immense advantages inseparable judge whether Colles was " wholly incapable of from suitable water-communication between the " conceiving great projects:" CHRISTOPHER COLLES. 7 "From the foregoing views," said Mr. Col- "enterprise [in that respect*] Though his les, on submitting his calculations concerning the "plan for connecting the Northern and Southgreat enterprise, " the importance of the proposed ern and Eastern and Western waters was revived "design will appear sufficiently evident. By "in 1791, it does not appear that Colles had any "this, the internal trade will be increased; by "connexion with it." He was "the projector "this also the foreign trade will be promoted; by "and attendant of the Telegraph erected during "this the county will be settled; by this the " the last War on Castle Clinton," in the harbor "frontiers will be secured: by this a variety of of New York. " Genius' and talents, much above "articles, as masts, yards and ship-timber, may be "the sphere in which he seems to have moved " brought to New York, which will not bear the "in the latter part of his life, could not rescue "expense of land carriage, and which, notwith- "him from obscurity and poverty, but it would " standing, will be a considerable remittance to "be ungrateful to forget him at this time. No " Europe. By this, in time of War, provisions "one can say how far we owe this occasion" [the " and military stores i ay be moved with facility celebration of the Union of the Atlantic with "in sufficient quantities to answer any emergency; the Great Lakes] " to the ability with which he " and by this, in time of Peace, all the necessa- " developed the great advantages that would re" ries, conveniences, and, if we please, the luxur- " suit from opening the communications with the, "ies of life, may be distributed to the remotest "Lakes,-to the clear views he presented of the "points of the Great Lakes, which so beautifully "facility with which these communications might "diversify the face of this extensive Continent, "be made-and to the activity with which he "and to the smallest branches of the numerous "for some time pursued this object. His cotem" Rivers which shootfrom those Lakes upon every "poraries have not been insensible of his mer"point of the compass. "its, and have preserved a portrait of him by "Providence, indeed, appears to favor this de- "Jarvis, in the Gallery of the New York His"sign," said Mr. Colles; "for the Allegany "toiical Society." "mountains, which pass through all the States, (11.) Notwithstanding the approbation be"seem to die away as they approach the Mohawk stowed on his Memorials and Plans, by three "River; and the ground between the upper part consecutive Sessions of the Legislature, however,. "of this River and Wood Creek, is perfectly level, it does not appear that any further legislative "as if designedly to permit us to pass through movement on this subject was made by Mr. Col"this channel into that extensive inland country. les, though we cannot doubt that his important " The amazing extent of the five Great Lakes pamphlet on the subject, heretofore mentioned, "to which the proposed navigation will commu- and his personal influence among his fellow"nicate," adds Mr. Colles, "will be found to citizens, contributed largely in arousing atten"have five times as much coast as all England; tion to the great importance of the projects "and the country watered by the numerous rivers which had thus secured for him such marked "which fall into these Lakes, full seven or eight governmental attention and respect. Governor "times as great as that valuable island. If thefer- Clinton, when writing on the subject, long years "tility of the soil be the object of our attention, afterwards, said that the operations of Colles "we will find it at an average equal to Britain.'probably failed for the want of subscribers "Of late years, the policy of that island hasbeen for the contemplated Association" or Company.. " to promote inland navigation; and the advan- But other causes may be assigned-such as, the "tages, gained both by the public and individ- fact that the lands of Western New York were "uals, have been attended by such happy conse- then in possession of the Indians, sustained by "quences, that it is intersected in all manner of the intrigues of the British,who still held the forts "directions, by these valuable water-ways-by at Oswego and Niagara, and continued to hold "which the inhabitants receive reciprocally the them till after Jay's Treaty, or in 1796-which "comforts of the respective productions, whether unfavorable influences were obvious from the fact "flowing from the bounty of Providence or the that, though the "Western Inland Lock Naviga"effects of industry, and, by an exchange of "tion Company," embracing many wealthy men, "commodities, render partial and particular im- among whom Mr. Elkanah Watson is named, " provements the source of universal abundance." was Chartered by the Legislature, in 1792, to carry out the project proposed by Colles, in legislative (10.) In his kindly notice of Mr. Colles, in Memorials and Reports of 1784-5-6, that Comthe Memoir on the completion of the Erie Canal, pany could do little in effecting the object for Mr. Colden thus further says: several years; and had actually to obtain from the " The difficulties which Mr. Colles met with, "The difficulties which Mr. Colles met with, In that respect," only, if even in that-for his spirit [after haviug memorialized the Legislature in was always active in promoting good wors till his latest 1784r-5-6, concerning his proposed plan of in- years. His Telegraph Project, for instance, was presented ternal navigation] "seem to have subdued his to the ublicmore than a qarter-century after he memorializea the Legislature in favor of Internal Navigation. CHRISTOPHER COLLES. Legislature of 1798 an extension of the time pre- "remarkable pamphlet, he has the following scribed for completing even the first section of "sentence:-'The amazing extent of the five the work, between Schenectady and Wood-creek"' "great Lakes, to which the proposed navigation -delay not unreasonably resulting from the long- " will communicate, will be found to have five continued hostile aspect of the Indians and the "I times as much coast as all England, and the British Garrisons and the consequent slowness of "'countries watered by the numerous rivers, "settlement" along the route. "'which fall into these Lakes, ll seven or eight (12.) As these testimonials to the services of " times asgreat as that valuable island.' As the Colles naturally beget a desire to know more about " War of the Revolution arrested the progress of his career, some brief statements from other "his measures for supplying the City by his resources concerning his long and useful life may servoir, * * * we find his name again be appropriately given here. Appleton's Ameri. "recorded as an applicant for a contract to con-.can Cyclopedia gives some interesting particulars: vey water through the city by means of pipes. "In 1765 heset out, a wanderer from his native "Dr. Brown recommended to the Common Coun"land, and we find him in Philadelphia in 1772, "cil the Bronx-river for that purpose; and this, "delivering lectures on pneuimatics, illustrated it is affirmed, is the first indication on record''by a variety of curious and entertaining ex- "that a supply was to be looked for from with-' periments in an air-pump, lately invented by "out the city. Doubtless the original sugges"'him.' He also proposed to give three lectures "tion of the Bronx came from Colles. In 1808, on hydrostatics and hydraulics, with the Colles published an elaborate pamphlet'On "motion of fluids and their action upon dif-'the interests of the United States of America,'ferent machines-as wind and water mills, "'extending to all conditions of men by means various kinds of pumps, and steam engines. " of inland navigable communications." * *' The year following, he was engaged in de- " * He was never idle. His devices to secure "livering a series of lectures, in New York, on an'honest livelihood' were almost countless. "Inland Navigation. He is reported to have "His various knowledge was admitted, his science "been the first individual who undertook to was consideredreal. * * * Weariedatlast "build a steam-engine in this country, de- "by disappointments, he now summoned resolu" signed for a distillery in Philadelphia; but, on tion to enter on a new service, and commenced " account of his limited means, his machine "as a tourist a journey of some extent, and not "proved defective and his appeal for aid to "without personal hazard at that early day, "the Philsophical Society abortive-though the "through Pennsylvania and New York; and in " Committee, with Rittenhouse at the head, com- "1789 he published a book on Roads through "mended his talents and pronounced him wor- New York. * "His long life was "thy of public encouragement. In April, 1774, "marked by severe trials and perplexing inci"he proposed to erect a reservoir for the purpose "dents. * * * The victim of penury, * Hs' of conveying water through the several streets INTEGRITY WAS NEVER QUESTIONED. His na"of the city of New York. His proposals "ture was benevolent, his morals void of offence "were' read and referred.' "toward God and man. His long career proved "In 1775, he engaged in a new enterprise, and "useful to his adopted country. * * * * "delivered lectures on gunnery, and was further "Clinton included him among the earliest and " employed in giving instruction to the Artillery "prominent instigators of the Canal Policy, and " department of the American Army, in the prin- "Hosack has recorded his services. Humble as "ciples of projectiles. He was selected, from "time to time, by detachments of the Artillery Colles was not the only person connected with Internal *orps in ste them 1as'..*,Navigation projects who struggled with "poverty," if not Corps in different stations to give tems penury.ese Hawey, athor of the first comprehensive "on the momentum and direction of the cannon project of National Internal Navigation, of which the Erie "ball. He continued in this employment until Canal was only a part, and to whom DeWitt Clinton gave "b. ie con d in this em ment until credit as the originator of the first practicable idea of that "the arrival of Baron Steuben, in 1777, when a Canal, wrote some or all of his memorable "fourteen es"new organization in the Military department " says" (re-published in Hosack's Memoir of Clinton) while took place. Coles was the rst peron wo sg- on the " Jail Limits" for debt. Myron Holley, one of the took place. Colles was the first person who sug- most efficient associates of Clinton in constructing the' gested canals and improvements to connect Lake great work, suffered keenly from poverty thro' many of his "' Onhtario with the pH udson. ( According tothere- latter years. DeWitt Clinton himself did not escape pecun"cntaio wits tte Hudson. Accoi g to N e r e-kn N iary as well as other annoyances in connexion with our "cords of the Assembly of New York, in Novem- Internal Improvements. After he had served the State gra" her 1784, he presented a Memorial on the sub- tuitously for many years, till the great work was nearly in, 1 feorableo Rep completed, he was summarily thrown out of the Canal'ject; and, in Aprilfollowing, a favorable eport Board by a partizan Legislature; and, though a grateful 4 was made thereon. He visited the country, and People promptly showed their respect by electing him as "took an actual survey of the principal ob.stGruc- Governor thereafter, he, died worth scarcely money enough "took an actual survey of the principal obstru- to pay for the grave to which he was suddenly harried, soon "tions on the Mohawk-river as far as Wood- after the triumphant celebration of the completion of the "creek. rr The results of his tour were pub- great work with which his fame is imperishably associated. "creesk. The results of hs tour were pub- or are these the only instances that could be given as illuns' lished by Samuel Loudon, in 1785. In this trations in this connexion.-H. O'R. CHRISTOPHER COLLES. 9 "' was his [pecuniary] condition, Hamilton paid tion, on the importance of speedily improving the 4" him marked deference, and often visited him. internal navigation, so as to facilitate trade and' Jefferson corresponded with him. Jarvis paint- commerce between the Atlantic States and the "ed his portrait. When the great celebration, in vast regions around the Great Lakes and Rivers "October, 1825, took place, on the completion of of the West-the same spirit that guided him in "the Canal, the effigy of Colles was borne among urging the construction of Telegraphs through all " emblems that characterized the vast procession." parts of the United States, not alone for social (13.) With all his great projects, some of which and commercial objects, but also for promoting were deemed " visionary" by some men of small the National Defence in the last War with Great,calibre or envious disposition-as great projects Britain. But now for the advertisement:.and their projectors are temporarily denounced THE PB by such narrow intellects-Colics was always ready in practically applying his large store of " The subscriber, intending shortly to exhibit scientific and mechanical abilities to such varied " t the NewYork Institution or Scientific Estamatters as the wants of society in his time de- "blishment, in Chambers-street, (late the Almsmanded, whether in astronomy, chemistry, hy- "House,) a number of new mechanical contridraulics, canalling, gunnery and projectiles, wa-" vances of his own invention, and which he apter-works, engineering, pneumatics, telescopes, ( prehends may be of considerable national imsun-dials, solar microscopes, botany, mineraloy, portance, thinks it necessary and takes this me-the improvement of wild lands, telegraphs, and " thod to inform the public that he is no perpemany other matters. Everybody who knew him, tual-mnotion-man, but utterly disclaims all those (and Dr. Francis writes that people generally, in "fallacious ideas by which many have either deNew York, did know and respect him,) felt free ceived themselves or meant to deceive others to call on him for almost any kind of informa- into a hope and belief of what is only in the tion-for he was versed in the general range of "power of the Almighty to perform. Dated 26th science and useful arts, according to the lights "of July, 1816. of the times. As a specimen of his ready adap- "CHRISTOPHER COLLES." tation to the most useful pursuits, however "ob- This allusion to " perpetual motion" was parC' scure" and unworthy of " consideration" some ticularly useful at the time, in warning his fellowsupercilious people might consider them, it may citizens, who had great respect for his judgment be mentioned that Colles turned the attention on mechanical as well as scientific subjects-as of people along the Hudson to the important some visionaries were then industriously pestering business of brick-making, for supplying the the public with schemes of that kind. wants of New York and other towns-and (15.) Dr. John W. Francis, well-known through invented a brick-machine for facilitating the the land for a long period, during many years manufacture, at Tarrytown, near the place now enjoyed the acquaintance and learned how perwell-known as the late residence of Washington sonally to appreciate the worth of the unassuming Irving-where he filled up his working hours by Colles, and devotes special attention to his memory. aiding to educate some of the young folk-as A single brief extract from one of the historical is well recollected by the venerable Captain Sketches by Dr. F., will indicate how fully and Samuel Martling, now over eighty years of age, cordially he unites with other distinguished men who in those days " took lessons" from Colles, in rendering honor to the venerable philosopher. as did also his cousin, the late Captain Abraham Dr. Francis concludes his grateful tribute with D. Martling; which latter facts are well-known to the following emphatic paragraph: you, Mr. Editor of THE HISTORICAL MAGAZINE, " As Colles was an instructive representative through your relationship to those worthy men. "of much of that peculiarity in the condition (14.) From a copy of the Columbian, dated "and affairs of New York, at the time in in July of 1816, is taken the following unique "which he may be said to have flourished, I notice, under the signature of Mr. Colles, the "shall trespass a moment by a brief exhibit tenor of which indicates that, till his latest days, of the circumstances which marked the pe*that estimable man was actuated by the same spi- riod, in which he was, upon the whole, a rit that led him to lecture on canalling, water-works "prominent character. Everybody seemed to and other improvements, in New-York and Phila "know him-no one spoke disparagingly of him. delphia, before the Revolution -the same spirit'"His enthusiasm, his restlessness, were familiar that induced him to serve as an Engineer and as a " to the citizens at large. le, in short, was a Drill-master in Gunnery and Projectiles during "part of our domestic history; and an exthat contest-the same spirit that urged him to "tra word or two may be tolerated, the better suggest means for improving the wild lands of "to give him his fair proportions. Had Western New-York, and to memorialize our New- "I encountered Colles in any land, I would'York Legislature, immediately after the Revolu- "have been willing to have naturalized him to 10 CHRISTOPHER COLLES. "our soil and institutions. lie had virtues, the promoting the speedy enlargement of the Erie "exercise of which must prove profitable to any Canal, thirty-two years ago, I was impressed with "people. * * * The ardent and untiring a deep sense of the importance of the projects "man was so connected with divers affairs, and exertions of Mr. Colles, as a pioneer in that "ever after he had domesticated himself branch of American progress; and it gave lme "among us, that every movement in which he great pleasure to refer to his early services in a "took a part must have had a salutary influ- chapter on our Internal Improvement System "ence on the masses in those days." I in my book about Rochester and Western New, Of how many other persons, in that or any York, published in 1838. age, could so much be truly said as is said in About one-third of a century after Mr. Colles the concurrent testimony of all the above-named proposed the construction of a Semaphoric Teledistinguished men who were the cotemporaries of graph —the only kind known practically in his. Colles? time-it fell to my lot to organize lines of Electric (16.) Such is abrief outline of some of the many Telegraph, from Portland (not far " from Passagood projects and works of Christopher Colles. " maquoddy) to New-Orleans," as aportion of the His suggestion of a National Telegraph System, Telegraph Range whereby I first connected all his latest great project, was in unison with his sections of the United States, as they were twenty active exertions in early years for Promoting years ago; and hence my particular gratification Health by supplying cities with water-works; for in rendering this tribute to the intelligent energy aiding Trade and Commerce and facilitating Na- of that worthy Pioneer in advocating a similar tional Defence by improving our Inland Naviga- extension of telegraphic correspondence, on the tion; and for advancement in other important best plan known in his time. Had Colies lived matters. to witness Professor Joseph Henry's great discoEven these brief allusions-and many similar very of the means for generating adequate Electestimonials might be added on other subjects tro-Magnetic Power for telegraphing between men connected with intellectual and material progress and nations widely separated, he would doubtless -are sufficient to indicate that Colles, although a have been foremost in honoring the discoverer and very unobtrusive personage, was far from being in urging the adoption of that invaluable and in" an obscure man, of no consideration-incapable dispensable agency for " bringing the ends of the " of conceiving such projects," as Elkanah Watson " earth together," sub-oceanically as well as by represented. The records of State legislation, the overland lines, in such electric unity as the world history of some of our greatest public works, the is now enjoying, testimony of eminent cotemporaries, all combine When referring to Christopher Colles in connecin showing that Colles was alike remarkable for tion with public improvements and in his amiable intellectual power, for sagacious perceptions, for example in social life, those who properly estimate energetic and persevering action in various good his character can hardly repress expressions of reworks, as he was for the inflexible integrity, the spect and affection: and with such feelings, the active benevolence and the sensitive modesty that context will show, his most prominent cotempothrew a charm around his generous spirit. raries spoke of him, as we speak of him now. In the versatility and general soundness of his No man more deserving of kind remembrance, views and labors, indeed, Colles had no superior has ever been connected with telegraphic operain his times, if we may credit the concurrent tes- tions —though it is not alone for telegraphic protimony of the eminent authorities above named. jects that his memory should be revered. That It may be truly said, he was one of the worthi- his telegraphic plans were not promptly sustained est foreigners that ever benefitted his adopted and carried into effect, was not his fault, but a country: And yet he can hardly be styled "a for- public misfortune-the evils of which were often " eigner," inasmuch as he was domiciled in this and seriously felt during the War with Great Bricountry and laboring for its welfare before and tain. As unostentatious as he was sagacious, he during the contest for the establishment of our was indeed one of those gifted men whose misforNational Government, and also during the last tune consists in being ahead of their times. The War with Great Britain. New-York Historical Society has a portrait painted by Jarvis as a mark of respect from some of the While examining the records of Internal Im- eminent cotemporaries of Colles; and that valuaprovements, in connexion with duties assigned ble Society may well point to it as a memento of me as Chairman of the Executive Committee one of the best men that ever trod its halls or appointed by the first State Convention for honored its membership. Be his memory ever honored as one of the worthiest Pioneers of American Progress! In the book issned in 1820 by Mr. Watson, claiming that HENRY O'RIELLY. he (Mr. Watson) was entitled to "the exclu8sve honor of E, 26 P. Aprl 19, 16 "prqecting the Canal Policy " c NEW-YORK, 26 PN-ST., April 19, 1869. CHRISTOPHER COLLES. 11 CHRISTOPHER COLLES AND INLAND NAVIGATION. EXPLANATORY. Concerning one feature of the statements re- projects, evidently arises from the want of proper specting the connection of Christopher Colles appreciation of the marked distinction between with Inland Navigation projects, incidentally the "Ontario Route" and the "Overland Route," alluded to in my letter concerning that remarka- attention is here particularly requested to the subble man, (published in THE HISTORICAL MAGA- ject; and a reference to any map of the State is ZINE for April, 1869,) a few additional words respectfully suggested, for the better illustration may be useful in further explanation of the sub- of the distinction between the respective routes. ject. Even Mr. Elkanah Watson, while claiming to be The allusions, in the Legislative Report and the originator of the idea of the "State Canal Bill of 1786, to an extension of the boat naviga-" System," and who was concerned in the Westtion to "Lake Erie, if practicable"-and to ern Inland Navigation Company for carrying out which Doctor Hosack and Colonel Troup referred Colles's project of the " Ontario Route," expressly (vide page 265, HISTORICAL MAGAZINE for April, says, in his History of the Canals, published in 1869,) should not be confounded with the Erie 1820, The utmost stretch of our views was to Canal Project, as afterwards suggested by Jesse "follow the track of Nature's Canal, and to reHawley, in 1806-7, and realized by Clinton and " move natural or artificial obstructions; but we his compeers, between 1817 and 1826. "never entertained the most distant conception Those allusions were, either to a possible ex- "of a Canal from Lake Erie to the Hudson. tension of the inrand-navigation, westward of "We should not have considered it much more Oswego, by means of Seneca-river, flowing from extravagant to have suggested the possibility Seneca-lake, which unites with the Oswego-river "of a Canal to the moon. The projectors of the near Oswego; and to a continuance of boat navi- "grand Canal from Lake Erie to the Hudson gation, westward of Seneca-lake, by canals and "have soared to a sublime height in conceiving locks connecting with any stream or streams that at once the boldest and most daring attempt might enable boatmen to reach Lake Erie, with- "(and, in its consequences, the most important out going into Lake Ontario at Oswego; or, to a'to society) ever encountered by the genius of proposed canal and locks around Niagara Falls, "man." to enable vessels reaching Oswego from Albany, One of the noblest features in the character of to traverse Lake Ontario and ascend to Lake Erie De Witt Clinton, is the magnanimity with which by means of a canal and locks at Niagara Falls- he ascribed to poor Jesse Hawley the honor of for which latter purpose, a Company was char- I having originated this Erie Canal Project, as he tered by the Legislature in 1798-which Compa- also gladly recognized the fact, proven by our ny, however, did not carry out the Niagara Falls Legislative records and cotemporary history, that project. "Christopher Colles was the first person who The Erie Canal Project, on the inland route i " suggested to the Government of the State the suggested by Hawley in his fourteen memora-'Canale and ilprovetents on the Ontario ble essays, (re-published in the Hosack Memoir,)' ote Sufcient for Clinton's noble hert and afterwards gloriously realized by Clinton and was the consciousness of having aided to conhis associates, was styled by Hawley, the " Over- summate the Great Idea which he thus honorably "land Route," in contra-distinction to the.Lake conceded to Hawley, and with the realization of Ontario agid Niagara Falls route, for " tapping" which his own fame is imperishably connected. or connecting with Lake Erie. IEL. As much of the confusion and conflicting claims concerning the origin of the respective j NEW YORK, May 10, 1869.