“ Persons of sanguine disposition, who believe that every great discovery in science is always made in the interest of peace, will be disappointed to find what an important part the electric telegraph has played in connection with war; and it is somewhat curious that the earliest news conveyed by telegraph to the press of America was the launch of a sloop of war at the Brooklyn Yard, and that the first regular organisation for the purpose of telegraph reporting was formed for obtaining news of the progress of the war in Mexico. ”

“ Some “news boatmen” were ordered to cruise in the harbour and watch for the steamer; and as soon as she came up to quarantine, the bag of news was handed to one of the boatmen, who immediately made all possible speed with oar and sails to the city, and then to the telegraph office, with the prepared message. By this means the news is not unfrequently received at New York some time before the steamer is alongside the quay. On one occasion great anxiety was felt respecting the safety of the Atlantic, one of the American line of postal steamers. ”

“ The newsmen are on the alert, and start off with the yacht to the large steamer. A tin canister or box made water-tight, and to which a flag is fixed which can be seen at considerable distance when in the water, is thrown overboard, and this contains the latest news made up at Liverpool or Galway. The yachtsmen make for the small flag, pick up the box, and make all speed to St. John’s, Newfoundland, from which place the news is immediately telegraphed to all parts of Canada and to the United States, a distance of more than a thousand miles. ”

“ A daily horse-express was run between Mobile and Montgomery, a distance of 200 miles, in order to anticipate the arrival of the mail, and forward the news by telegraph to New York and other places. In 1847 the complete and efficient organisation of what is termed the “Associated Press of New York” was established, with “telegraph reporters” and agents in every important city or port in the United States, as well as in Canada, England, and other countries. ”

“ The fact of a report being brought up from the committee on military affairs, was represented by the word “bad,” and the word “bribe” signified that a Bill to reduce and graduate the price of public lands was taken up and discussed; in fact, almost every variety of judicial, diplomatic, and executive phrase was provided for in a voluminous and alphabetically arranged code of ciphers. ”

“ One instance will suffice to show how rapidly these cipher messages expanded when translated. A message of nine words, “bad, came, aft, keen, dark, ache, lain, fault, adopt,” told the following interesting facts: “Flour market for common and fair brands of western is lower, with moderate demand for home trade and export. Sales 8000 barrels. Genesee at $5.12. Wheat prime in fair demand, market firm, common description dull, with a downward tendency; sales, 4000 bushels at $1.10. Corn, foreign news unsettled the market ”