DISCONTINUANCE OF THE ADMIRALTY SEMAPHORES
—In consequence of the facilities now afforded to the Board of Admiralty and all the Government departments in transmitting and receiving expresses from one end of the country to the other by the electric telegraph, the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have determined upon discontinuing the old semaphores, which will be a great saving to the public, as each of them was attended by a lieutenant of the Royal Navy and assistants. The former have retired on half-pay with an increase, and the latter have been pensioned off. The great advantage of the electric telegraph over the old system is well known, as by the present one despatches can be sent off and received at all times, night and day, and no matter what weather, whereas the former telegraphs could only work by day, and that in fine weather, which was a great inconvenience to Government, especially the naval department, which had only one line—from the Admiralty, Whitehall, to Portsmouth ; whilst now orders can be transmitted in a moment to the Royal arsenals of Woolwich, Chatham and Sheerness, Portsmouth, Plymouth and Devonport, Pembroke, &c.; and no doubt, by the improvements making in electricity, in a short time by a submarine telegraph to Ireland. The following are the semaphore stations which have been done away with :—
That at the Admiralty, Chelsea, Putney, Kingston, Cooper’s-hill, Esher, Chatley-heath, Cobham, Pewley-hill, Guildford, Bannicle-hill, Godalming, Haste-hill, Haslemere, Halder-hill, Midhurst, Beacon-hill, and Comptown-down; Petersfield, Portsdown-hill, Bedhampton, and Portsmouth.
Not only is the electric telegraph of great importance to Government, but to our merchants and shipping interest in the announcement of the arrivals and departures of the foreign and colonial mails and vessels from all parts of the globe, the last prices of the markets and stocks, Parliamentary bills, and every intelligence of what is passing in both Houses of Parliament during the session, courts of law, &c. On the continent the electric telegraph is becoming more and more general, and several contracts have been entered into for laying down various lines so as to unite one country with the other.