W. E. Weber

Abstract

IN the article on Wilhelm Weber (NATURE, July 9, p. 229) no mention is made of the fact that Weber and Gauss in 1833 invented and constructed a telegraph connecting the Physical Laboratory of the University in Göttingen with the Observatory. In Germany they are for this reason said to be the inventors of telegraphy. This is, to say the least, a somewhat sweeping statement, as the possibility of communicating by electricity was known long before that time. However, there is no doubt that Weber and Gauss played some part in introducing telegraphy into practice. For my part I consider the purely scientific work of either of the two men more glorious. For the enormous practical consequences of telegraphy have nothing to do with the scientific merit of the invention. Nevertheless I think that an article on Wilhelm Weber would not be complete without entering into this subject.