I believe, if the truth were known, some such cause is operating to prevent our hearing more of these telegraphs." In this same letter he tells of the application of a certain Mr.John P.
Manrow for permission to form a company, but, as nothing came of it, it will not be necessary to particularize.

Mr.Manrow, however, was a successful contractor on the New York and Erie Railroad, and it was a most encouraging sign to have practical business men begin to take notice of the invention.
So cheered was the ever-hopeful inventor by the praise of Professor Henry, that he redoubled his efforts to get the matter properly before Congress; and in this he worked alone, for, in the letter to Smith just quoted from, he says: "I have not heard a word from Mr.Coffin at Washington since I saw you.

I presume he has abandoned the idea of doing anything on the terms we proposed, and so has given it up.

Well, so be it; I am content." Taking advantage of the fact that he was personally acquainted with many members of Congress, he wrote to several of them on the subject.

In some of the letters he treats exhaustively of the history and scientific principles of his telegraph, but I have selected the following, addressed to the Honorable W.W.Boardman, as containing the most essential facts in the most concise form:-- August 10, 1842.
My Dear Sir,--I enclose you a copy of the "Tribune" in which you will see a notice of my Telegraph.