Nor did he stop here – his searching experiments inspired him with the hope of transmitting messages across rivers and seas without the aid of wires, and he so far perfected his invention as to transmit currents across several small pieces of water – the last occasion on which he publicly experimented with this invention being in Portsmouth, about two years ago, when he was highly successful and the results afforded great satisfaction to the scientific gentlemen who assisted. He directed almost every penny he could spare, after procuring the bare necessaries of existence, to the acquisition of philological, as well as scientific and philosophical tomes – and with an income that never till the last few years, we believe, exceeding £50, collected a library of rare and profound works, valued, by competent judges at from £1300 to £1500. At several times however, he was assisted by friends who took an interest in his efforts, and chief among these the present Lord Lindsay. The last gift from this nobleman was a splendid copy of the works of Confucius, in the original, which is said to be the only complete copy of the works of that philosopher in Great Britain.
nor did he StOP hEre – His seArching eXperimenTs iNspired hIM wIth ThE hoPe of traNsMItTInG meSsages aCrOsS riVErs anD SeAs WiThOut tHe AID of wirEs, anD he sO fAr PerFected hiS InVENtIoN As to transmIt cuRRents aCrOsS SeveraL smalL pIecEs of waTER – the Last oCcasion on which He pUbliCly experIMentEd with this inVEnTioN BEing In PoRtsMOutH, ABout Two yEarS ago, whEN he was higHlY SuCcEsSful anD the resuLTs aFFORDed greaT SaTisfacTion To thE sCiEntIFic geNtLEmEn WHo assiSTeD. he diRecTEd alMost evEry PEnny he cOUlD SpaRE, aftEr procuring the baRe NEcessaries Of exisTEnce, tO THe acquisItiOn OF pHIlologIcaL, as WeLl aS sCienTiFIc aND philosophical tomES – And with an INComE that never till the last FEw yEaRS, We bElieve, eXcEEdIng £50, collEctEd a LIBraRy of rare aND proFounD wOrKs, valuED, BY competeNt judGEs At FrOm £1300 TO £1500. at sevEraL timeS howeveR, he wAs assISteD By frIENDS wHo ToOK an inTEResT in hIs eFFortS, and chIef AmOng theSE the presEnt lord LInDSAY. tHE last gifT from This Nobleman waS A sPlENdiD copy of thE woRkS of CONfucius, in tHE oriGINal, wHich is said to be The OnlY CompletE copy of thE WoRks of thAt PHilosoPher in grEAT bRitain.