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180
les collections aristophil
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MORLAND SAMUEL
(1625-1695).
Diplomate anglais et inventeur.
Manuscrit autographe avec 5 dessins originaux à la plume,
[Londres vers 1670] ; 3 pages in-fol. sur 2 ff. réglés à l’encre
rouge (marque de pli, et petite déchirure) ; en anglais.
3 000 / 4 000 €
Très rare description de
son tuba stentoro-phonica
, ou « trompette
parlante », porte-voix qui fut adopté par Charles II pour la Marine.
Morland a publié en 1672 une brève description de son invention :
Tuba stentoro-phonica, an instrument of excellent use, as well at sea,
as at land; invented and variously experimented in the year 1670. And
humbly presented to the Kings most excellent Majesty Charles II. In
the year 1671. By S. Morland. The instruments (or speaking-trumpets)
of all sizes and dimensions, are made and sold by Mr. Simon Beal,
one of His Majesties trump
s
in Suffolk-street
(London, 1672).
Ce manuscrit, inédit, est le seul parmi les rares manuscrits connus
de Morland à mentionner cette invention ; il est différent du texte
édité ; il présente quelques corrections et additions interlinéaires. Les
cinq figures très finement dessinées à la plume et l’encre brune (I à V)
présentent elles aussi des différences avec celles gravées dans le livre.
Morland expose à « Your Highness » comment il eut l’idée d’inventer,
en s’inspirant de la trompette qui augmente et amplifie une note, un
instrument qui amplifierait de la même façon le son des syllabes, mots
et discours. Il fit d’abord fabriquer un tube en verre, mais il n’était
pas assez large pour y appliquer la bouche de l’orateur. Il s’adressa
alors à un fabricant de trompettes, à qui il donna les instructions pour
fabriquer un tube de cuivre avec une embouchure (fig. I), dont il donne
les dimensions. Il raconte son premier essai, très concluant, dans St
James Park ; le son était si grand que la garde de Whitehall envoya un
sergent et des mousquetaires pour appréhender Morland. Le second
essai fut fait devant le Roi, qui, à l’autre bout du parc, entendit chaque
mot distinctement ; ses Horse-Guards, affolés, chevauchèrent alors
pour s’emparer de Morland, mais le Roi les arrêta et les tranquillisa.
L’instrument, par temps calme, pouvait être entendu au moins à un mile
anglais ; d’autres essais et de nouvelles formes (fig. II à V) permirent à
Morland de perfectionner son instrument pour être entendu à 4 ou 5
miles au moins. On pourrait ainsi communiquer d’un bateau à l’autre,
ou avec une ville assiégée, en utilisant un langage chiffré pour le secret.
Le dernier paragraphe explique comment bien positionner l’instrument,
pour qu’il s’applique parfaitement à la bouche, sans laisser passer d’air…
Samuel Morland (1625-1695) commença sa carrière comme diplomate
au service de Cromwell, qui l’envoya à Turin comme ambassadeur
extraordinaire après les massacres des Vaudois du Piémont, qu’il
relatera dans son premier livre :
The History of the Evangelical
Churches of the Valleys of Piemont
(1658). Travaillant au service de
l’espionnage, il développa la cryptographie, et se rallia à Charles II.
Mathématicien, il inventa en 1664 une machine à calculer, mais aussi,
outre ce porte-voix, une pompe à eau, et divers engins hydrauliques.
Référence : H.W. Dickinson,
Sir Samuel Morland : Diplomat and
Inventor
(Newcomen Society, 1970).
MORLAND SAMUEL
(1625-1695). English diplomat and
inventor.
Autograph MANUSCRIPT, with 5 original pen
ILLUSTRATIONS [London, circa 1670], written in a fine clear
hand (but with several erasures and additions); 3 pages
in-fol. on 2 ff. ruled in red (fold; paper slightly frayed but
generally in good condition); in English.
3 000 / 4 000 €
Fine illustrated autograph manuscript describing his invention of
the speaking trumpet (
tuba stentoro-phonica
) used by King Charles
II in the Navy.
The present manuscript is unpublished although Morland published
in 1672 a brief description of his invention:
Tuba stentoro-phonica,
an instrument of excellent use, as well at sea, as at land; invented
and variously experimented in the year 1670. And humbly presented
to the Kings most excellent Majesty Charles II. In the year 1671. By
S. Morland. The instruments (or speaking-trumpets) of all sizes and
dimensions, are made and sold by Mr. Simon Beal, one of His
Majesties trump
s
in Suffolk-street
(London, 1672). This manuscript
contains the only autograph account of Morland’s invention of the
speaking trumpet, a different, but complementary text to his printed
account published a year later. The illustrations also differ.
The use of trumpets for giving signals is of great antiquity but Morland’s
invention of a trumpet which could be spoken into is generally thought
to be original. It was quickly adopted by Charles II for naval use and
has proved of enormous value ever since. None of the other surviving
Morland manuscripts mention this invention.
Morland presents to “Your Highness” how he had the idea to invent,
inspired by the trumpet that increases and amplifies a note, an instrument
that would amplify in the same way the sound of syllables, words and
speech. He first made a glass tube, but it was not wide enough to apply
the mouth of the speaker. He then consulted a trumpet maker, to whom
he gave the instructions for making a copper tube with a mouthpiece
(fig. I), of which it gives the dimensions. He tells his first, very conclusive,
attempt in St James Park; the sound was so great that Whitehall’s guard
sent a sergeant and musketeers to apprehend Morland. The second
attempt was made before the King, who at the other end of the park
heard every word distinctly; his maddened Horse-Guards then rode to
seize Morland, but the King stopped and reassured them. The instrument,
in calm weather, can be heard at least one English mile; other tests and
new forms (figs. II to V) allowed Morland to perfect his instrument to
be heard at least 4 or 5 miles away. One could thus communicate from
one boat to another, or with a besieged city, using a cipher language for
secrecy. The last paragraph explains how to position the instrument, so
that it fits perfectly to the mouth, without letting air through.
Samuel Morland (1625-1695) made his first career as a diplomat in
Cromwell’s service and distinguished himself in Cromwell’s crusade
against the oppression of the protestant Waldenses (Vaudois) of
Piedmont. At the same time commissioned to write a history of their
church, his first published book (1658). His allegiance to the protector
ended when he discovered the plot to lure Charles back to England
for his assassination. This was too much for Morland and he contrived
to warn Charles and on his restoration sought the King’s patronage.
Morland affected a flamboyant lifestyle but was not given the means,
which he thought he deserved, to support it. He therefore embarked on
a new career as an inventor: “Now finding myself disappoynted of all
preferment and of any real estate, I betook myself to the Mathematicks
and Experiments such as I found pleased the King’s Favour” (MSS.
Lambeth, 931, transcribed by Dickinson). In an age of inventors Morland
stands out as one of the most remarkable. He first designed several
important calculating devices before turning his attention to the speaking
trumpet, still, as this document shows, on the lookout for new sponsors
whilst not neglecting Charles II. After improvements to capstans, stoves
and barometers Morland invented a new water pump and became
known as the leading hydraulic engineer of his time (and to modern
historians as one of the inventors of the steam engine), at last achieving
the status and wealth that, he always thought were his due.
An extremely rare and attractive manuscript.
References: H.W. Dickinson,
Sir Samuel Morland: Diplomat and
Inventor
(Newcomen Society, 1970).