Autograph letter signed to Latimer Clark

Ricardo, John Lewis (1812-62). A.L.s. to Latimer Clark. [Illegible place-name], April 1, 1858. 4pp. 201 x 129 mm. Remains of mounting present, small paper flaw affecting place name on first page. Provenance: Latimer Clark.

Ricardo, the nephew of economist David Ricardo, founded the Electric Telegraph Company in 1846 together with William Fothergill Cooke; this was the world's first public telegraph company. In 1856 the Electric Telegraph Company merged with the International Telegraph Company, becoming the Electric and International Telegraph Company; Latimer Clark worked as an engineer for this company until its annexation by the British government in 1870. Ricardo's letter to Clark mentions the second attempt to lay the first Atlantic cable, which took place in June 1858. He also refers to the first unsuccessful attempt in 1857: "I hear that the United States cable has not even yet been tested in the water. I am sorry that I can anticipate no other result this year than the disappointment of the last." Origins of Cyberspace 184.