Robert Gauss - 1884-12-01

St. Louis    2/26/79

Dear Robert
         have to ask you to excuse my tardiness in replying to your letter; I have felt very unwell, and as yesterday your cousin Oscar was down here, and told me he was translating for you some parts of a pamphlet, written by Sartorius, as far as they had any relation to your Grandfathers invention of the telegraph.  I gave him all the information I had, though it amounts to but very little.  The first wires, which were drawn for Telegraphic purposes, and of a distance of probably One or One mile and a half, were drawn in the year 1834 between July 1^st and latter part of September.  I was during that time without a situation and stood in Goettingen with my father, and as I well remember to have assisted in stretching the wires I can positively assert that the above named time is correct, as I have never stood at home for more than 3 or 4 days between Spring 1828 and Spring 1837 except as stated above, during the same time I frequently took my turn in observations (three times every day) of the deviation of the magnetic needel.  My impression is, that the exact time of extending the wires, was about middle of August 34, but it might have been a half a month sooner or later.  Give my love to your father mother and sister. I hope we will have the pleasur to see you when you visit our City.  Your affectionat uncle.

CW Gauss

Note: Wilhelm Gauss was a son of Carl Friedrich Gauss, the mathematician.