RULE REMINDER: Rapid fire multiple submissions put an unreasonable load on the servers and make it difficult for others to submit. Anyone who makes an unreasonable number of submissions will be open to disqualification. In the first instance this will mean that anyone who submits more than 20 times in 10 minutes will be disqualified.
As you will see after you have decrypted this message there is something important missing from the end.
There was also another page attached to this one, clearly torn from a book, and I will post that in the case files in due course in case you find it useful. Jodie
We will be very interested to see how you get on with this one. The letter from Babbage to Dodge last week told you what to expect, but at the moment you don’t have anything else to go except the word structures. (Unless, that is, you have already broken 8A, but even that doesn’t give you much).
PLEASE NOTE: This cipher encrypts pairs of letters but cannot deal with double letters like EE, so wherever they appear the sender has inserted a padding character (in this case an X – luckily they don’t have to deal with XX!!!) The decrypt will also have spurious characters arising from that and YOU SHOULD NOT REMOVE THEM!!!!
Dickens speaks his mind
IEESC CLUCO IEZIY FEIGE CNUTC QMFIC OUKIL NFIWP PDSOM DAXSE JAKMZ WWZGS VOSFT GFDSQ QRDMQ QRKVN QMZBR XIJWE YIKVE JEGFP UIUSY VOWHS GUEWE GDJHL VEJWS QPVHS CTPCF YICZY QTKVT PKDSE QOUWC GCKKS GNZHP NLPCF VHRHT HEVZE JIJHZ DEIOE JEIOY KMGCD KTZCY KHRJP CGISP FTFQZ PVVMJ QUIQZ PCVFY UFFFE JEIWR JTJCQ VHVBP YLPTC GEUAP POWHS GSFIE JAERJ QUNWW NKECH HRFAX AWIWE KNXGL PDDML ETZJT VIVGE JAKWL OIETF NLRUC GEDSY VWZHS AOLFA NAEGT EAEBZ VRVOO KLPIY FEIGE CNUKS CTFIC OEVHT PGTOY CDUHZ VHRHM WTTVL TLVGT PSZGE UTYOE YEJVZ WLUAP GTRBO CSRBZ NDWFT GNUWQ GECWX WSKCM NIXSJ QUNWW NKECH VHRHX AFZFD VCFBN GREWY OEVHT PGNWE JTYSR QVVFY OEEHT UTFGP EUISL IRVSX GNKCY RRFHP ETZCY HOIHS GWFFV QFRFE KSKGN QMGCD GRJOY FMLGT EIRBD HOIHZ QLFBR PONOX GRZQL PPLPW KSYSC UHRJP OAUSQ TEVKT VHKVP YOIYZ HOKVP TSKCH JITVE JEPVL XEECC KGYHL PDJVZ WLUVL XEECC KGYHD KTZGT PTYSA QWVFZ HYFIC EOEUC GSJHZ RRFHP ETKVZ UENVZ UECOM QUIGL TEKCZ GAJWW ASKCW GNRBO KFVSW KTZGX ADLHJ VOGSC UURRP VHVAE QUJSE JEGCH GRJHS GYNWP NDKCA TOMWO GTYOE RRFHP ETZCY FUIWY IMPTT TSKJT UIKHZ AOLFN QUEHC AICSL TNVRE JAKAJ ROJWE KOERT FNFHQ CLCKP NLNWE JTYSA GOGZP CNUWW GFKHS QRFIR JLPRT UICZF UIFBP FWZHS NIKHW GHFDP VHRHE JIEUD OIXVE EHRBR GBLHN JAEUP KSJHT TRZBR CNUHS GRZUS VSFTE JECSD UPFKP TFLZL TEZBE JERGN GNUSY VINWW NCFBD KDVFX ASVZQ VOYOG GFRWW GDZTT FOECE CCYWP XERFP HOIAZ HCFDJ TIXVE GNWCC EEDSY VIEHS GUEWE GDJHL VEJHS KSDOJ POKVL XEKVP OOIOW HOIQP QFVAL PCZDL VIFBM WTZHT USKWW NADOE VEICQ NISSC VYRBO KMLGE UTRBO DYDMA TIEQT RLVGT HYFIH KSYAP CLJCE QPVHT VIFBE JEGFP UIUSY VOEPP JACTZ HYFIC UCYSX GTYSY KWZZW FOJCM WTFBE JELBO GRJHL PDZBR VHRHT VIJOD GCFBO CRPQZ PCVFY CNUWH KLCRZ POKVT PGKCF PDVFX KNVAJ QWEAT USZCY DASPL IERGV GDDSE QCFBG GYKVP HOCZZ YIEUT PFFFX CTZCY VOPCF JENCF NDECE GXGZL KNKVP OERBT PGJOJ KNXCY NYKVL VYFIH QUCRF PDVFD VAERL EHIWD VMRGN CRFZA CGVHH GNKMZ PE
Top Secret: For your eyes only
General Dodge I understand from our mutual friend Babbage that you wish to brief me for my forthcoming visit with the President of the United States. I hope that you will not think me too direct when I tell you that I feel this to be rather an imposition. I have agreed to convey your concerns for the rights of the newly freed men of the South, and you will know from my writings and my activities that I am in full agreement with your plans. I cannot readily understand what our meeting can add to that, but Charles insists that we should meet, and as an old friend I feel I must oblige. You will know that my first concern in meeting with the government is to secure agreement on protection for the work of artists, composers and musicians. For too long now, American publishers have made free with the work of others to which they have no right and should have no rights. It is in the power of your Congress to protect those whose labours are too easily stolen, and I feel it is my duty to persuade them to use the powers they wield to provide that protection. During my first visit to your country, I learned that my position did not fall well with the people, and I left thoroughly disillusioned with little hope that things might change. But change is stirring and the rights of the less powerful are in the ascendent. I will consider myself to have failed if I do not achieve a reform of copyright enforcement in the United States. This may not have the moral force of emancipation, but it is still a matter of liberty, and I must stand by my principles. If you wish me also to petition the President on behalf of your scheme, then I will do so, but on the understanding that it is a secondary concern and I will do nothing to undermine my own mission. Babbage asked me to convey the following information to you. He would not explain the meaning, saying only that you would understand: A Christmas Carol Page twenty-oneWarpath
EGIWLUQ DUOHGKODG, R IK TAWTW RD USERKBD ZER NOIRA, CQU I OIWAHHN: NMIWDGR KR LC QPG OIUICRK. VPG INQ LDR MR HARD IKR XLWLEGF PGCO QMCR WDQS OASI KR HA RLPD OIX DKMGDD YA RCQOUPFUO ORQM IKR LVA IUHWCRD PKRRKGA. M RIKBH IKT SNOO PT LRWDFUDO MF HIWR CQ MKR AOA NLZGDHALQ EA HACOGURFMD. ETWRHN IKU BRWTU WHRKS YRD WDQS ADQFUSV, MO FXLTQPDC YINQ MKR GZMOGFU MEISEIWMRZ XERDE DGCO RD IULUTQUO AES WUOAETI EA QMF ZU KSFOKQKHAO HCGQTUSW CCG KPIUGWGE IUEAMRT. QANAWUQABUDDX, PG OMTBGWOUGE QMCR QMKR ZGTW IEUZOBWRYD OIU KUOOMFBUDO, MF HIWR, DC QPG OREG NWIROBAKOKYD EA NMOFU, ZABQUIGWRULO TFUWAETMYRABQ EA IKR XAWM. IKR ZGTW UZKBMA FBPHIRNH RD ICPL IKX KLWLIT KAWL ZLZUFBQHWD, UG AL-WGAL’U TQUIWRUL FSQ MKR AOA, VOPNQGE ELVA PGNWKOZ TIEH QKR UOUZRCRMGA BR C IBA EA QMF UGLKEO FCG PG DGCU WDQS ADQFUSW C EGPFCRGE ICH. QO PQ XOUD TTFK VIGHKHN QMCR IKT SDFGFSDW TGFOZGE IEUZOBWRYD, ADKCHAGE ORQM B RDIOZINY TAWG EKRATLZDU FIUFBO RD QMG PHOPGTU FRQMAWMRPOR, XKOO BNMPOZG IKR BKPR XMRIGQU EGCQHAD QPG FTSWUOCQ GFQMQTRITK EA QMD FWAYOT. UD RINU DCG PG WHOZQ KKR AESUMNDIHAE HWRWNUD PDDUHAO VMRM QPG IULUMOGFR CQ KKR OBTU FLTU NMBAFD EA PDDUHAN QKR IRKT. QMCR OIT UPG FBQTG LN PKR IWEQPDCQ ORQM QMF UWRPD PKAHTUOU, VIA, RY TQTS CL UIRG, MBR RLPD TXPHCRMV ORQM OMBMGFU’ KLRMRRAA. HR MQ BDR GADX QMG DMROUIWW CSUKRR YIG TQBZPFST AUDI QMFPS, CQU BORL QML ZGFOHFGOU, EGRKNHOU BAE GCQUOIUGFFZS, TD RPG IUKPD PHAKRUDW RQ XOUV MFIMZ AET AINSOLU RD USD YD AINHND UPG IDLE HA OIQKHADQGA GA QMKR RDHKB. TUFBIHAO LA PCGQTUSRID SPGCU, M RQSC QD RPG ICSYUDW AC PKODGW ICG WAPLTKMRI VIG ICX CL ZGFEGNWERWRHN RD TUOFD LQS KEBAR. K FBBVAGY CDUOUPKFG GA QML FBRKR EA QMD PLURBOGR XIKNM ZO INZG EGAMHIOUGE VIDUPGS UPGW CUO OASIHAO VMRM QPG PS SBSZ SBBA RD QFEGTIHAG LQS KEBAT LRWDFSDW, DW RC UPGRW HAUDUOTUR BUO GFRMUODX ADKYPDTARIE. KOUINKU QMDZ IWG PEIHAD QL RGDD SPG EGRKNHR, LS UD IBAZPBFUQUO WRWND KBFIKFGR BCG EAPFS UPGI CR C FTU MWRFD RD QMG OGWOUCHGFR. MCGLZGE, QMOUD FERDE FL I OMOOU ICSIDU EA OLZGQAPDCQR BCG AWONAHRBRMGAR XIG OASEO TGDKRI N UOFGZOO CAKOKYD RD IDAHRDS UPG ADKYPTAHFBRMGAR LC UPGRW WRWNBX, BAO MR YERDE BDOFSOV CDR FL HA ERW RCQOULUUT RD BODLO AQS UDNMAGDLDV RD NBBLO KCQD RPGRW INCGU. LUKDFRIBLDX AGS CFPAWO ZG PNWO UOFNMGE BA NOUODPGFR YMRM QPG OLZGQAPDCQ GA QMOPU OQMMABO QTO. PA ZD PHOMQ QFADZGS UPG MOGFRMYD EA WAPLTKMRI VD PCW FL FLSYUDW IKBD UL EKRFDQA VIMAI GC UPGUL IEXLRKAKOKRMLU KR IDUO OKPLDX AW CR DGBRR CMY RD OMTSZUQ MKR AW PGW RCQGFRMGAT. XERST DUF, CBCCBOG
Top Secret: For your eyes only
DEAREST GRENVILLE, I AM SORRY TO TROUBLE YOU AGAIN, BUT A WARNING: CHARLES IS ON THE WARPATH. XHE HAS GOT IT INTO HIS WOXODEN HEAD THAT YOUR WORK IS IN SOME WAY LIKELY TO INTERFERE WITH HIS OWN PRIVATE MISSION. I THINK HIS RAGE IS DIRECTED IN PART AT HIS OWN FEXELINGS OF INADEQUACY. DURING HIS FIRST VISIT XTO YOUR COUNTRY, HE ASXSUMED THAT HIS EVIDENT POPULARITY WOULD LEAD TO PRESSURE FOR XREFORM OF THE US PUBLISHING INDUSTRY AND IMPROVED PROFITS. UNFORTUNATELY, HE DISCOVERED THAT THIS VERY POPULARITY WAS PREDICATED, IN PART, ON THE WIDE AVAILABILITY OF CHEAP, UNAUTHORISED REPRODUCTIONS OF HIS WORK. HIS VERY PUBLIC CAMPAIGN TO MAKE HIS BOXOKS MORE XEXPENSIVE, TO NO-XONE’S SURPRISE BUT HIS OWN, WEIGHED DOWN HEAVILY UPON HIS REPUTATION AS A MAN OF THE PEOPLE AND HE LEFT YOUR COUNTRY A DEFEATED MAN. HE IS VERY MUCH XHOPING THAT HIS RECENTLY RENEWED POPULARITY, COMBINED WITH A SOMEWHAT MORE DISCREXET APPEAL TO THE HIGHEST AUTHORITIES, WILL ACHIEVE HIS AIMS WITHOUT DENTING THE CURXRENT ENTHUSIASM OF THE CROWDS. TO THAT END HE VIEWS HIS FORTHCOMING PRIVATE MEETING WITH THE PRESIDENT AS HIS LAST BEST CHANCE OF MEETING HIS AIMS. THAT WAS THE CAUSE OF HIS ARGUMENT WITH THE PRIME MINISTER, WHO, IT MUST BE SAID, HAS SOME SYMPATHY WITH DICKENS’ POSITION. IT IS NOT ONLY THE LITERARY ARTIST WHO SUFXFERS FROM THEFT, BUT ALSO THE XENGINEER, DESIGNER AND ENTREPRENEUR, SO THE PRIME MINISTER IS VERY HAPPY FOR CHARLES TO TRY TO CHANGE THE MOOD IN WASHINGTON ON THIS TOPIC. SPEAKING OF INDUSTRIAL THEFT, I TURN TO THE MATXTER OF MILLER AND ROKESMITH WHO MAY BE XENDEAVOURING TO STEAL OUR PLANS. I CANXNOT DETERMINE ON THE BASIS OF THE MESSAGES WHICH WE HAVE DECIPHERED WHETHER THEY ARE WORKING WITH THE KU KLUX KLAN TO UNDERMINE OUR PLANS DIRECTLY, OR IF THEIR INTERESTS ARE ENTIRELY COMXMERCIAL. PERHAPS THEY ARE HOPING TO SELL THE DESIGNS, OR TO MANUFACTURE RIVAL MACHINES AND OFFER THEM AT A CUT PRICE TO THE GOVERNMENT. INDEXED, THERE COULD BE A WIDER MARKET OF GOVERNMENTS AND ORGANISATIONS WHO WOULD RELISH A RENEWED ABILITY TO MONITOR THE COMXMUNICATIONS OF THEIR RIVALS, AND IT WOULD CLEARLY NOT BE IN OUR INTERESTS TO ALLOW OUR TECHNOLOGY TO FALXL INTO THEIR HANDS. ESPECIALXLY NOT BEFORE WE HAVE REACHED AN AGREEMENT WITH THE GOVERNMENT ON THEIR ETHICAL USE. IF WE MIGHT UNCOVER THE IDENTITY OF ROKESMITH WE MAY BE BETXTER ABLE TO DISCERN WHICH OF THESE POSXSIBILITIES IS MORE LIKELY OR AT LEAST ACT TO DISRUPT HIS OR HER INTENTIONS. YOURS ETC, BABBAGEThis challenge closed on 10/12/2025. Please click the Official Decrypt button above to see the correct answers.
RULE REMINDER: Rapid fire multiple submissions put an unreasonable load on the servers and make it difficult for others to submit. Anyone who makes an unreasonable number of submissions will be open to disqualification. In the first instance this will mean that anyone who submits more than 20 times in 10 minutes will be disqualified.