Cipher Challenge
Patterson's Challenge to Jefferson
Introduction
Robert Patterson sent this challenge cipher to Thomas Jefferson on 19 December 1801 and declared that it would resist the ingenuity of the whole human race. Its 40 transmitted lines are preserved below. Founders Online transcription
1
bonirnrsewehaipohiluoeett
26
iseesnhiestctfhuesraeas
49
opiacdasthtaleeletubegtne
74
innfdecwebssssuifemsetnb
98
tfcabaenniaepatwethaharhe
123
feisnueisutvaesdihfrsrnib
148
oi
150
kinrrgdvsconhsnheleltentn
175
gtsctlhshlbdpetguaistnjvt
200
rscm
204
odneteitieedrebanirnnrhoo
229
ifehtelstieisefcretcnuspe
254
cenr
258
bohsutirrsesolototamfyiys
283
dhthiuhtloealobusiotntykj
308
eetu
312
asesntdmeoatsbehracststne
337
tmomrnosewdaneymnamcresee
362
doym
366
edneesemithfrtteaeaeeebtt
391
cfhdustslurisvucysiucremy
416
stvam
421
cohasefbsiesashtieadiiocf
446
tpricdnarswunhreshegitht
470
edaapthutheeaapueyeenlhhi
495
emhniasaoaksienoimetesfse
520
saapnore
528
eevrslyedclnarcssndeetnre
553
eensattciunngrrechhogaeec
578
mrsreshy
586
nesvomethenetovrnnrrgeouh
611
oeilamaitsgterewtnrttdmre
636
iisrth
642
gbrhsearysuwebdrethetorps
667
gnspwcttebcnfgaiernuecfrn
692
ssamrnpsie
702
oeolgelsujntlncretpehdebt
727
gvvotermrtndnehhitensimoe
752
heootanp
760
psginhsataatoptwiugtedegi
785
octeodftlnditrsogedttnwfs
810
enrs
814
neaguatnadaedtlradhsvedsp
839
vlhyahdrrenachntcsvtsbtin
864
gfad
868
lonmnhxtednywsnfedtaysirr
893
arersmngnnmbotititslrrrri
918
swmyst
924
haebyhcstfhudnoeiltttnjtu
949
tnasdoggolrraahtouoanipst
974
ormno
979
oxoxiesnotnouahegropdeoop
1004
tthcraehovugaienoauaadwot
1029
zinmeerrolthoimeapcolhhom
1054
uwcomnhhvelremabeipcnimra
1079
hor
1082
wshhurrierdeirssaohdatbtu
1107
eihtleeeataieafgretdyoteb
1132
uledsnnreer
1143
gunnaaerceqtilnmeafeshtae
1168
daaedyetsilmsrhineatmplml
1193
xeerhh
1199
raoitalonhmarirenraatpuvt
1224
trlpnoliaootnpvasttnonobp
1249
rsnob
1254
trihsseoiorpvnssntorropaw
1279
voraaenelepthaeeidbnehsso
1304
emrri
1309
pvlneuofseegtgshleenireef
1334
oyneenixooibsrreedmeaafts
1359
maaree
1365
reertcohauunaweithnteilno
1390
lprfadhtnyutohesniierddme
1415
rei
1418
stddiehvsnaeoctaooedcagne
1443
rrtriimstgpsrcuaadnesthhl
1468
apiorpi
1475
esttdrctahtsueaoleoehacmp
1500
soeeelgsimrlsnwfhdeisahti
1525
ntvoumiu
1533
lneabmopohtdfctrtteisahan
1558
zmssheeihsmbuenuoiilnipri
1583
mci
1586
motedtrhenponauearessryso
1611
insroaithhsooyghhlttablmn
1636
srry
1640
inaaopteecmocwtikeeeiehim
1665
oeisildgdnstynjuoapserrio
1690
timit
1695
perervraadteotiswtdtaattr
1720
nsftieetcuhadettranryynlf
1745
axnyeflneiemaheohsnfnebgi
1770
opltrdgteestwtcasshassm
1793
trsnomiieeinierwlnhrehrtu
1818
hmdhosknsreferucehdtotoog
1843
uaa
1846
inafpeeshshiuteontnsstwst
1871
tofeltgtunneoteabltueitoo
1896
vsepr
1901
smrnpnesdshediuqcetteosiu
1926
pectahfmestdrsiwhffipcrsn
1951
y
1952
noiiueoeohfchehharisdogta
1977
dwyibstrecrvswonhihedtssr
2002
ces
2005
whfaairdegtvmhtmumttaecms
2030
vsdtrodieshvuanoftsnfperr
2055
e
2056
ophrcvstoitrctueloecfitno
2081
leanaesaueeofetetrnetyofs
2106
syst
2110
supeinnuonsnnletheqisltfe
2135
anoinaetnlihwlcpiporterep
2160
iybst