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GODFREY LOWELL CABOT SCIENCE LIBRARY
HARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY
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SAMUEL F. B. MORSE
mS LETTEBS AND J0UBNAI3
IN TWO VOLUMES
TOLl}lfEI
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SAMUEL F. B. MOBSE
HIS LETTERS AND JOURNALS
EDITED AND SDPFLBBfENTED BT HIS BON
EDWABD LIND MOBSE
ILLX78TRATED
WITH REFBODUCTIONS OV HIS PAINTINGS
AND WITH NOTES AND DIAGBAlfS
BEARING ON THE
INVENTION OF THE TELEGRAPH VOLUME I
BOSTON AND NEW TOBK
HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY
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1914
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COPYHIOHT, 19x4, BY SDWARD LXMD MORSS ALL RIGHTS KBSBRTBD
PubliMkid Havimhtr tqt4
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TO MY WIFE
WHOSE LOVING INTEREST AND APT CRITICISM
HAVE BEEN TO ME OF GREAT VALUE
I DEDICATE THIS WORK
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" It 18 the hour of fate» And those who follow me reach every state Mortals desire, and conquer every foe Save death. But th^ who doubt or hesitate — Condemned to failure, penury and woe — Seek me in vain and uselessly implore. I hear them not, and I return no more.'*
Inoalub, OpptrhmUy,
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PREFACE
Abthub Chbistopheb Benbon» in the introducUon to his studies in biography entitled ** The Leaves of the Tree," says: —
''But when it comes to dealing with men who have played upon the whole a noble part in Ufe, whose vision has been clear and whose heart has been wide, who have not merely followed their own personal ambitions, but have really desired to leave the world better and hap- pier than they found it, — in such cases, indiscriminate praise is not only foolish and untruthful, it is positively hannful and noxious. What one desires to see in the lives of others is some sort of transformation, some evi- dence of patient struggling with faults, some hint of failings triumphed over, some gain of generosity and endurance and courage. To slur over the faults and failings of the great is not only inartistic: it is abo faint- hearted and unjust. It alienates sympathy. It substi- tutes unreal adoration for wholesome admiration; it afflicts the reader, conscious of frailty and struggle, with a sense of hopeless despair in the presence of anything so supremely high-minded and flawless.''
The judgment of a son may, perhaps, be biased in favor of a beloved father; he may unconsciously ''slur over the faults and failings,'' and lay emphasis only on the virtues. In selecting and putting together the let- ters, diaries, etc., of my father, Samuel F. B. Morse, I have tried to avoid that fault; my desire has been to present a true portrait of the man, with both lights and
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X PREFACE
ahadows duly emphasized; but I can say with perfect truth that I have found but little to deplore. He was human, he had his faults, and he made mistakes. While honestly differing from him on certain questions, I am yet convinced that, in all his beliefs, he was absolutely sincere, and the deeper I have delved into his corres* pondence, the more I have been impressed by the true nobility and greatness of the man.
His fame is now secure, but, like all great men, he made enemies who pursued him with their calumnies even after his death; and others, perfectly honest and sincere, have questioned his right to be called the in- ventor of the telegraph. I have tried to give credit where credit is due with r^ard to certain points in the invention, but I have also given the documentary evi- dence, which I am confident will prove that he never claimed more than was his right. For many years after his invention was a proved success, almost to the day of his death, he was compelled to fight for his rights; but he was a good fighter, a skilled controversialist, and he has won out in the end.
He was bom and brought up in a deeply religious atmosphere, in a faith which seems to us of the present day as narrow; but, as will appear from his correspond- ence, he was perfectly sincere in his beliefs, and un- falteringly held himself to be an instrument divinely appointed to bestow a great blessing upon humanity.
It seems not to be generally known that he was an artist of great ability, that for more than half his life he devoted himself to painting, and that he is ranked with the best of our earlier painters.
In my selection of letters to be published I have tried
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PREFACE xi
to place much emphasis on this phase of his career, a most interesting one. I have found so many letters, diaries, and sketch-books of those earlier years, never before published, that seemed to me of great human interest, that I have ventured to let a large number of these documents chronicle the history of Morse the artist*
Many of the letters here published have already ap- peared in Mr. S. Irenaeus Prime's bi<^graphy of Morse, but others are now printed for the first time, and I have omitted many which Mr. Prime included. I must ac- knowledge my indebtedness to Mr. Prime for the possi- bility of filling in certain g^M in the correspondence; and for much interesting material not now otherwise ob- tainable.
Before the telegraph had demonstrated its practical utility, its inventor was subjected to ridicule most galling to a sensitive nature, and after it was a proved success he was vilified by the enemies he was obliged to make on account of his own probity, and by the unscrupulous men who tried to rob him of the fruits of his genius; but in this he was only paying the penalty of greatness, and, as the perspective of time enables us to render a more impartial verdict, his character will be found to emerge triumphant.
His versatility and abounding vitality were astound- ing. He would have been an eminent man in his day had he never invented the telegraph; but it is of absorb- ing interest, in following his career, to note how he was forced to give up one ambition after another, to suf- fer blow after blow which woidd have overwhefaned a man of less indomitable perseverance, until all his great
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PREFACE
energies were impelled into the one channel which ulti- mately led to undying fame.
In every great achievement in the history of progress one man must stand preeminent, one name must sym* bolize to future generations the thing accomplished, whether it be the founding of an empire, the discovery of a new world, or the invention of a new and useful art; and this one man must be so endowed by nature as to be capable of carrying to a successful issue the great enterprise, be it what it may. He must, in short, be a man of destiny. That he should call to his assistance other men, that he should legitimately make use of the labors of others, in no wise detracts from his claims to greatness. It is futile to say that without this one or that one the enterprise would have been a failure; that without his officers and his men the general could not have waged a successful campai^. We must, in every great accomplishment which has influenced the history of the world, search out the master mind to whom, under Heaven, the epoch-making result is due, and him must we crown with the laurel wreath.
Of nothing is this more true than of invention, for I venture to assert that no great invention has ever sprung Minerva-like from the brain of one man. It has been the culmination of the discoveries, the researches, yes, and the failures, of others, until the time was ripe and the destined man appeared. While due credit and all honor must be given to the other laborers in the field, the niche in the temple of fame must be reserved for the one man whose genius has combined all the known elements and added the connecting link to pro- duce the great result.
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As an invention the tel^raph was truly epoch-mak- ing. It came at a time when steam navigation on land and water was yet in its inf ancy» and it is idle to specu- late on the slow progress which this would have made had it not been for the assistance of the electric spark.
The science of electricity itself was but an academic curiosity, and it was not until the telegraph had dem- onstrated that this mysterious force could be har- nessed to the use of man, that other men of genius arose to extend its usefulness in other directions; and this, in turn, stimulated invention in many other fields, and the end is not yet.
It has been necessary, in selecting letters, to omit many fully as interesting as those which have been included; barely to touch on subjects of research, or of political and religious discussion, which are worthy of being pursued further, and to omit some subjects entirely. Very probably another more experienced hand would have made a better selection, but my aim has been to give, through characteristic letters and contemporary opinions, an accurate portrait of the man, and a succinct history of his life and labors. If I have succeeded in throwing a new light on some points which are still the subject of discussion, if I have been able to call attention to any facts which until now have been overlooked or unknown, I shall be satisfied. If I have been compelled to use very plain language with regard to some of those who were his open or secret enemies, or who have been posthumously glorified by others, I have done so with regret.
Such as it is I send the book forth in the hope that it may add to the knowledge and appreciation of the
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character of one of the world's great men, and that it may, perhaps, be an inspiration to others who are striving, against great odds, to benefit their fellow men, or to those who are championing the cause of justice and truth.
Edward Lend Mobsb.
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CONTENTS
CHAFTEB I ATOL fr, 1791 — SEPTEMBER 8, 1810
Birth of & F. B. Mone. — Hb pumtt. -- Lettcn cl Dr. BclkiiH> and Ber. Mi. Wdit.— FliiDqM. Andover.— Fini letter.— Loiter tram hii father. — Religioui letter from Motm to hie brotfaen. — Lettera from the mother to her •oos. — Mone enters Yale, — ffie jomnej there. — Difficulty m kee^og up with hie daee. — Letter of waraiog from his mother. -Letters of Jedediah Itose to Bishop of London and Lmdl^ Murray. — Mono becomes more studious. — Bill of cg[penses. — Longing to travd and interest in dectricity.— Fhiladel- phiaandNewYoik. — Graduates from college. — Wishes to acoom- pany Allston to Khgiand, but submits to parents' desires • • • 1
CHAFTEB n OCTOBER 81, 1810 — AUGUST 17, 1811
Enters bookshop as deik. — Devotes leisure to painting.— Leaves shop. — Letter to his brothera on ^[ipointments at Yale. — Lettera from Joseph P. Rossiter. — Morse's first love affair. — P^ts ''Landmg of the Pilgrims." — Prepares to sail with Allsions for Engbnd. — Lettera of mtroduction from his father. — Dissgreeeble stage-ride to New York. — Sails on the Lydia. — Prosperous voyage. — Liverpool. — Trip to London. — Observations on people and cua- toms.-*- Frequently cheated. — Critkal time in En^and. — Dr. Lettson. — Sheridan's verse.— Longing for a tdegraph. — A ^lost 94
CHAFTEB in AUGUST M. 1811 * DECEMBER 1, 1811
Benjamin West. "~ George ill. -~- Mone begms his stumes. ""■ Intro* dneed to West. — Enthusiasms. — SmuggOng and lotteries. — Eng- lish appreciation of art. — Copley. — friendliness of West. — El|^ marbles.- Cries of London. — Custom in knocfcmg. — Witnesses balloon asoensipn. — Crowds. — Vamdiall Gardens. — St Bartholo- mesr's Fair. — iBfforts to be economicsl. — Signs of war. — BAails delayed. — Admitted to Boyal Academy. — Distmbanoes, riots, and orarden •••••'••••••••••4fl
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CHAPTER IV
JANUABY 18, 1812 — AUGUST «, 1812
Foliticil opinioiifl. — Charles R. Leslie's reminisceDoes of Mone, AUston, King, and Coleridge. — C. B. King's letter. — Sidney E. Morse's letter. — Benjamin West's kindness. — Sir William Beechy.^''^
— Murders, robberies, etc. — Morse and Leslie paint each other's portraits. — The eider Morse's financial difficulties. — He deprecates the war talk. — The son differs from his father. — The Prince Regent. — Orders in Council. — Estimate of West. — Alarming state of affairs in England. — Assassination of Perceval, Prime Minister. — Execution of assassin. — Morse's love for his art. — Stephen Van Rensselaer. — Leslie the friend and AUston the master. — Afternoon tea. — The eider Morse well known in Eurt^. — Lord Castlereac^.
— The Queen's drawing-room. — Kemble and Mrs. Siddoos. — Zadiaiy Macaulay. — Warning letter from his parents. — War declared. — Morse approves. — Gratitude to his parents, and to
CHAPTER V SEPTEMBER 20, 1812 — JUNE 18, 1818
Models the ''Dying Hercules." — Dreams of greatness. — Agsin ex- presses gratitude to his parents. — Begins painting of "Dying Her- cules." — Letter from Jeremiah Evarts. — Morse upholds ri^teous- ness of the war. — Henry Thornton. — Political discussions. — GO- bert Stuart. — William Tl^berf oroe. — James Wynne's reminiscenoes of Morse, Coleridge, Leslie, AUston, and Dr. Abemetfay. — Letters from his mother and brother. — Letters from friends on the state of the fine arts in America. — "The Dying Hercules" exhibited at the Royal Academy. — Expenses of painting. — Receives Adelphi Gold Medal tar statuette of Hercules. — Mr. Dunlap's reminiscenoes. — Critics praise "Dying Hercules" 84
CHAPTER VI
JULY 10, 1818 — APRIL 8, 1814
Letter from the father on economies and political views. — Morse dep- recates lack of spirit in New England and rejoices at Wellington's victories. — Allsbon's poems. — Morse coatpof-arms. — Letter of Joseph Hillhouse. ^ Letter of exhortation from his mother. — Morse wishes to stay longer In Europe. — Amused at mother's political views. — - The father sends more money for a longer stay. — Sidney exalts poetry above painting. — His mother warns him against infideb and actors. — BristoL — (^timism. — Letter on infidels and his own reli^ous observances. — Future of American art. — He is in good health, but thin. — Letter from Mr. Visger. — Benjamin Burritt, American prisoner. — Efforts in his behalf onsaooessfuL — Capture
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of Puis by the ADies. — Again cmncMen giatitode to parents. — Writes a play to CaiailesMatliews.-- Not produced . . . . lOB
CHAPTEB Vn BiAY 2» 1814 — OCTOBER 11^814
AUston writes enoouraffbogly to the parents. — Morse unwiOing to be mere portrait-painter. — Ambitious to stand at the head of his pro- fession.— Desires patronage from wealthy friends. — Delay in the mails. — Account of snftifo of Louis XVIII into Londcm. — The Prince Regent. — Indignation at acts of English. — His parents relieved at hearing from him after seven months' silence. — No hope of patronage from America. — His brothers. — Account of fttes. — Emperor Akiander, King of Prussia, Blttcher, PUtoff. — Wishes to go to Paris. — Letter from M. Van Sdiaick about battle of Lake Erie. — Disgusted with England 181
CHAPTEB Vra NOVEMBER 0» 1814 — APRIL 88. 1815
Does not go to Paris. — Letter of admonition from his mother. — His parents' eariy economies. — Letter from Leslie. — Letter from Rev. S. F. Jarvis on politics. — The mother tells of the economies of another young American, Dr. Parkman. — The son resents constant exhortations to economise, and tells of meanness of Dr. Pkrianan. — Writes of his own economies and industry. — Disgusted with Bristol. — Prophesies peace between England and America. — Estimates of Motbc's character by Dr* Romeyn and Mr. Van Sdiaick. — The father regrets reproof of son tat political views. — Death of Mrs. Allston. — Disagreeable experience in Bristol. — More economies. — Napoleon L — Peace 154
CHAPTER JX
MAY 8, 1815 — OCTOBER 18, 1815
Decides to return home in the fall. — Hopes to return to Europe in a year. — Ambitions. — Paints "Judgment of Jiq>iter." — Not allowed to compete for premium. — Mr. Russell's portrait. — Reproof of his parents. — Battle of Waterioo. — Wilberforce. — Painting oi "Dy- ing Hercules" received by parents. — Mudi admired. — Sails for home. — Dreadful voyage lasting fif ty-ei|^t days. — Extracts from his journal. — Home at last 175
CHAPTER X
APRIL 10, 1818 — OCTOBER 5, 1818
Veiy little success at home. — Portrait of ex-President John Adams. — Letter to Allston OB sale of his "Dead Man restoied to life." — Also
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apologiset for haalty temper. — Beaenind by Allstoii. — Hmnoroiis letter from Leslie. — Goes to Neir HMnpdiire to paint portraits. — Gxnoord. — Meets Miss Lucretia Walker. — Letters to his parents ooQoeming her. — EBs parents repty. — Engaged to Miss Walker. — His parents approve. — Many portraits painted. — Miss Walker's parents consent. — Suocess in Portsmouth. — Morse and his brother invent a pump. — Hi^^ endorsed by Prendent Day and 1^ Whit- ney. — Miss Walker visits Chariestown. — Morse's reli^ous convic- tions. — More success in New Hampshire. — 'V^ter in Charieston* South Carolina. — John A. Alston. — Success. — Returns north. — Letter from his unde Dr. FkJ^. — Maniage • • • • . .190
CHAFTEB XI NOVEMBER Id, 1818 — MARCH 81, 1881
Morse and his wife go to Charleston, South Carolma. — Hospitably en- tertained and many portraits painted. — Congratulates AUston on his election to the Royal Academy. — Receives commission to paint President Monroe. — Trouble in the parish at Chariestown. — Morse urges his parents to leave and come to Charleston. — Letters of John A. Alston. — Return to the North. — Birth of his first diild. — Dr. Morse and his family decide to move to New Haven. — Morse goes to Washington. — Paints the President under difficulties. — Hospitali- ties. — Death of his grandfather. — Dr. Morse appomted Indian Commissioner. — Maniage of Morse's future mother-in-law. — Charieston again. — Continued success. — Letters to Mrs. Ball. — liberality of Mr. Alston. — Spends the summer in New Haven. — Returns to Charieston, but meets with poor suocess. — Assists in founding Acadenty of Arts, whidi has but a short life. — Goes North
219
CHAFTEB Xn
MAY «8» 18S1 — DECEMBER 17, IftM
Accompanies BCr. Silliman to the Berkshires. — Takes his wife and daughter to Concord, New Hampshire. — Writes to his wife from Boston about a bonnet. — Goes to Washington, D. C. — Paints large picture of House of Representatives. — Artistic but not financial suc- cess. — Donates five hundred dollars to Yale.* — Letter from Mr. De Forest — New York "Observer." — Discouragements. — First son bom. — Invents marble-carving machine. — Goes to AllMmy. — Stephen Van Reossdaer. — Slif^t encouragement in Albany. — Longing for a home. — Goes to New York. — Portrait of Chancdlor Kent. -^Appointed attach^ to Legation to Mexico. — Hi^ hopes. — Takes affecting leave of his family. — Rouc^ journey to Washington. — Expedition to Mexico indefinitdy postponed. — Returns North. — Settles in New York. — Fairly prospeniua ••*•••. I
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CHAFTEB XTTT
JANUARY 4. 1885 — NOVEMBER 18, 1885
Suooen io Neir Yotk. — C^hoien to paint portrait of Lafayette. — Hope ol a permaiMiit home with hia family. — Meets Lafayette in Waafaing- ton. — MutuaDy attracted. — Attends FreaideBt's levee. — Begins portrait of Lafayette. — Death of his wife. — Crushed by the news. •— His attachment to her. — Epitaph composed l^ Benjunin fiiHiman.
— Bravely takes up his woric again. — Finishes portrait of Lafayette.
— Describes it in letter of a later date. -— Sonnet on death of Lafay- ette*s dog. — Rents a house in Canal Street* New York. — One of the founders of National Academy cf Design. — Tactful resolutions on organisation. — First thirty memben. — Morse elected first presi- dent. — Redected every year until 1845. — Again made president in 1861. — Lectures OB Art. — Popularity £50
CHAFTEB XIV JANUARY 1, 1886 — DECEBffiER 5, 1889
Success of his lectures, the first of the kind in the United States. —Diffi- culties of his position as leader. — Still longing for a home. — Very bogy but in good health. — Death of his father. — Estimates of Dr. Moise. —Letters to his mother. — Wishes to go to Eurt^ again. — Delivers address at first anniversary of National Academy of Dengn.
— Rofessor Dana lectures on electricity. — Morse's study of the subject — Moves to No. 18 Murray Street — Too bui^ to visit his family. -^ Death of his mother. — A remarkable woman. — Goes to central New York. — A serious accident. — Moral reflectknis. — Prepares to go to Eurt^. — Letter of John A. Dix. — Sails for Liverpool. — Rou|^ voyage. — Liverpool • 888
CHAPTER XV
DECEMBER 6, 1889 — FEBRUARY 6, 1880
Journey from Liverpool to London by coach. — Neatness of the cot- tages. — Trentham HaU. — Stratford-on-Avon. — Oxford. — Lon- dcm. — Charles R. Leslie. — Samuel Rogers. ' — Seated with Academi- cians at Royal Academy lecture. — Washington Irving. '—Turner. -^ Leaves London for Dover. — Canteibuiy Cathedral. — Detained at Dover by bad weather. — Incident of a former virit. — Channd steamer. — Boulogne-smvMer. — First impressions of Fkanoe. — Paris.- The Louvre.— Lafayette. — Cdd m Paris. — Contmental Sunday. — Leaves Paris for Biarseilles in diUgenoe. — Intense oold.
— Dijon. — IVench funeral. — Lyons. — The HAtd Dieu. — Avi- gnon. — Catholic churdi services. — Marseilles. — Toulon. — The navy yard and the galley slaves. — Disagreeable exprneood at an inn.
— The Riviera. — Genoa 804
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CHAPTER XVI
FEBRUABY 6, 1880— JUNE 15, 1890
Sena Palace in Genoa. — Starts for Rome. — Rain in the mountains. — A brigand. — Carrara. — First mention of a railroad. — Pisa. — The leaning tower. — Rome at last. — Begins copying at once. — Note- books. — Ceremonies at the Vatican. — Pope Pius VUI. — Academy of St. Luke's. — St. Peter's. — Chiesa Nuova. — Painting at the Vat^ ican. — Beggar monks. — Festa of the Annunciation. — Soiree at Palacflo Simbaldi. — Passion Sunday. — Horace Yemet. — Lying in state of a cardinal. — Miserere at Sistine Chapel. — Holy Thursday at St. Peter's. — Third cardinal dies. — Meets Thorwaldsen at Signor Persianis's. — Manners of English, Frendi, and Americans. — Lan- di's pictures. — Funeral of a young girl. — Trip to Tivoli, Subiaco. — Prooessioa of the Corpus Dommi. — Disagreeable experience . . 829
CHAPTER XVn JUNE 17. 1880 — FEBRUARY «, 18S1
Working hard. — Trip to Gouano. — Lake of Nend. — Beggars. — Curious festival of flowers at Gensano. — Night on the Campagna. — Heat in Rome. — Illumination of St. Peter's. — St. Peter's Day. — Vaults of the Church. — Feebleness oi Pope. — Morse and compan- ions visit Naples, Capri, and Amalfi. — Charms oi Amalfi. — Terrible acddent. — Flippancy at funerals. — Campo Santo at N^les. — Gruesome conditions. — Ubiquity of beggars. — Convent of St. Mar- tino. — Masterpiece oi Spagnoletto. — Returns to Rome. — Paints portrait of Tliorwaldsen. — P^^sented to him in after years by John Taylor Johnston. — Given to King of Denmark. — Reflections on the sodal evil and the theatre. — Death of the Pope. — An assassinatimi. -^ The Honorable Mr. Spencer and Catholicism. — Election of Pope Gregory XVI 854
CHAPTER XVm FEBRUARY 10, 1881 — SEPTEMBER 18. 1881
Historic events witnessed by Morse. — Rumors of revolution. — Danger to foreigners. — Coronation of the new Pope. — Pleasant experience. — Cause of the revolution a mystery. — Bloody plot foiled. — Plans to leave for Florence. — Sends casts, etc., to National Academy of De- sign. — Leaves Rome. — Dangers of the journey. — Florence. — De- scription of meeting Prince Radziwill in Coliseum at Rome. — Copies portraits of Rubens and Titian in Florence. — Leaves Florence for Venice. — Disagreeable voyage on the Po. — Venice, beautiful but smelly. — Cc^ies Tintoret's "Miracle of the Slave." — Thunder- storms. — Rdiections on the Fourth of July. — Leaves Venice. — Recoaro. — Milan. — Reflections on Catholicism and art — Como
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and Maggiore. — The Bigi. — Scfaafiluuuen and Hddelberg. — Evades the quaiaatine on Frendi border. — Tlirilling experience. — Paris ' 979
CHAPTER XIX
SEPTEMBER 18. 1881 — SEPTEMBER 21, 1888
Takes rooms with Horatio Cvreenougfa. — Political talk with Lafayette. — Riots m Paris. — Letters from Greenouc^. — Bunker Hill Monu- ment. — Letters from Fenimcffe Cooper. — Cooper's portnut by Ver> boeckhoven. — European criticisms. — Reminiscenoes of R. W. Habersham. — Hints tA an electric telegraph. — Not remembered by Morse. — Early esperiments in photogn^hy. — Painting of the Louvre. — Cholera in Paris. — Baran von Humboldt. — Morse pre- sides at Fourth of July dinner. — Proposes toast to Lafayette. — Let- ter to New York "Observer" on Fenimore Cooper. — Also on pride in American citiBeiiBhq>. — Works with Lafayette in behalf of Poles. — Letter from Lafayette. — Morse visits Lcmdon before sailing for home. ^ Sits to Leslie for head of Sterne 407
CHAPTER XX
Morse's life almost equally divided into two periods, artistic and scien- tific — Esthnate oi his artistic ability by Daniel Huntington. — Also l^ Samuel Isham. — His diaracter as revealed l^ his letters, notes, etc — End of Volume I 484
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ILLUSTRATIONS
ICoBSB THS Abtibt (Fhotogravure) • . • • FfontUpiee$ Painted by faimsdf in London aboot 1814.
HOUBX IN WHICH MOBSB WAS BOBN, IN CeABLBBTOWH, MaBS. ft
Bmv. Jbdbdiah Mobss and S. F. B. Mobsb — Elzsabbth
Ann MoBaa and Sidnst £• Mobsb 22
iVom portmits by a Mr. Saigent, who also painted portnits of the Washington famfly.
Thb TynsQ Hebculbb 106
P^ted by Mone in 181S.
Lbttxb of Mobsb to his PABENn» Octobbb 18, 1815 • 104
Mb. D. C. Db Fobbst — Mbs. D. C. Db Fobbst . . £44 From paintinga by Mone now in the gaDeiy oi the Yale Sdiool oltheFbeArti.
LUCBBTIA FtGKHBXNG WaLKBB, WoS OF S. F. B. MOBSB,
AND Two Childbbn 854
Painted by Movae.
Study fob Pobtbatt of Lafatbttb 268
Now in New York Public libraiy.
Euzabeth a. Mobsb • . • • • 204
Painted by Mone.
Jbbbmtah Etabtb 828
From a portrait painted by Morse and owned by Sherman £vart8,£flq.
Db Wrrr Clinton 860
Painted by Mone. Owned by the Metropolitan Muaenm, New York.
Hbmbt Clat .400
Paintedby Morse. Owned by the MetropolitaaMiiKum,N«wYoik.
ScsAN W. Mobsb. Eidbbt Dauohtbb of thb Abtist . 486
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SAMUEL F. B. MOUSE fflS LETTERS AND JOURNALS
CHAPTER I
APRIL 27, 1791 — SEPTEMBER 8, 1810
Birth of S. F. B. Morse. — His parenU. — Letters of Dr. BelkiiH> and Rev. Mr. Wells. — PhiUips, Andover. — First letter. — Letter from his father. — Reh^oos letter from Morse to his brothers. — Letters from the mother to her sods. — Morse eaters Yale. •— His journey there. — Diffi- culty in keeping up with his dass. — Letter of warning from his mother. — Letters of Jedediah Morse to Bishop of London and lindley Murray. -^ Morse becomes more studious. — BiQ of expenses. — Longing to travel and interest in electricity. — Philadelphia and New York. — Graduates from college. — Wishes to accompany AUston to England, but submits to parents' desires.
Samuel Finlet Bbeese Morse was bom in Charles- town, Massachusetts, on the 27th day of April, a.d. 1791. He came of good Puritan stock, his father, Jedediah Morse, being a militant clergyman of the Congregational Church, a fighter for orthodoxy at a time when Unitarianism was b^inning to undermine the foundations of the old, austere, childlike faith.
These battles of the churches seem far away to us of the twentieth century, but they were very real to the ' warriors of those days, and, while many of the tenets of their faith may seem narrow to us, they were gospel to the godly of that time, and reverence, obedience, filial piety, and courtesy were the rule and not the excep- tion that they are to-day.
Jedediah Morse was a man of note in his day, known and respected at home and abroad; the friend of Greneral Washington and other founders of the Republic; the
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2 SAMUEL F. B. MORSE
author of the first American Geography and Gazetteer. His wife, Elizabeth Ann Breese, granddaughter of Samuel Finley, president of Princeton College, was a woman of great strength and yet sweetness of char- acter; adored by her family and friends, a veritable mother in Israel.
Into this serene home atmosphere came young Fin- ley Morse, the eldest of eleven children, only three of whom survived their infancy. The other two were Sidney Edwards and Richard Carey, both eminent men in their day.
Dr. Belknap, of Boston, in a letter to a friend in New York says: —
''Congratulate the Monmouth Judge [Mr. Breese] on the birth of a grandson. • • • As to the child, I saw him asleep, so can say nothing of his eye or his genius peeping through it. He may have the sagacity of a Jew- ish rabbi, or the profundity of a Calvin, or the sub- limity of a Homer for aught I know. But time will show forth all things.''
This sounds almost prophetic in the light of future days.
The following letter from the Reverend Mr. Wells is quaint and characteristic of the times: —
My dkab uttle Boy, — As a small testimony of my respect and obligation to your excellent Parents and of my love to you, I send you with this six (6) English Guineas. They are pretty playthings enough, and in the Country I came from many people are fond of them. Your Papa will let you look at them and shew them to Edward, and then he will take care of th^n.
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PHILLIFS, ANDOVER 8
and, by the time you grow up to be a Man, they will under Papa's wise management increase to double their present number. With wishing you may never be in want of such playthings and yet never too fond of them, I remain your affectionate friend,
Wic. Wells.
Mbdiobd, July 2, 179S.
Young Morse was sent away early to boarding-school, as was the custom at that time. He was taken by his father to Phillips Academy at Andover, and I believe he ran away once, being overcome by homesickness before he made up his mind to remain and study hard.
The following letter is the first one written by him of which I have any knowledge: —
AmwYSB, 2d August. 1709. Deab Papa, — I hope you are well I will thank you if you will Send me up Some quils Give my love to mama and NANCY and my little brothers pleas to kis them for me and send me up Some very good paper to write to you
I have as many blackberries as I want I go and pick them myself »
Samuel FiNLsnr Bbjqbse Mobsb
YouB Son 1799.
This from his father is characteristic of many writ- ten to him and to his brothers while they were at school and collie: —
Chablbbiowk, Fd>niary 21, 1801.
My deab Son, — You do not write me as often as you ought. In your next you must assign some reason
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4 SAMUEL R B. MORSE
for this neglect. Possibly I have not received all your letters. Nothing will improve you so much in epistolary writing as practice. Take great pains with your letters. Avoid vulgar phrases. Study to have your ideas per- tinent and correct and clothe them in an easy and gram- matical dress. Pay attention to your spelling, pointing, the use of capitals, and to your handwriting. After a little practice these things will become natural and you will thus acquire a habit of writing correctly and well.
General Washington was a remarkable instance of what I have now recommended to you. His letters are a perfect model for epistolary writers. They are writ- ten with great Uniformity in respect to the handwriting and disposition of the several parts of the letter. I will show you some of his letters when I have the pleasiu^ of seeing you next vacation, and when I shall expect to find you much improved.
Your natural disposition, my dear son, renders it proper for me earnestly to recommend to you to attend to one thing at a time. It is impossible that you can do two things well at the same time, and I would, there- fore, never have you attempt it. Never undertake to do what ought not to be done, and then, whatever you undertake, endeavor to do it in the best manner.
It is said of De Witt, a celebrated statesman in Hol- land, who was torn to pieces in the year 1672, that he did the whole business of the republic and yet had time left to go to assemblies in the evening and sup in com- pany. Being asked how he could possibly find time to go through so much business and yet amuse himself in the evenings as he did, he answered there was nothing so easy, for that it was only doing one thing at a time»
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LETTER FROM HIS FATHER 5
and never putting o£F anything till to-morrow that could be done to-day. This steady and undissipated attention to one object is a sure mark of a superior genius, as hurry, bustle, and agitation are the never-failing symp- toms of a weak and frivolous mind.
I expect you will read this letter over several times that you may retain its contents in your memory, and give me your own opinion on the advice I have given you. If you improve this well, I shall be encouraged to give you more as you may need it.
Your affectionate parent,
J. MOBSB.
This was written to a boy ten years old. I wonder if he was really able to assimilate it.
I shall pass rapidly over the next few years, for, while there are many letters which make interesting reading, there are so many more of the later years of greater historical value that I must not yield to the temptation to linger.
The three brothers were all sent to Phillips Academy to prepare for Yale, from which college their father was also graduated.
The following letter from Finley to his brothers was written while he was temporarily at home, and shows the deep religious bent of his mind which he kept through life: —
Chablbbtown» March 15, 1805.
Mt deab Bbothebs, — I now write you again to
inform you that mama had a baby, but it was bom dead
and has just been buried. Now you have three brothers
and three sisters in heaven and I hope you and I will
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6 SAMUEL F. B. MORSE
meet them there at our death. It is uncertain when we shall die, but we ought to be prepared for it» and I hope you and I shall.
I read a question in Davie's '^Sermons" the last Sunday which was this: — Suppose a bird should take one dust of this earth and carry it away once in a thou- sand years, and you was to take your choice either to be miserable in that time and happy hereafter, or happy in that time and miserable hereafter, which would you choose? Write me an answer to this in your next let-
lAsr* • • •
I enclose you a little book called the "Christian Pilgrim." It is for both of you.
We are all tolerable well except mama, though she is more comfortable now than she was. We all send a great deal of love to you. I must now bid you adieu. I remain your a£Fectionate brother,
S. F. B. MoRSB.
I am tempted to include the following extracts from letters of the good mother of the three boys as characteristic of the times and people: —
Chablestown, June 28, 1805. My dkab Son, — We have the pleasure of a letter from you which has gratified us very much. It is the only intelligence we have had from you since Mr. Brown left you. I began to think that something was the mat- ter with respect to your health that occasioned your long silence. • . . We are very desirous, my son, that you should excel in everything that will make you truly happy and useful to your fellow men. In particular by no means neglect your duty to your Heavenly Father.
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LETTERS FROM