Produced by Carlo Traverso, Richard Prairie and PG Distributed
Proofreaders. This file was produced from images generously madeavailable by the Bibliotheque nationale de France (BnF/Gallica) athttp://gallica.bnf.fr.
[Illustration: Sam'l. F.B. Morse]
1914
Published November 1914
"Th' invention all admir'd, and each how he
To be th' inventor miss'd, so easy it seem'd
Once found, which yet unfound most would have thought
Impossible."
Packet-ship Sully.—Dinner-table conversation.—Dr. Charles T. Jackson.—First conception of telegraph.—Sketch-book.—Idea of 1832 basicprinciple of telegraph of to-day.—Thoughts on priority.—Testimony ofpassengers and Captain Pell.—Difference between "discovery" and"invention."—Professor E.N. Hereford's paper.—Arrival in New York.—Testimony of his brothers.—First steps toward perfection of theinvention.—Letters to Fenimore Cooper
1833—1836
Still painting.—Thoughts on art.—Picture of the Louvre.—Rejection aspainter of one of the pictures in the Capitol.—John Quincy Adams.—JamesFenimore Cooper's article.—Death blow to his artistic ambition.—Washington Allston's letter.—Commission by fellow artists.—Definiteabandonment of art.—Repayment of money advanced.—Death of Lafayette.—Religious controversies.—Appointed Professor in University of City ofNew York.—Description of first telegraphic instrument.—Successfulexperiments.—Relay.—Address in 1853
1836—1837
First exhibitions of the Telegraph.—Testimony of Robert G. Rankin andRev. Henry B. Tappan.—Cooke and Wheatstone.—Joseph Henry, Leonard D.Gale, and Alfred Vail.—Professor Gale's testimony.—Professor Henry'sdiscoveries.—Regrettable controversy of later years.—Professor CharlesT. Jackson's claims.—Alfred Vail.—Contract of September 23, 1837.—Workat Morristown, New Jersey.—The "Morse Alphabet."—Reading by sound.—First and second forms of alphabet
The Caveat.—Work at Morristown.—Judge Vail.—First success.—Resolutionin Congress regarding telegraphs.—Morse's reply.—Illness.—Heaviness offirst instrum