316 HENEY AND THE TELEGRAPH. 



current tliroiigli a long telegraph line. His own personal researches bad 

 not overcome this obstacle. I also learned at the same time, by the con- 

 versations above stated, that he only overcame this obstacle by con- 

 structing a magnet on the i>rinciple invented by Professor Henry, and 

 described in his article in Silliman's Journal. His attention was directed 

 to it by Dr. Gale."* 



In consequence of this friendly interview, Professor Morse, with a 

 frankness creditable to the natural impulses of his character, a short 

 time afterward addressed a letter to Professor Walker, from which the 

 following extracts are made: 



"Washington, January 31, 1848. 



"Dear Sie : I have perused with much interest that part of your 

 manuscript entitled ' Theorj^ of Morse's Electro-Magnetic Telegraph,' 

 which you were so kind as to submit to my examination. The allusion 

 you make to ' the helix of a soft-iron magnet i^repared after the manner 

 first pointed out by Professor Henry,' gives me an opportunity of which 

 I gladly avail myself, to say that I think justice has not hitherto been 

 done to Professor Henry, either in Europe or this country, for the dis- 

 covery of a scientific fact which in its bearing on telegraphs, whether 

 of the magnetic needle or electro-magnet order, is of the greatest im- 

 portance. . . . Thus was Oldened the way for fresh efforts in devising 

 a practicable electric telegraph j^ and Baron Schilling, in 1832, and Pro- 

 fessors Gauss and Weber, in 1833, had ample opportunity to learn of 

 Henry's discovery, and avail themselves of it, before they constructed 

 their needle telegraphs, t . . . To Professor Henry is unquestionably 

 due the honor of the discovery of a fact in science which proves the 

 practicability of exciting magnetism through a long coil or at a distance, 

 either to deflect a needle or magnetize soft iron. . . . 

 "With great respect, your obedient servant, 



"Samuel E. B. Morse." 



This just and honorable recognition was well calculated to reflect an 

 added luster, in the minds of the intelligent, upon Professor Morse's 

 unquestionable achievements. But the writer a few years later, per- 

 haps embittered by the sweeping constructions placed by hostile ad- 

 vocates upon the enforced statements of Henry (exacted in strongly- 

 contested litigations between rival telegraph inventors or their sustain- 

 ing companies), was unfortunately led in evil hour by flattering partisans 

 to undo this gracious work. 



In a pamphlet essay dated Locust Grove, New York, December, 1853, 

 and published in January, 1855, Professor Morse hazarded the intrepid 



* The case of French vs. Mof/ers. Respondent's evidence, p. 199. Quoted by President 

 Felton: Snuihsonian Bcport for 1857, pp. 94, 95. The attention of Professor Morse was 

 in reality not called to Henry's discovery by Dr. Gale, till a considerable time after it 

 had been successfully aiiplied to the experimental circuits of the infant telegraph. 



t [Schilling's telegraphic experiments (involving no great length of circuit) were 

 earlier than Henry's discoveries ; and the expedient of so delicate an indicator as the 

 reflecting galvanometer employed by Gauss and Weber seems to show that they had 

 not adapted fully the electric current to the "intensity" coil, as recommended by- 

 Henry. ] 



