280 SAMUEL FINLEY ItHEESE MORSE. 



commissions to paint pictures for the panels in the 

 Kotunda of the Capitol, the friends of Morse urged 

 that he, as the president of the National Academy 

 of Design, be one of the artists chosen by the com- 

 mittee. John Quincy Adams, ex-President of the 

 United States, and one of the committee, urged 

 that foreign artists be allowed to compete, stating 

 that no American artists were competent for the 

 work. This, of course, gave offence, and James 

 Fenimore Cooper wrote a severe article, in the 

 "New York Evening Post," upon Mr. Adams's re- 

 marks. The article was attributed to Morse, and 

 his name was rejected by the committee. This 

 was a great disappointment. 



He said, years afterward, " The blow I received 

 from Congress . . . has almost destroyed my 

 enthusiasm for my art. ... I have not painted a 

 picture since that decision. . . . When I applied 

 to paint one of the Rotunda pictures, I was in my 

 full vigor. I had just returned from three years' 

 hard study in Italy, . . . and felt a consciousness 

 of ability to execute a work creditable to my coun- 

 try. I hazarded everything almost for this single 

 object. When so unexpectedly I was repelled, I 

 staggered under the blow. I have endeavored in 

 every way to prevent its effects upon my mind ; but 

 it is a thorn which perpetually obtrudes its point, 

 and would goad me to death were it not for its 

 aspect in the light of God's overruling providence. 

 Then all is right." 



From time to time prominent men came to the 



