214 SAMUEL FINLEY BREESE MORSE. 



of Daniel Webster while he lived. She combined 

 sound judgment with much tenderness of feeling. 

 Morse was a tall, graceful, handsome young man, 

 with blue eyes and winsome manners. 



Dr. Morse and his wife at once sent for their 

 prospective daughter to visit them. She came, and, 

 as she pleased a mother who idolized Finley, it is 

 safe to conclude that she was indeed lovely. 



In January, 1818, having been assured that he 

 would find work in Charleston, S. C., he sailed 

 from New York, and met with a pleasant recep- 

 tion in the home of his uncle, Dr. Finley. He 

 found the society agreeable, but month after month 

 passed, and there was not a single request for a 

 portrait. At last, as he was about to return to 

 New England, he begged his uncle to sit for a 

 painting, as a small return for his kindness. He 

 did so, and an admirable picture resulted. 



Friends came to see it. At once Charleston per- 

 ceived that a real artist was in the city. He soon 

 had one hundred and fifty orders at twelve pounds 

 each ! Hope came again to his heart ; after a few 

 months he returned to Boston, and October 1, 1818, 

 he married Lucretia Walker. 



At the request of the Common Council of 

 Charleston, he now painted the portrait of James 

 Monroe, then President of the United States, and 

 a year later went again to South Carolina, leaving 

 his wife and an infant daughter in Concord, with 

 her parents. On his return, Dr. Morse having re- 

 signed his pastorate at Charlestown, and moved to 



