SAMUEL FINLEY EEEESE MORSE. 231 



university, to see the telegraph. They saw, thought 

 it wonderful, doubted its practicability, and did 

 not offer to invest any money in the enterprise. 

 Finally, in 1837, Mr. Alfred Vail, a young graduate 

 of the University of the City of New York, became 

 interested, helped to construct an improved machine 

 at his father's brass-works at Speedwell, N. J., for 

 Morse to take to Washington for exhibition, and 

 provided the means for his going. 



After five long years, Morse had finally found 

 some one ready to help. Arriving at Washington, 

 he obtained the use of the room of the Committee 

 on Commerce, to show his telegraph. Congressmen 

 came, wondered, and went away doubting. 



He now caused a respectful memorial to be pre- 

 sented to Congress, asking an appropriation of 

 thirty thousand dollars, to test the telegraph be- 

 tween two cities. The petition was referred to a 

 committee, quietly ignored, and Morse heard no 

 more concerning it. 



He sailed for Europe in 1838, to take out a 

 patent for his work, but could obtain none in 

 England, as Wheatstone and Cooke had already 

 patented a magnetic-needle telegraph, entirely un- 

 like that of Morse, invented four years later, says 

 Professor Horsford, but brought before the public 

 about the same time, 1837. In point of active use, 

 Wheatstone's preceded Morse's telegraph by six 

 years, on account of the indifference of Congress 

 in helping the inventor. 



In Paris, Morse submitted his: telegraph to the 



