232 SAMUEL FINLEY BREESE MORSE. 



Institute, and Arago, Humboldt, and others were 

 delighted with it. As Morse was sending a word 

 from one room to the other, Robert Walsh said to 

 him, "The next word you may write is ' IMMOR- 

 TALITY,' for the sublimity of this invention is of 

 surpassing grandeur. I see now that all physical 

 obstacles, which may for a while hinder, will inevi- 

 'tably be overcome. The problem is solved ; MAN- 

 MAY INSTANTLY CONVERSE WITH HIS FELLOW-MAN 

 IN ANY PART OF THE WORLD." 



Morse returned to New York after eleven 

 months, disappointed that Congress had done noth- 

 ing, "without," as he said, "a farthing in my 

 pocket, and have to borrow even for my meals." 

 In Paris, having learned from M. Daguerre, the in- 

 ventor of the daguerreotype, the process, Morse 

 introduced it in this country, and earned enough 

 by taking pictures to reimburse him for his Euro- 

 pean journey. Many crowded to his rooms to be 

 taught, and he cheerfully imparted the knowledge 

 he possessed. 



As the months went by and Congress did noth- 

 ing, Morse became despondent. He had not the 

 means even to pay postage on letters. He said, 

 " I am sick at heart. ... I feel at times almost 

 ready to cast the whole matter to the winds, and 

 turn my attention forever from the subject." The 

 Vails were unable to help the enterprise further, 

 at present. Morse was still teaching a few pupils 

 at the university. Gen. Strother, of Virginia, 

 "Porte Crayon," thus tells of Morse's pecuniary 



