Mr. Alston was a generous patron and paid the young artist liberally for the portraits of his children.  In recognition of this Morse presented him with his most ambitious painting, “The Judgment of Jupiter.”  Mr. Alston prized this picture highly during his lifetime, but after his death it was sold and for many years was lost sight of.  It was purchased long afterwards in England by an American gentleman, who, not knowing who the painter was, gave it to a niece of Morse’s, Mrs. Parmalee, and it is still, I believe, in the possession of the family.

While he was in Charleston his father wrote to him of the dangerous illness of his mother with what he called a “peripneumony,” which, from the description, must have been the term used in those days for pneumonia.  Her life was spared, however, and she lived for many years after this.

In June of the year 1818, Morse returned to the North and spent the summer in completing such portraits as he had carried with him in an unfinished state, and in painting such others as he could procure commissions for.  He planned to return to Charleston in the following year, but this time with a young wife to accompany him.

His uncle, Dr. Finley, writing to him on June 16, says:—­

“Your letter of 2d instant, conveying the pleasing intelligence of your safe and very short passage and happy meeting with your affectionate parents at your own home, came safe to hand in due time....  And so Lucretia was expected and you intended to surprise her by your unlooked-for presence.

“Finley, I am afraid you will be too happy.  You ought to meet a little rub or two or you will be too much in the clouds and forget that you are among mortals.  Let me see if I cannot give you a friendly twist downwards.

“Your pictures—­aye—­suppose I should speak of them and what is said of them during your absence.  I will perform the office of him who was placed near the triumphal car of the conqueror to abuse him lest he should be too elated.

“Well—­’His pictures,’ say people, ’are undoubtedly good likenesses, but he paints carelessly and in too much haste and his draperies are not well done.  He must be more attentive or he will lose his reputation.’  ‘See,’ say others, ‘how he flatters.’  ‘Oh!’ says another, ’he has not flattered me’; etc., etc.

“By the bye, I saw old General C.C.  Pinckney yesterday, and he told me, in his laughing, humorous way, that he had requested you to draw his brother Thomas twenty years younger than he really was, so as to be a companion to his own when he was twenty years younger than at this time, and to flatter him as he had directed Stuart to do so to him.”

Morse had now abandoned his idea of soon returning to Europe; he renounced, for the present, his ambition to devote himself to the painting of great historical pictures, and threw himself with enthusiasm into the painting of portraits.  He had an added incentive, for he wished to marry at once, and his parents and those of his fiancee agreed that it would be wise for the young people to make the venture.  Everything seemed to presage success in life, at least in a modest way, to the young couple.