His father, his wife and children, and his sister-in-law accompanied him as far as New York.  Writing of the parting he says:  “A thousand affecting incidents of separation from my beloved family crowded upon my recollection.  The unconscious gayety of my dear children as they frolicked in all their wonted playfulness, too young to sympathize in the pangs that agitated their distressed parents; their artless request to bring home some trifling toy; the parting kiss, not understood as meaning more than usual; the tears and sad farewells of father, mother, wife, sister, family, friends; the desolateness of every room as the parting glance is thrown on each familiar object, and ‘farewell, farewell’ seemed written on the very walls,—­all these things bear upon my memory, and I realize the declaration that ’the places which now know us shall know us no more.’”

[Illustration:  LUCRETIA PICKERING WALKER, WIFE OF S.F.B.  MORSE, AND TWO CHILDREN Painted by Morse]

It must be borne in mind that a journey in those days, even one from New York to Washington, was not a few hours’ ride in a luxurious Pullman, but was fraught with many discomforts, delays, and even dangers.

As an example of this I shall quote the first part of a letter written by Morse from Washington to his wife on April 11, 1824:—­

“I lose not a moment in informing you of my safe arrival, with all my baggage, in good order last evening.  I was much fatigued, went to bed early, and this morning feel perfectly refreshed and much better for my journey.

“After leaving you on Wednesday morning I had but just time to reach the boat before she started.  In the land carriage we occupied three stages over a very rough road.  In crossing a small creek in a ferry-boat the stage ahead of ours left the boat a little too soon and came near upsetting in the water, which would have put the passengers into a dangerous situation.  As it was the water came into the carriage and wet some of the baggage.  It was about an hour before they could get the stage out of the water.

“Next came our turn.  After travelling a few miles the springs on one side gave way and let us down, almost upsetting us.  We got out without difficulty and, in a few minutes, by putting a rail under one side, we proceeded on again, jocosely telling the passengers in the third stage that it was their turn next.

“When we arrived at the boat in the Delaware to our surprise the third stage came in with a rail under one side, having met with a similar accident a few miles after we left them.  So we all had our turn, but no injury to any of us.”

His high hopes of success in this enterprise were soon doomed to be shattered, and once again he was made to suffer a bitter disappointment.