Among those eminent Englishmen to whom young Morse had letters of introduction was Zachary Macaulay, editor of the “Christian Observer,” and father of the historian.  The following note from him will be found of a delightful old-time flavor:—­

Mr. Macaulay presents his compliments to Mr. Morse and begs to express his regret at not having yet been so fortunate as to meet with him.  Mr. Macaulay will be particularly happy if it should suit Mr. Morse to dine with him at his house at Clapham on Saturday next at five o’clock.  Mr. M.’s house is five doors beyond the Plough at the entrance of Clapham Common.  A coach goes daily to Clapham from the Ship at Charing Cross at a quarter past three, and several leave Grace Church Street in the City every day at four.  The distance from London Bridge to Mr. Macaulay’s house is about four miles.

23d June, 1812.

In a letter from his mother of June 28, 1812, the anxious parent says:—­

“Although we long to see you, yet we rejoice that you are so happily situated at so great a distance from our, at present, wretched, miserably distracted country, whose mad rulers are plunging us into an unnecessary war with a country that I shall always revere as doing more to spread the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ to the benighted heathen, and those that are famishing from lack of knowledge, than any other nation on the globe.  Our hearts bleed at every pore to think of again being at war.  We have not yet forgotten the wormwood and gall of the last revolution.

“We hope you will steer clear of any of the difficulties of the contest that is about to take place.  We wish you to be very prudent and guarded in all your conversation and actions and not to make yourself a party man on either side.  Have your opinions, but have them to yourself, and be sure you do not commit them to paper.  It may do you great injury either on one side or the other, and you are not in your present situation as a politician but as an artist.”

In this same letter his father adds:—­

“The die is cast and our country plunged in war....  There is great opposition to it in the country.  The papers, which you will have opportunity to see, will inform you of the state of parties.  Your mother has given you sound advice as respects the course you should pursue.  Be the artist wholly and let politics alone.  I rejoice that you are where you are at the present time.  You will do what you can without delay to support yourself, as I know not how we shall be able to procure funds to transmit to you, and, if we had them, how we could transmit them should the war continue.”

To this the son answers in a letter of August 6, 1812:—­

“I am improving, perhaps, the last opportunity I shall have for some time to write you.  Mr. Wheeler, an American, who has been here some time studying portrait painting, has kindly offered to deliver this to you.