The following extract from a letter to Morse written by his friend, Mr. Jeremiah Evarts, father of William M. Evarts, dated Charlestown, October 7, 1812, is interesting:—­

“I am happy that you are so industriously and prosperously engaged in the prosecution of your profession.  I hope you will let politics entirely alone for many reasons, not the least of which is a regard to the internal tranquillity of your own mind.  I never yet knew a man made happy by studying politics; nor useful, unless he has great duties to perform as a citizen.  You will receive this advice, I know, with your accustomed good nature.”

The next letter, dated November 1, 1812, is a very long one, over eighteen large pages, and is an impassioned appeal to his father to look at the war from the son’s point of view.  I shall quote only a few sentences.

“Your last letter was of October 2, via Halifax, accompanying your sermon on Fast Day.  The letter gave me great pleasure, but I must confess that the sentiments in the sermon appeared very strange to me, knowing what I, as well as every American here does, respecting the causes of the present war....  ’Tis the character of Englishmen to be haughty, proud, and overbearing.  If this conduct meets with no resistance, their treatment becomes more imperious, and the more submissive and conciliating is the object of their imperiousness, the more tyrannical are they towards it.  This has been their uniform treatment towards us, and this character pervades all ranks of society, whether in public or private life.

“The only way to please John Bull is to give him a good beating, and, such is the singularity of his character that, the more you beat him, the greater is his respect for you, and the more he will esteem you....

“If, after all I have now written, you still think that this war is unjust, and think it worth the trouble in order to ascertain the truth, I wish papa would take a trip across the Atlantic.  If he is not convinced of the truth of what I have written in less than two months, I will agree to support myself all the time I am in England after this date, and never be a farthing’s more expense to you....  I was glad to hear that Cousin Samuel Breese is in the navy.  I really envy him very much.  I hope one day, as a painter, I may be able to hand him down to posterity as an American Nelson....  As to my letters of introduction, I find that a painter and a visitor cannot be united.  Were I to deliver my letters the acquaintance could not be kept up, and the bare thought of encountering the English reserve is enough to deter any one....  This objection, however, might be got over did it not take up so much time.  Every moment is precious to me now.  I don’t know how soon I may be obliged to return home for want of means to support me; for the difficulties which are increasing in this country take off the attention of the people from the fine arts, and they withhold that patronage from young artists which they would, from their liberality, in other circumstances freely bestow....