His mother continued to give him careful advice, covering many pages, in every letter.  On November 9, 1814, she says:—­

“We wish to know what the plan was that you said you were maturing in regard to the Emperor of Russia.  You must not be a schemer, but determine on a steady, uniform course.  It is an old adage that ’a rolling stone never gathers any moss’; so a person that is driving about from pillar to post very seldom lays up anything against a rainy day.  You must be wise, my son, and endeavor to get into such steady business as will, with the divine blessing, give you a support.  Secure that first, and then you will be authorized to indulge your taste and exercise your genius in other ways that may not be immediately connected with a living.

“You mention patronage from this country, but such a thing is not known here unless you were on the spot, and not then, indeed, but for value received.  You must therefore make up your mind to labor for yourself without leaning on any one, and look up to God for his blessing upon your endeavors.  This is the way your parents set out in life about twenty-five years ago.  They had nothing to look to for a support but their salary, which was a house, twenty cords of wood, and $570 a year.  The reception and circulation of the Geography was an experiment not then made.  With the blessing of Heaven on these resources we have maintained an expensive family, kept open doors for almost all who chose to come and partake of our hospitality.  Enemies, as well as friends, have been welcomed.  We have given you and your brothers a liberal education, have allowed you $4000, are allowing your brothers about $300 a year apiece, and are supporting our remaining family at the rate of $2000 a year.  This is a pretty correct statement, and I make it to show you what can be done by industry and economy, with the blessing of Heaven.”

While Morse was in Bristol, his friend C. R. Leslie thus writes to him in lead pencil from London, on November 29, 1814:—­

MOST POTENT, GRAVE AND REVEREND DOCTOR,—­I take up my pencil to make ten thousand apologies for addressing you in humble black lead.  Deeply impressed as I am with the full conviction that you deserve the very best Japan ink, the only excuse I can make to you is the following.  It is, perhaps, needless to remind you that the tools with which ink is applied to paper, in order to produce writing, are made from goose quills, which quills I am goose enough not to keep a supply of; and not having so much money at present in my breeches pocket as will purchase one, I am forced to betake myself to my pencil; an instrument which, without paying myself any compliment, I am sure I can wield better than a pen.

I am glad to hear that you are so industrious, and that Mr. Allston is succeeding so well with portraits.  I hope he will bring all he has painted to London.  I am looking out for you every day.  I think we form a kind of family here, and I feel in an absence from Mr. and Mrs. Allston and yourself as I used to do when away from my mother and sisters.