The consensus of scientific opinion gives to Henry’s discoveries great value in the invention of the telegraph.  While they did not constitute a true telegraph in themselves; while they needed the inventions and discoveries, and, I might add, the sublime faith and indomitable perseverance of Morse to make the telegraph a commercial success; they were, in my opinion, essential to it, and Morse, I think, erred in denying this.  But, from a thorough study of his character, we must give him the credit of being sincere in his denial.  Henry, too, erred in ignoring the advances of Morse and Vail and in his proud sensitiveness.  Professor Leonard D. Gale, the friend of both men, makes the following comment in a letter to Morse of February 9, 1852:  “I fear Henry and I shall never again be on good terms.  He is as cold as a polar berg, and, I am informed, very sensitive.  It has been said by some busybody that his testimony was incompatible with mine, and so a sort of feeling is manifested as if it were so.  I have said nothing about it yet.”  It would have been more dignified on the part of Morse to have disregarded the imputations contained in Henry’s testimony, or to have replied much more briefly and dispassionately.  On the other hand, the provocation was great and he was egged on by others, partly from motives of self-interest and partly from a sincere desire on the part of his friends that he should justify himself.

In a long letter to Vail, of January 15, 1851, in which he details the whole unfortunate affair, he says:  “If there was a man in the world, not related to me, for whom I had conceived not merely admiration but affection, it was for Professor Joseph Henry.  I think you will remember, and can bear me witness, that I often expressed the wish that I was able to put several thousand dollars at his service for scientific investigation....  The whole case has saddened me more than I can express.  I have to fight hard against misanthropy, friend Vail, and I have found the best antidote to be, when the fit is coming on me, to seek out a case of suffering and to relieve it, that the act in the one case may neutralize the feeling in the other, and thus restore the balance in the heart.”

In taking leave for the present of this unfortunate controversy I shall quote from the “Defense,” to show that Morse sincerely believed it his duty to act as he did, but that he acted with reluctance:—­

“That I have been slow to complain of the injurious character of his testimony; that I have so long allowed, almost entirely uncontradicted, its distortions to have all their legal weight against me in four separate trials, without public exposure and for a space of four years of time, will at least show, I humbly contend, my reluctance to appear opposed to him, even when self-defence is combined with the defence of the interests of a large body of assignees....  Painful, therefore, as is the task imposed upon me, I cannot shrink from it, but shall endeavor so to perform it as rather to parry the blows that have been aimed at me than to inflict any in return.  If what I say shall wound, it shall be from the severity of the simple truth itself rather than from the manner of setting it forth.”