Another grief which came to him in the summer of 1834 (to return to that year) was the death of his illustrious friend General Lafayette.  The last letter received from him was written by his amanuensis and unsigned, and simply said:—­

“General Lafayette, being detained by sickness, has sent to the reporter of the committee the following note, which the said reporter has read to the House.”

The note referred to is, unfortunately, missing.  This letter was written on April 29 and the General died on May 20.  Morse sent a letter of sympathy to the son, George Washington Lafayette, a member of the Chamber of Deputies, in which the following sentiments occur:—­

“In common with this whole country, now clad in mourning, with the lovers of true liberty and of exalted philanthropy throughout the world, I bemoan the departure from earth of your immortal parent.  Yet I may be permitted to indulge in additional feelings of more private sorrow at the loss of one who honored me with his friendship, and had not ceased, till within a few days of his death, to send to me occasional marks of his affectionate remembrance.  Be assured, my dear Sir, that the memory of your father will be especially endeared to me and mine.”

Morse’s admiration of Lafayette was most sincere, and he was greatly influenced in his political feelings by his intercourse with that famous man.  Among other opinions which he shared with Lafayette and other thoughtful men, was the fear of a Roman Catholic plot to gain control of the Government of the United States.  He defended his views fearlessly and vigorously in the public press and by means of pamphlets, and later entered into a heated controversy with Bishop Spaulding of Kentucky.

I shall not attempt to treat exhaustively of these controversies, but think it only right to refer to them from time to time, not only that the clearest possible light may be shed upon Morse’s character and convictions, but to show the extraordinary activity of his brain, which, while he was struggling against obstacles of all kinds, not only to make his invention a success, but for the very means of existence, could yet busy itself with the championing of what he conceived to be the right.

To illustrate his point of view I shall quote a few extracts from a letter to R.S.  Willington, Esq., who was the editor of a journal which is referred to as the “Courier.”  This letter was written on May 20, 1835, when Morse’s mind, we should think, would have been wholly absorbed in the details of the infant telegraph:—­

“With regard to the more important matter of the Conspiracy, I perceive with regret that the evidence which has been convincing to so many minds of the first order, and which continues daily to spread conviction of the truth of the charge I have made, is still viewed by the editors of the ‘Courier’ as inconclusive.  My situation in regard to those who dissent from me is somewhat singular.  I have brought against the