Sailing from Havre on the St. Laurent, on May 22, he and his family reached, without untoward incident, the home on the Hudson, and on June 21 he writes to his son Arthur, who had remained abroad with his tutor:—­

“You see by the date where we all are.  Once more I am seated at my table in the half octagon study under the south verandah.  Never did the Grove look more charming.  Its general features the same, but the growth of the trees and shrubbery greatly increased.  Faithful Thomas Devoy has proved himself to be a truly honest and efficient overseer.  The whole farm is in fine condition....

“On Thursday last I was much gratified with Mr. Leslie’s letter from Copenhagen, with his account of your reception by the King of Denmark.  How gratifying to me that the portrait of Thorwaldsen has given such pleasure to the king, and that he regards it as the best likeness of the great sculptor.”

The story of Morse’s presentation to the King of Denmark of the portrait, painted in Rome in 1831, has already been told in the first volume of this work.  The King, as we learn from the above quotation, was greatly pleased with it, and in token of his gratification raised Morse to the rank of Knight Commander of the Dannebrog, the rank of Knight having been already conferred on the inventor by the King’s predecessor on the throne.

In another letter to Colonel Leslie, of November 2, 1868, brief reference is made to matters political:—­

“To-morrow is the important day for deciding our next four years’ rulers.  I am glad our Continental brethren cannot read our newspapers of the present day, otherwise they must infer that our choice of rulers is made from a class more fitted for the state’s prison than the state thrones, and elevation to a scaffold were more suited to the characters of the individual candidates than elevation to office.  But in a few days matters will calm down, and the business of the nation will assume its wonted aspect.

“I have not engaged in this warfare.  As a citizen I have my own views, and give my vote on general principles, but am prepared to learn that my vote is on the defeated side.  I presume that Grant will be the president, and I shall defer to the decision like a peaceable citizen.  The day after to-morrow you will know as well as we shall the probable result.  The Telegraph is telling upon the world, and its effect upon human affairs is yet but faintly appreciated.”

In this letter he also speaks of the death of his youngest brother, Richard C. Morse, who died at Kissingen on September 22, 1868, and in a letter to his son Arthur, of October 11, he again refers to it, and adds:  “It is a sad blow to all of us but particularly to the large circle of his children.  Your two uncles and your father were a three-fold cord, strongly united in affection.  It is now sundered.  The youngest is taken first, and we that remain must soon follow him in the natural course of things.”