Samuel F. B. Morse, His Letters and Journals In Two Volumes, Volume I.

mpete for premium.-Mr. Russell's portrait.-Reproof of his parents.-Battle of Waterloo.-Wilberforce.-Painting of "Dying Hercules" re

d he but remain a year or two longer in an atmosphere much more congenial to an artist than that wh

n, and this meant wealth and prosperity to many. When the war ceased, this demand suddenly fell off; the soldiers returning to their country swelled the army of the unemployed, and there resulted increased misery among the lower classes, and a check to the prosperity of the middle and upper classes. It would seem, therefore, that Fate d

, he writes to

next, or the beginning of October; but it will be necessary that I should be in England again (provided always Providence permit

poken in season. I shall charge forty dollars less than Stuart for my portraits, so that, if

the amount of two or three thousand dollars, I should feel much gratified. I do not despair of such an event, for, through your influence with the cle

ended on a fine picture would be adding an ornament to the country which would be lasting. It would tend to elevate and refine the public feeling by turning their thoughts from sensuality and luxury to intellectual pleasures, and it would encourage and support

ion is to be among those who shall revive the splendor of the fifteenth century; to rival the genius of a Raphael, a Michael Angelo, or a Titian; my ambition is

England again at the end of the year, whilst I obtained commissions enough to employ me and support me while in England, I think, in the course of a y

l of Providence; and, in every plan for future operation, I hope I am not forgetful of the

ime ago and was only deterred on account of the expenses attending it. All this I will explain to your en

paints quicker than any other artist), his last large picture cost him between three and four years' constant attention. Mr. Allston was nearly two years in painting his large picture. Young Haydon was three years painting his large picture, is now

e set right. I had better paint Miss Russell's, Aunt Salisbury's, and

leaving England. Whether it was begun before or after writing the foregoing letter,

composition offered by the Royal Academy at the beginning of the year 1814. The subject was 'The Judgment of Jupiter in the case of Apollo, Marpessa and Idas.' The premium offered was a gold medal and fifty g

it would be allowed to remain and compete with those of the other candidates. To his regret the petition to the council of the Royal Academy for this favor, handed in to them by West and advocated strongly by him and Fuseli, was not granted. He w

esting Mr. West to inform him through Mr. Leslie, after the premium should be adjudged in December, what chance he would have had if he had rema

out a date, by Mr. Prime

ms to have been lost,

, Lucy. I came very near being at my old game of falling in love, but I find that love and painting are quarrelsome companions, and that the house of my heart is too small for both of them; so I have turned Mrs. Love out-of-doors. Time enough, thought

y verdict (that terrible family verdict) had been pronounced, for in the letter of Ap

timidly on it. It is a likeness, indeed, a very strong likeness, but the family are not pleased with it, and they say that I have not flattered him, that I have made him too old. So I determined I would not send it, indeed, I promised them I would not send it; but, notwithstanding, as I know Miss Russell will be good enough to comply with my conditions, I will send it directly; for, as it is a good likeness, every one except the family knowing it instantly,

and advice, even when their children had reached years o

of May 20, 1815, thus

your parents, who loved you very tenderly, and who were not unwilling you should judge for yourself though you might differ from them. We have ever made a very candid allowance for you, and so have all your friends, and we have never for a moment believed we should diff

the death of Mr. Thornt

reproof. I cull the following sentenc

ice, counsel, and reproof, which we may, from time to time, favor you with, with the most perfect respect and dutiful observance; and, when you differ from us on any point whatever, let that difference be conveyed to us in the most delicate and gentlemanly manner. Let this be done not only while you are under age and dependent on your parents for your support, but when you are indep

815, the fat

on canvas some of her late naval and land actions, and also promote the fine arts among us. He is, you know, an enthusiastic Republican and patriot and a warm approver of the late war, but an amiable, excellent man. I am by no means certain that it would not be be

irst class, will be honorably patronized and supported in this country. In th

political, and speculated rather keenly on the out

6, 1815,

n 800 officers and upwards of 15,000 men, some say 20,000. But it has been decisive if the news of to-day be true, that Napoleon has abdicated. What the event of these unparalleled times will be no m

ure government of France, if they are capable of enjoying such a government. But no one can foresee events; there may be a long peace, or the world may be torn worse than it yet has been. Revol

the 18th day of June, and on the 6th of July the allied armies again

assed through Hyde Park on my way to Kensington Gore, I observed that great crowds had gathered, and rumors were rife that the allied armies had entered Paris, tha

, and his two sons Robert and Charles, and Robert Owen of Lanark, in quite excited conversation respecting the rumors that prevailed. Mr. Wilberforce expatiated largely on the prospects of a universal peace in consequence of the pro

d my attention, but was unnoticed by the rest of the company. Another flash and report assured me that the park guns were firing, and at once I called Mr. Wilberforce's attention to the fact. Running to the window he threw it up in time to see the next flash and hear the repo

Dying Hercules" had at last been received, but that the plaster cast of the same subje

ght not to permit it to go from here. Whether they will or not, I know not. I place no confidence in them, but they may take a fit into their heads to

est interest, but his father had made it clear that he must, from this time forth, depend on his own exertions. He hoped that (Providence permitting) he need only spend a

August 8, 1815, and is but a short one.

landed in England. I have not yet determined by what vessel to return; I have a choice of a great many. The Ceres is the first that sails, but I do not like

long and dreadful one. The record of those terrible fifty-eight days, carefully s

most incredible. Brave, indeed, were our fathers who went down to the sea in ships, for they never knew when, if ever, they would reach the other shore, and there could be no C.Q.D. or S.O.S. flashed by wireless in the Morse code to

rors experienced by the young man, whose appointed time had not yet arri

t, in company with upwards of two hundred sail of vessels, which formed a delightful prospect. We gradually lost sight of different vessels as it approache

day; thick weather and gales of wind; passengers all

boisterous, head winds and rainy. Beating acros

*

orm and a lee shore; breakers in sight, tacked and stood over again to the

*

n our true course. We have had just a week of the most disagreeable weather possible. I hope thi

make six, four gentlemen and two ladies. Mrs. Phillips, Mrs. Drake, Captain Chamberlain, Mr. Bancroft, Mr. Lancaster, and myself. Our amusements are eatin

*

does this voyage make with my first. This day makes the tenth day out and we have advanced towards home about three

vy swell; patience almost exhausted, but the will of Heaven be done. If this weat

d not yet more than one third of our way to Bos

specially in an American seaman's. It was not till after three or four hours' delay, and until the entreaties of his passengers and some threatening murmurs on my part of a public exposure in Boston of his conduct, that he ordered the ship to bear down upon the wreck, and then with slackened sail and much grumbling. A ship and a brig were astern of us, and, though farther by some miles from the

ink excepting the whiteness of the surge, which is carried into the air like clouds of dust, or like the driving of snow. The wind piping through our bare rigging sounds most terrific; indeed, it is a most awful sight. The sea in mountains breaking over our bows, and a single wave dispersing in mist through the violence of the

*

mber. Gale abated, b

r. All last night a treme

frightfully and everything wears a most alarming aspect. At 3 A.M. a squall struck us and laid us almost wholly under water; we came near losing our foremast.... None of us able to sleep from the drea

bated this morning, but still blowing hard fr

theast, when it blew such a hurricane that every one on board declared they never saw its equal. For four hours it blew so hard that all the sea wa

metimes favorable but light, and, whe

d little left; sugar, little left; fresh provisions, little left; beans, none left; salt pork, little left; salt beef, a plenty; water, plenty; stores of passengers, some

, the more surly he grows; he is not even civil.... Several large turtles passed within a few feet of us yesterday and to-day, and, considering we are near t

*

ht another dreadful gale, as seve

*

ing still blowing hard and cold from the same quarter. What a dreadful passage is ou

rve a kind of warfare between the different winds since we have been at sea. The west wind seems to be the tyrant at present, as it we

of the heavens when, behold, in the southwest another bank of thick black clouds came rolling up, and, reddening in the rays of the setting sun, marched on, teeming with fury. They soon gained the middle of the heavens where the frightened northe

the northeast, as under cover of the darkness, and as one driven to desperation, burst forth on its too confident enemy with redoubled fury. Old ocean groans at the dreadful conflict; for, as in the warring of two hostile armies on the domains of a neutral, the neutral suffers most severely, s

n that we re?nact the same scenes for which we punished our enemy. For now has the northeast become the tyrant and rules with tenfold r

on when thou hadst gained, with masterly manoeuvre, the throne of the air; hadst thou reserved thy forces against surprise, and not, with prodigal profuseness, lavished them on thy harmless subjects, thou hadst still bee

five or six knots. This is the cause of the foregoing rhapsody. Had it been otherwise

they were, however, gradually approaching the coast. Omitting the entri

a serious aspect and, as any one came from the deck into the cabin, the rest put up an inquisitive and apprehensive look, with now and then a faint, 'Well, how does it look now?' Our c

ery hard. All is dull and dismal; a dreadful state of suspense, between feelings of exquisite joy in the

who can conceive our feelings now? The wretch condemned to the scaffold, who receives, at th

oyful is the thought. To-night we shall, in all probabili

. Manomet la

ck. Cape A

ck. Boston Li

clock.

ustr

d the S

on H

ar Pa

send this just to prepare you, I shall be with you as soon as I can possibly get on shore. We have had 58 days pas

affectio

l B.

er 18