n of the message to
and from Senator Wright, as stated.

The incident mentioned recalls something of the obstacles encountered
by Morse in the marvellous work with which his name is inseparably
associated. He first conceived the idea of an electro-magnetic
telegraph on shipboard on a homeward-bound voyage from Europe in
1832. Before landing from his long voyage, his plans for a series
of experiments had been clearly thought out. Having constructed
his first recording apparatus, his caveat for a patent was filed
five years later; and in 1838, he applied to Congress for an
appropriation to enable him to construct an experimental line from
Washington to Baltimore in order to demonstrate the practicability
of his invention. His proposal was at first treated with ridicule
--even with contempt; and for more than three years no favorable
action was taken by Congress. With abiding faith, however, in the
merits of his invention, his zeal knew no abatement during years of
poverty and discouragement. At length in the Twenty-seventh
Congress, Representative Kennedy of Maryland--at a later day
Secretary of the Navy--introduced a bill appropriating thirty
thousand dollars "to test the value of Morse's Electro-Magnetic
Telegraph," to be expended under the direction of the Secretary of
the Treasury.

By the untiring efforts of Mr. Kennedy and other Representatives, the
bill was finally brought before the House for consideration near
the close of the session. In the light of events, the discussion that
immediately preceded the vote is of interest, and in no small degree
amusing, to this generation. On February twenty-first, 1843, Mr.
Johnson of Tennessee wished to say a word upon the bill. As the
present Congress had done much to encourage science, he did not
wish to see the science of Mesmerism neglected and overlooked. He
therefore proposed that one-half of the appropriation be given
to Mr. Fisk to enable him to carry on experiments as well as
Professor Morse. Mr. Houston thought that Millerism should also
be included in the benefits of the appropriation. Mr. Stanley said
he should have no objection to the appropriation for Mesmeric
experiments provided the gentleman from Tennessee was the subject.
Mr. Johnson said he should have no objection provided Mr. Stanley was
the operator. Several gentlemen now called for the reading of the
amendment, and it was read by the clerk as follows: "Provided that
one-half of the sa