e sum at half a million dollars as
the least that they could feel to be at all compatible with their
dignity. I hope you will acknowledge it more as a tribute to the merits
of your invention than as an adequate reward for it."
And in a letter of June 5, answering one of Morse's which must have
contained some expressions of gratitude, Mr. Kendall says further: "In
reference to the second subject of your letter, I have to say that it is
only as a tribute to the superiority of your invention that the European
grant can, in my opinion, be considered either 'generous' or
'magnanimous.' As an indemnity it is niggardly and mean."
It will be in place to record here the testimonials of the different
nations of Europe to the Inventor of the Telegraph, manifested in various
forms:--
_France._ A contributor to the honorary gratuity, and the decoration of
the Legion of Honor.
_Prussia._ The Scientific Gold Medal of Prussia set in the lid of a gold
snuff-box.
_Austria._ A contributor to the honorary gratuity, and the Scientific
Gold Medal of Austria.
_Russia._ A contributor to the honorary gratuity.
_Spain._ The cross of Knight Commander de Numero of the order of Isabella
the Catholic.
_Portugal._ The cross of a Knight of the Tower and Sword.
_Italy._ A contributor to the honorary gratuity, and the cross of a
Knight of Saints Lazaro and Mauritio.
_Wuerttemberg._ The Scientific Gold Medal of Wuerttemberg.
_Turkey._ A contributor to the honorary gratuity, and the decoration in
diamonds of the Nishan Iftichar, or Order of Glory.
_Denmark._ The cross of Knight Commander of the Dannebrog.
_Holy See._ A contributor to the honorary gratuity.
_Belgium._ A contributor to the honorary gratuity.
_Holland._ A contributor to the honorary gratuity.
_Sweden._ A contributor to the honorary gratuity.
_Great Britain._ Nationally nothing.
_Switzerland._ Nationally nothing.
_Saxony._ Nationally nothing.
The decorations and medals enumerated above, with the exception of the
Danish cross, which had to be returned at the death of the recipient, and
one of the medals, which mysteriously disappeared many years ago, are now
in the Morse case at the National Museum in Washington, having been
presented to that institution by the children and grandchildren of the
inventor. It should be added that, in addition to the honors bestowed on
him by foreign governments, he was made a member of the Royal Academy of
Sciences o
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