Details
MORSE, SAMUEL FINLEY BREESE. Autograph letter signed ("S.F.B. Morse") to "Dear Sidney," Washington, 10 April 1844. 1 1/2 pages, 4to, 240 x 193 mm. (7 5/8 x 9 1/2 in.), integral blank, slight fold tears.
WRITTEN DURING CONSTRUCTION OF THE FIRST TELEGRAPH LINE
Morse sympathizes with the afflictions of his correspondent, and expresses his faith in "the Dispenser of all good," then reports that "A brighter day is dawning upon me. I send you the Intelligencer of to-day in which you will see that the Telegraph is successfully under weigh [sic]. Through six miles the experiment has been most gratifying: in a few days I hope to advise you of more....I have preferred reserve, until I could state something positive. I have my [telegraph wire] posts set to Beltsville [Maryland], 12 miles, and you will see by the Intelligencer that I am preparing to go directly on to Baltimore, and hope to reach there by the middle of May.....I am writing with fifty people about me in Mr. Ellsworth's office...."
In 1843 Congress appropriated $30,000 for the construction of the first telegraph line between Washington and Baltimore as described here. On 28 May 1844 (7 weeks after the present letter) Morse made the first successful transmission: "What hath God Wrought!"
WRITTEN DURING CONSTRUCTION OF THE FIRST TELEGRAPH LINE
Morse sympathizes with the afflictions of his correspondent, and expresses his faith in "the Dispenser of all good," then reports that "A brighter day is dawning upon me. I send you the Intelligencer of to-day in which you will see that the Telegraph is successfully under weigh [sic]. Through six miles the experiment has been most gratifying: in a few days I hope to advise you of more....I have preferred reserve, until I could state something positive. I have my [telegraph wire] posts set to Beltsville [Maryland], 12 miles, and you will see by the Intelligencer that I am preparing to go directly on to Baltimore, and hope to reach there by the middle of May.....I am writing with fifty people about me in Mr. Ellsworth's office...."
In 1843 Congress appropriated $30,000 for the construction of the first telegraph line between Washington and Baltimore as described here. On 28 May 1844 (7 weeks after the present letter) Morse made the first successful transmission: "What hath God Wrought!"