MORSE IN PARIS
Twenty-nine years of unappreciated endeavor as dean of American art earned Samuel F. B. Morse
little beyond poverty and frustration. Between 1836 and 1847 he suffered disappointment and
bitter indignity from three rejected applications to paint a Rotunda panel in the National Capitol.[2]
On 2 September 1837 Morse first demonstrated his telegraph in his rooms at the University of the
City of New York. He continued there as professor in the Literature of the Arts of Design, an
unsalaried position compensated only through a percentage of student fees. His interest in the
potential of his telegraph increasingly replaced unrewarded dedication to his art. Not until 21
February 1843 would Congress approve a bill appropriating $30,000 for a series of experiments
testing the merits of the telegraph.[3]
In 1838, discouraged by American disinterest, Morse traveled to Europe hoping to secure patents
and the attention of foreign governments to his invention. He failed. England refused to grant a
patent and France gave him a useless "brevet d' invention."[4]
Excited by the 6 January 1839 announcement of Daguerre's discovery, Morse consulted Robert
Walsh, the American Consul in Paris, for advice about approaching Daguerre. Walsh suggested
Morse invite Daguerre in turn to view the telegraph. This strategy ultimately enabled Morse and
the son of Edward Delevan to spend an hour with M. Daguerre, examining his miraculous
daguerreotypes.[5] The full story of Morse's visit and the Frenchman's
return visit to Morse during which fire destroyed his house and Diorama has often been told.[6]
On 20 April 1839 Morse's brother's newspaper, the New York Observer, published a
letter from the artist describing the daguerreotype. Newspapers across America reprinted this
account.[7] Morse returned to New York on the ship that carried his letter.
He evidently did not know enough about the process to make a daguerreotype, but he may have
known something more than he wrote in his published letter. Editor Sidney Morse mentioned,
"From him we have received some additional information respecting this very interesting
discovery, which we cannot at present communicate."[8*]
In a letter written 20 May 1839 Morse informed Daguerre of his election as honorary member to
the National Academy of Design. He offered help if Daguerre would consider exhibiting plates in
New York and other American cities. Capitalizing on "great interest" excited in America might
aid Daguerre financially if the French government took a long time in advancing "proper
remuneration."[9] In a second letter Morse elaborated the same proposal
to Arago.[10]
Daguerre's 26 July reply thanked Morse for honorary membership, but declined Morse's offer of
exhibition, because the discovery was about to be made public and because of logistical
difficulties. Morse did not reply until 16 November 1839, two months after information on
Daguerre's process had reached America.[11]
In his May letter Morse discussed English attempts to publicize the discovery of Henry Fox
Talbot. Morse assured Daguerre that in America, only his name would be "associated with the
brilliant discovery which justly bears your name . . . Should any attempts be made here to give to
any other than yourself the honor of this discovery, my pen is ever ready in your defense."[12] Unknown to Morse at least one man in the United States had already
experimented with Talbot's
Photogenic Drawing process.