When his invention was matured and its usefulness perceived and applied, he was fortunate enough at last to reap the reward of many years of struggle and anxiety he had undergone.
On June 5, 1856, with the telegraph established in America, he again left for Europe. In London he met with great joy his artist friends: West, Landsear, Leslie and many others distinguished in science and art, all of whom warmly congratulated him on the brilliant career which had been opened up to him. In their estimation he had honored in this new realm the old art which he loved and elevated.
Morse’s development from an artist into an inventor was to them no marvel. He was still giving utterance to natural forces as when a few years before he combined his colors on canvass and produced his “Hercules.”
After enjoying for a time this pleasant reunion with his old friends in London, he also met and consulted with the English electricians, Glass, Bright, Whitehouse and others in respect to the proposed Atlantic cable in which experiments were then being made as to its possibility.
He then left for the continent. On his arrival at Copenhagen, whither he first directed his course, he was introduced to Frederick VII. King of Denmark, who, with his Court, received him with every mark of honor. There he visited the study chamber of Oersted, whose discovery of the reflection of a needle by a galvanic current was the dawning fact which eventually made his invention possible.
Continuing his journey to Russia, he found on arriving at the quay at Peterhoff the Imperial carriages with their usual retinue of footmen wearing the Royal livery in waiting. By these he and his party were driven to the Imperial Palace, where, with every demonstration of respect, he was received by the Emperor Alexander II., by whom he was most kindly congratulated as one of the world’s benefactors.
He next proceeded to Berlin. Here he was received with great cordiality by Humboldt, who welcomed him to his house and treated him during his stay with every mark of respect.
At his departure the great author of Cosmos presented him with an Imperial photograph of himself, on the margin of which he wrote:
“To Mr. S. F. B. Morse, whose philosophic and useful labors have rendered his name illustrious in two worlds. The homage of the high and affectionate esteem of
Alexander Humboldt.”
This memorial of one so great and gifted he greatly valued and carefully preserved.