“I recommended the system of Professor Morse. I believe that system to be one of the simplest in the world, and in that lies its permanence and certainty. (Cheers.) It is a great thing to say, and I do so after twenty years’ experience, that Professor Morse’s system is one of the simplest that has ever been, and I think ever will be, conceived. (Cheers.) He stands alone in America as the original and carrier-out of a grand conception.
“We know that America is an enormous country, but I think we have a right to quarrel with Mr. Morse for not being content with giving the benefit of it to his country, but that he extended it to Canada and Newfoundland, and even beyond there. His system has been adopted over all Europe.
“The nuisance is that we in England are obliged to communicate by means of his system, and he threatens to go further still, and promises, if we do not, he will carry out a communication between England and Newfoundland across the Atlantic.
“I almost envy Professor Morse for having forced from an unwilling rival a willing acknowledgment of his services.
“May he long live to enjoy the high reputation he has attained throughout the world.” (Long continued cheers.)
Other speeches equally complimentary followed.
It was on the day of this banquet Mr. Morse received from Paris the announcement that the Emperor Napoleon III. had made him a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor.
Martin Farquhar Tupper sent him a few days afterwards the following lines referring to the banquet:
“A good and generous spirit ruled the hour,
Old jealousies were drowned in brotherhood,
Philanthropy rejoiced that skill and power,
Servants to science, compass all men’s good.
“And over all religions banner stood
Upheld by thee, true patriarch of the plans
Which in two hemispheres was chimed, to shower
Mercies from God on universal man.