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Joseph Henry
   

 
DOCUMENTS
  

Samuel F. B. Morse's development of the telegraph owed much to Henry's research in  
electromagnetism during the 1830s (see article on Henry and Morse). Morse used theletter below to help plead his case before the U.S. Congress for adoption of his telegraph, and Henry wrote it with that purpose in mind. But the letter is also the first instance of Henry's oft-repeated statement that Morse deserved credit not for priority of  conception, but rather for the ability to realize an efficient system of telegraphy. Thispoint would be of crucial importance later in Morse's legal travails over telegraph  patents, as would be the interpretation of this letter.

HENRY TO SAMUEL F. B. MORSE   28

                                                              Princeton29 Feby 24th 1842

                            

             Professor Morse
             Dear Sir I am pleased to learn that you have again petitioned congress in reference to your telegraph  and I most sincerely hope that you will succed in convincing our Representatives of the  importance of the invention. In this however you may perhaps find some difficulty, since in the minds of many, the electro-magnetic telegraph is associated with the many chimerical projects  constantly brought before the Public30 and particularly with the schemes so popular a year or  two ago for the application of electricity as a moving power in the arts. All schemes for this purpose, I have from the first asserted, are premature and formed without proper scientific  knowledge.31 The case however is entirely different in regard to the electro-magnetic telegraph the science is now fully ripe for such an application <of its principles>, and I have   not the least dout, if proper means be afforded, of the perfect success of the invention.32 The idea, of <the transmission of> transmitting intelligence,33 by the electrical action has been    suggested by various persons from the time of Franklin to the present but until within the last few years or since the discoveries34 in electro-magnetism all attempts to reduce it to practice
were necessarily unsuccessful. The mere suggestion however, of a scheme, of this kind is a matter for which little credit can be claimed, since it is one which would naturally arise in the mind of almost any person familiar with the phenomena of electricity; but the bringing it forward at the proper moment when the developments of science can furnish the means of  certain sucess and <the> to <devising of a> devise plans for putting <the scheme> it into practical operation <offred> are the grounds of a just claim to scientific reputation as well as  to public patronage.   About the same time with yourself Professor Wheatstone of England and Dr Steinheil of  Germany proposed plans of the electro-magnetic telegraph but these differ almost as much   from your's as the nature of the common principle will permit and unless some essential  improvements have lately been made in the European plans I should prefer the one invented by yourself.35 With my best wishes for your success I remain

                                                          With much Respect & Esteem36
                                                           <I am as ever>Yours Truly
                                                           Joseph Henry

            
Draft, Henry Papers, Smithsonian Archives. Published in Nathan Reingold et al., eds.  The Papers of Joseph Henry, vol. 5, January 1841-December 1843: The Princeton Years   (Washington, 1985), pp. 150-151.