ALS signed “Sam'l F. B. Morse,” two pages both sides, 5.25 x 8, March 11, 1862. Letter to his sister, Mrs. Cornelia Goodrich, written from New York. In part: “I find it difficult to find a moment from my studies and writing, even to write to you and the dear ones about you, but I am consoled with the belief that in your beloved Mother you have an unfailing source of domestic news. But I have seized my pen to say a few words amid the din of uproarious children, dear little Eddy among them, who are enjoying themselves in the ‘red room’ adjoining my office, and if they in any way interrupt the smooth current of thought, they make it the pleasantest of all interruptions, in that while so many in our beloved country North & South are in deepest sorrow, our loved family circle are so exempt from trouble except in the profound sympathy which every American heart must entertain, not entirely callous to all feelings of humanity. While I write, dear little Eddie has come to me to kiss me good night, So I said, ‘Eddie I am writing dear Aunty Cornelia, what shall I say to her,’ ‘tell her to give my love to mamee and say she must come home very soon.’
The dear child is as sweet as ever, and remembers you all, especially little Mary, distinctly. We have now beautiful weather, and are beginning to think of the country retreat, where I shall be glad to find myself once more on account of the pure air for the children. I do not write to you on political matters, for it would require more than one or a dozen letters, so clearly to define my views as not to be misunderstood. In a contest where there is so much wrong doing on both sides, so much self righteous pharisaism, so much clear-sightedness in seeing the wrong in our neighbor, and blindness in discovering or rather in acknowledging our own, it is no easy task to keep the mind steadfast upon the right, and less easy to rebuke wrong in either party without at once being accused of going wholly over to the views of the other side. The nation now is in its paroxysm of fever, and delirium.
When the excitement subsides, and the calm of returning reason, has put the mind in a state to receive counsel, we may hope again for national health. This can alone be given by the Great Physician. In the mean time the heart staid on him can be kept, and will be kept in perfect peace. I long for the time when love and mutual forgiveness shall restore our two sections to a warm embrace, all the more ardent from the present unnatural estrangement. ‘An enemy hath done this.’ Mutual explanation of mutual misunderstandings with God’s blessing will accomplish what to man now seems an impossibility.
A letter just received from Mr. Lind from Hamburg, says on the 19th Feb’y. ‘I shall leave for Paris in 2 or 3 days where I expect to meet with Mr. Goodrich & family,’ so I suppose you have seen him by this time, and he is doubtless now on his way to Porto Rico. I was rejoiced to learn that he had recovered his health and spirits and energy again. As to the ‘Knights’ cross of Isabella &c.’ which Mr. Goodrich was going to procure for me if it is completed, you can send it to me by some safe private conveyance, and when Mr. G. returns to Paris let him inform me of the cost and I will send him a draft of Messr. Hottingners to pay for it. So soon as I get the cross I will comply with your request for a photograph to be taken with all my decorations, five orders of Knighthood from five different Sovereigns.
Sarah has gone with Mother this evening to Mrs. Spring’s. We are all well. All the dear children bright and improving. We have good accounts of Arthur; his teachers speak of him as greatly improved as truthful and honorable. I am much pleased with the school. Arthur visits us in April during his vacation. Our kind regards to Mr. & Mrs. Willis and Mr. Parmele. Charles Willis was at our party last evening, and so were Mrs. Stewart & Miss Kennedy. We had a strange mixture of secessionists and abolitionists, (for I suppose I must call the Curtises & Springs by the latter epithet,) and yet we did not come in collision, but I suppose it was from ignoring the subject on which they differed; at any rate all seemed pleased. Wouldn’t I rejoice if I could bring together in the same way all the brethren of the same family from Maine to the Rio Grande. This was my advice at first, but others thought differently and so we are, as we are. Oh that we were as we were.” He adds a postscript in the left margin, “Mathew has begun a letter to you to send by a gentleman who sails in the next steamer, on Saturday.” In fine condition, with some light edge staining. Morse's telegraph proved critical to both the North and South for tactical communications during the Civil War, and its use—along with advancements in weapons, transport, and other technologies—has led the conflict to become known as the first modern war.
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