You are the keystone of the arch; if you remain with us time may furnish the Academy with another block for the place.

I hope my fears may be vain, and that circumstances will conspire to induce you to remain our president." Other friends were equally sympathetic and Morse did retain the presidency of the Academy until 1845.
To emphasize further their regard for him, a number of artists, headed by Thomas S.Cummings, unknown to Morse, raised by subscription three thousand dollars, to be given to him for the painting of some historical subject.

General Cummings, in his "Annals of the Academy," thus describes the receipt of the news by the discouraged artist:-- "The effect was electrical; it roused him from his depression and he exclaimed that never had he read or known of such an act of professional generosity, and that he was fully determined to paint the picture--his favorite subject, 'The Signing of the First Compact on board the Mayflower,'-- not of small size, as requested, but of the size of the panels in the Rotunda.

That was immediately assented to by the committee, thinking it possible that one or the other of the pictures so ordered might fail in execution, in which case it would afford favorable inducements to its substitution, and, of course, much to Mr.Morse's profit; as the artists from the first never contemplated taking possession of the picture so executed.

It was to remain with Mr.Morse, and for his use and benefit." The enthusiasm thus roused was but a flash in the pan, however; the wound he had received was too deep to be thus healed.