CHAPTER XXIV.
OCTOBER 3, 1837--MAY 16, 1838 The Caveat .-- Work at Morristown .-- Judge Vail .-- First success .-- Resolution in Congress regarding telegraphs .-- Morse's reply .-- Illness .-- Heaviness of first instruments .-- Successful exhibition in Morristown .-- Exhibition in New York University .-- First use of Morse alphabet .-- Change from first form of alphabet to present form .-- Trials of an inventor .-- Dr.Jackson .-- Slight friction between Morse and Vail .-- Exhibition at Franklin Institute, Philadelphia .-- Exhibitions in Washington .-- Skepticism of public .-- F.O.J.

Smith,--F.L.

Pope's estimate of Smith .-- Proposal for government telegraph .-- Smith's report .-- Departure for Europe.
I have incidentally mentioned the caveat in the preceding chapter, but a more detailed account of this important step in bringing the invention into the light of day should, perhaps, be given.

The reports in the newspapers of the activities of others, especially of scientists in Europe, led Morse to decide that he must at once take steps legally to protect himself if he did not wish to be distanced in the race.

He accordingly wrote to the Commissioner of Patents, Henry L.Ellsworth, who had been a classmate of his at Yale, for information as to the form to be used in applying for a caveat, and, after receiving a cordial reply enclosing the required form, he immediately set to work to prepare his caveat.