CHAPTER V.
SEPTEMBER 20, 1812--JUNE 13, 1813 Models the "Dying Hercules."-- Dreams of greatness .-- Again expresses gratitude to his parents .-- Begins painting of "Dying Hercules."-- Letter from Jeremiah Evarts .-- Morse upholds righteousness of the war .-- Henry Thornton .-- Political discussions .-- Gilbert Stuart .-- William Wilberforce .-- James Wynne's reminiscences of Morse, Coleridge, Leslie, Allston, and Dr.Abernethy .-- Letters from his mother and brother .-- Letters from friends on the state of the fine arts in America.--"The Dying Hercules" exhibited at the Royal Academy .-- Expenses of painting .-- Receives Adelphi Gold Medal for statuette of Hercules .-- Mr.Dunlap's reminiscences .-- Critics praise "Dying Hercules." The young artist's letters to his parents at this period are filled with patriotic sentiments, and he writes many pages descriptive of the state of affairs in England and of the effects of the war on that country.

He strongly upholds the justice of that war and pleads with his parents and brothers to take his view of the matter.

They, on the other hand, strongly disapprove of the American Administration's position and of the war, and are inclined to censure and to laugh at the enthusiastic young man's heroics.
As we are more concerned with Morse's career as an artist than with his political sentiments, and as these latter, I fear, had no influence on the course of international events, I shall quote but sparingly from that portion of the correspondence, just enough to show that, whatever cause he espoused, then, and at all times during his long life, he threw himself into it heart and soul, and thoroughly believed in its righteousness.

He was absolutely sincere, although he may sometimes have been mistaken.
In a letter dated September 20, 1812, he says:-- "I have just finished a model in clay of a figure (the 'Dying Hercules'), my first attempt at sculpture.

Mr.Allston is extremely pleased with it; he says it is better than all the things I have done since I have been in England put together, and says I must send a cast of it home to you, and that it will convince you that I shall make a painter.