As for poor me I feel that I am a child in business matters.

I can invent and perfect the invention, and demonstrate its uses and practicability, but 'further the deponent saith not.' Perhaps I underrate myself in this case, but that is not a usual fault in human nature." It was natural that a keen business man like F.O.J.Smith should have leaned rather toward a private corporation, with its possibilities of great pecuniary gain, than toward government ownership.

Morse, on the contrary, would have preferred, both at home and abroad, to place the great power which he knew his invention was destined to wield in the hands of a responsible government.

However, so eager was he to make a practical test of the telegraph that, governments apparently not appreciating their great opportunity, he was willing to entrust the enterprise to capitalists.

Here again he was balked, however, for, writing of his trials later, he says:-- "An unforeseen obstacle was interposed which has rendered my patent in France of no avail to me.