CHAPTER XXVIII.
JUNE 20, 1840--AUGUST 12, 1842 First patent issued .-- Proposal of Cooke and Wheatstone to join forces rejected .-- Letter to Rev.E.S.

Salisbury .-- Money advanced by brother artists repaid .-- Poverty .-- Reminiscences of General Strother, "Porte Crayon."-- Other reminiscences .-- Inaction in Congress .-- Flattering letter of F.O.J.

Smith .-- Letter to Smith urging action .-- Gonon and Wheatstone .-- Temptation to abandon enterprise .-- Partners all financially crippled .-- Morse alone doing any work .-- Encouraging letter from Professor Henry .-- Renewed enthusiasm .-- Letter to Hon.

W.W.Boardman urging appropriation of $3500 by Congress .-- Not even considered .-- Despair of inventor.
It is only necessary to remember that the year 1840, and the years immediately preceding and following it, were seasons of great financial depression, and that in 1840 the political unrest, which always precedes a presidential election, was greatly intensified, to realize why but little encouragement was given to an enterprise so fantastic as that of an electric telegraph.

Capitalists were disinclined to embark on new and untried ventures, and the members of Congress were too much absorbed in the political game to give heed to the pleadings of a mad inventor.