[Laughter.] He therefore ruled the amendment in order.
On taking the vote, the amendment was rejected--ayes 22, noes not counted.
The bill was then laid aside to be reported.
On February 23, the once more hopeful inventor sent off the following hurriedly written letter to his brother:-- "You will perceive by the proceedings of the House to-day that _my bill has passed the House by a vote of 89 to 80_.

A close vote after the expectations raised by some of my friends in the early part of the session, but enough is as good as a feast, and it is safe so far as the House is concerned.

I will advise you of the progress of it through the Senate.

All my anxieties are now centred there.

I write in great haste." A revised record of the voting showed that the margin of victory was even slighter, for in a letter to Smith, Morse says:-- "The long agony (truly agony to me) is over, for you will perceive by the papers of to-morrow that, so far as the House is concerned, the matter is decided.