But the result was not the less gratifying and sufficient.

Had his labors ceased at that moment, he would have cheerfully exclaimed in the words of Simeon: 'Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation.' [Illustration: FIRST FORM OF KEY] [Illustration: IMPROVED FORM OF KEY] [Illustration: EARLY RELAY The two keys and the relay are in the National Museum, Washington] [Illustration: FIRST WASHINGTON-BALTIMORE INSTRUMENT The Washington-Baltimore instrument is owned by Cornell University] "The congratulations of his friends followed.

He received them with modesty, in perfect harmony with the simplicity of his character.

Neither then nor at any subsequent period of his life did his language or manner indicate exultation.

He believed himself an instrument employed by Heaven to achieve a great result, and, having accomplished it, he claimed simply to be the original and only instrument by which that result had been reached.