CHAPTER XXXII.
DECEMBER 20, 1845--APRIL 18, 1849 Return to America .-- Telegraph affairs in bad shape .-- Degree of LL.D.

from Yale .-- Letter from Cambridge Livingston .-- Henry O'Reilly .-- Grief at unfaithfulness of friends .-- Estrangement from Professor Henry .-- Morse's "Defense."-- His regret at feeling compelled to publish it .-- Hopes to resume his brush .-- Capitol panel .-- Again disappointed .-- Another accident .-- First money earned from telegraph devoted to religious purposes .-- Letters to his brother Sidney .-- Telegraph matters .-- Mexican War .-- Faith in the future .-- Desire to be lenient to opponents .-- Dr.
Jackson .-- Edward Warren .-- Alfred Vail remains loyal .-- Troubles in Virginia .-- Henry J.Rogers .-- Letter to J.D.Reid about O'Reilly .-- F.O.J.
Smith again .-- Purchases a home at last.--"Locust Grove," on the Hudson, near Poughkeepsie .-- Enthusiastic description .-- More troubles without, but peace in his new home.
Having established to his satisfaction the fact that his system was better than any of the European plans, which was the main object of his trip abroad, Morse returned to his native land, but not to the rest and quiet which he had so long desired.

Telegraph lines were being pushed forward in all directions, but the more the utility of this wonderful new agent was realized, the greater became the efforts to break down the lawful rights of the patentees, and competing lines were, hurriedly built on the plea of fighting a baleful monopoly by the use of the inventions of others, said to be superior.

Internal dissensions also arose in the ranks of the workers on the Morse lines, and some on whom he had relied proved faithless, or caused trouble in other ways.

But, while these clouds arose to darken his sky, there was yet much sunshine to gladden his heart.