F.O.J.Smith continued to give trouble.

To quote from a letter of Morse's to Mr.Kendall of January 10, 1853: "The Good Book says that 'one sinner destroyeth much good,' and F.O.J.being (as will be admitted by all, perhaps, except himself) a sinner of that class bent upon destroying as much good as he can, I am desirous, even at much sacrifice (a desire, of course, _inter nos_) to get rid of controversy with him." Further on in this letter, referring to another cause for anxiety, he says: "Law is expensive, and we must look it in the face and expect to pay roundly for it....

It is a delicate task to dispute a professional man's charges, and, though it may be an evil to find ourselves bled so freely by lawyers, it is, perhaps, the least of evils to submit to it as gracefully as we can." But, while he could not escape the common lot of man in having to bear many and severe trials, there were compensatory blessings which he appreciated to the full.

His home life was happy and, in the main, serene; his farm was a source of never-ending pleasure to him; he was honored at home and abroad by those whose opinion he most valued; and he was almost daily in receipt of the news of the extension of the "Morse system" throughout the world.

Even from far-off Australia came the news of his triumph.