The Portland daily press., 1868-12-31
-adRAPd TO THE
J.. ORTLAND DAILY PRESS.
Thursday Morning, December 81, 1868.
NEW YORK.
THE BANQUET TO PROF. MORSE.


NEW YORK, Dec. 3O.-Tae following was sent
to the Morse banquet last night by Gov. Bull.
lock of Massachusetts:
Cyrus w. Field and others, Committee for
the Morse banquet: l regret my inability to
accept your invitation. Massachusetts hon.
ors her two sons, Franklin and Morse. The
one conducted the lightning safely from the
sky, the other conducts it beneath the pecan
from continent to continent: the one tanned
the lightning the other makes it minister to
human wants and human progress.
ALEX. H. BULLOCK"
Minister Thornton responded to the toast 'to
tie queen of England" In the course of his
remarks he said: am confident that there is
no one in England that is more anxious than
the queen for the maintenance and improve
ment of the harmony and good understanding
which ought to exist between the two nations,
and which are of such vital Importance to 9th
of them, should be done to so great benefac-
tor OF the human race as the distinguished
Professor, to show our high appreciation OF
whose character we have assembled in this
place. l amunwilling, however, to fall into
what seems to me the error of talking too
much about peace. A good deal has been said
upon this subject both in this country and in
Europe, more perhaps than is either absolutely
necessary or useful Peace is not always pro-
duced by talking about it,
Professor Morse, in his speech, referred to
the early days of telegraphing, and made ex-
tended remarks relative to his endeavors then
to have government adopt it as part of the
postal department; proving his sincerity by Of
fering his invention to the government, for its
exclusive use, for the sum Of 100000. He had
no doubt if the government now appreciated
his original proposition Congress would deal
justly in the matter, so far as the public and
others Interested we've concerned.
Tho Professor closed his interesting rem arks
as follows: have claimed for America the
origInation of the modern telegraph system of
the world. Impartial history, I think, will
support that claim. Don't misunderstood me
as dlsregarding or disparaging the laboIs and
ingenious notifications OF others in various
countries employed in the same field of inven-
ton. Gladly, did time permit, would descant
on their great and varied merits
Yet in tracing the birth and pedigree of the
term of the series that connect the past with
the present; there is at least one higher term
to ehighest OF ALL which cannot and must not
pe ignored. Ifnota sparrow falls to the ground
without definite purpose in the plans of Infinite
Wisdom, can the creation of an Instrumental
ysovitally affecting the interests of the whole
human race have an origin less humble than
the Father OF every good and perfect gift. l
am sure have the sympathy of such an as
sembiy as is here gathered if in all humility
and in the sincerity of grateful heart I use
the words OF inspiration in ascribing honor and
praise to Him to whom first of all it is preemi-
nenty due. Not unto us, not unto us, but to
God be all the glory. Not what hath man but
what hath God wrought.
CITY AND VICINITY
The letter carriers of the Post Office in this
city paraded to-day in their new uniform. pre-
coded by drum and fife, and were inspected by
Postmaster Kelly, subsequently visiting the
different postal stations to which they are at.
tached.
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE-oNE HUNDRED AND FIFTY
HORSES BURNED TO DEATH.
The livery stables of Briggs Bros, the most
extensive establishment of the kind in the
city, occupying numbers 119, 121 and 1923 23d
street, near 9th Avenue and running through
the entire block to oath street, were completely
destroyed by fire tonight. There were $50
horses in the building, valued varously at from
$500 to $1,000, all of which were either burned
or sufocated.. About 1900 carriages, together
with harnesses, &C., were also destroyed The
total loss is probably not less than $500, O0O
Heavily insured.