April 7, 1852. Transcripts of letters from Ezra Cornell to J.J. Speed: "I was never so poor in my life as now, I am barely able to supply the necessaries of life. This position weighs heavily on my spirits, and I must get relief soon or it will drive me crazy. I have not contributed a dollar to the support of my family in two years, they suffer for the ordinary comforts of life. Smith and Kendall are both as heartless as adamant and as selfish as the devel." April 27: "My clothes are getting so ragged I am ashamed of my appearance?I learn this evening that my wife has presented me with another daughter and I feel guilty of abusing the best of women by not being with her during her confinement, but my embarassments, poverty & sickness altogether has prevented?" May 7: "This trial has exposed the fact to the satisfaction of my mind that Morse did not invent the local circuit, and that he first learned it from Davies invention which was on exhibition in London when Smith & Morse arrived there." April 16, 1852. Ezra Cornell to J.J. Speed concerning New-York & Erie Company, and including technological suggestions. Topics: Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, materials and supplies, near-collapse of company, transfer of lines, patents and contracts. Personal names: Cornell, Alonzo B.; Kendall, Amos; Speed, J.J.; Smith, F.O.J.; Munn, Stephen. Geography: