On the twenty-fourth of that month Morse sat before his instrument in the room of the Supreme Court at Washington.

His friend Miss Ellsworth handed him the message which she had chosen: "WHAT HATH GOD WROUGHT!" Morse flashed it to Vail forty miles away in Baltimore, and Vail instantly flashed back the same momentous words, "WHAT HATH GOD WROUGHT!" * The property in the invention was divided into sixteen shares (the partnership having been formed in 1838) of which Morse held 9, Francis O.J.Smith 4, Alfred Vail 2, Leonard D.Gale 2.

In patents to be obtained in foreign countries, Morse was to hold 8 shares, Smith 5, Vail 2, Gale 1.

Smith had been a member of Congress and Chairman of the Committee on Commerce.

He was admitted to the partnership in consideration of his assisting Morse to arouse the interest of European Governments.
Two days later the Democratic National Convention met in Baltimore to nominate a President and Vice-President.