112 PROCEEDINGS OF THE REGENTS. 



A communication addressed to the Secretary, relative to the Wynn 

 estate, was read. 



The Secretary stated that since the death of Hon. Richard Rush, no 

 communication had been received in regard to the remainder of the 

 Smithsonian bequest left in England, as the principal of an annuity 

 to the mother of the nephew of Smithson ; whereupon, on motion of 

 Mr. Bache, it was 



Resolved, That the Secretary be requested to communicate with 

 Messrs. -Clark, Fynmore & Fladgate, attorneys in London, informing 

 them of the death of Hon. Mr. Rush, and making inquiry as to the" 

 present condition of this annuity. 



On motion of Mr. English, it was 



Resolved, That the Secretary be directed to adjust the accounts of 

 the Regents for traveling and other expenses, at each annual or special 

 meeting, according to the provisions of the act of organization. 



A letter was read relative to the debt of the State of Arkansas, 

 desiring the Regents to unite with other parties in endeavoring to 

 recover it. 



The Secretary stated that he had replied, giving as his individual 

 opinion that the Regents are in no way interested in this matter ; the 

 United States having assumed the debt originally due from the 

 State of Arkansas to the Smithsonian fund. 



On motion, it was 



Resolved, That the Board concur in this opinion. 



A communication addressed to the Board, from H. A. Gaston, of 

 Napa City, California, requesting aid in introducing a new steam 

 engine, was read. 



The Secretary stated that this communication was one of a large 

 class usually addressed to himself in his official capacity ; that he had 

 answered these communications by stating that it did not form a part 

 of the policy of the Institution to give an opinion as to the merits of 

 any invention, or to render assistance to any enterprise which, though it 

 might be of importance to the public, was undertaken for the immediate 

 benefit of an individual ; that the government of the United States had 

 enacted laws granting an exclusive monopoly to inventors as a reward 

 for their ingenity, and that they must apply to the Patent Office for 

 the means of securing a remuneration for their labors. That if, how- 

 ever, in any case, an individual has made an invention for which he 

 does not intend to take out a patent, then the Institution would accept 

 on the usual conditions, an account of such invention, and would make 

 it known, through the Smithsonian publications, to the civilized world, 

 thus securing to the inventor the reputation which might justly be 

 his due. 



