JAMES SMITHSON AND HIS BEQUEST. 157 



Very few of these articles were transferred to Mr. Rush, the agent of 

 the United States Government, who received the bequest. His enumer- 

 ation of the personal effects of Smithson is as follows : 



" A large trunk ; a box containing sundry specimens of minerals ; a 

 brass instrument ; a box of minerals; a box of chemical glasses; a packet 

 of minerals; a glass vinegar-cruet; a stone mortar; a pair of silver-plated 

 candlesticks and branches ; a pair of silver-plated candlesticks without 

 branches; a hone, in a mahogany case ; a plated- wire flower-basket ; a 

 plated coffee-pot; a small plated coffee-pot; a pair of wine-coolers; a 

 pair of small candlesticks; two pair salt-cellars ; a bread-basket ; two 

 pair vegetable dishes and covers; a large round waiter; a large oval 

 waiter; two small oval waiters ; two plate-warmers ; a reading shade; 

 a gun ; a mahogany cabinet; two portraits in oval frames; a china tea- 

 service, consisting of twelve cups and saucers ; six coffee-cups ; a tea- 

 pot; a slop-basin; a sugar-basin and lid; two plates; a milk-jug; a tea- 

 canister; two dishes; a landscape in a gilt frame; a Derby-spar vase; 

 a China tub ; a piece of fluor-spar ; a pairof glass candlesticks ; a marble 

 bust ; sundry books and pamphlets ; two large boxes filled with speci- 

 mens of minerals and manuscript treatises, apparently in the testator's 

 handwriting, on various philosophical subjects, particularly chemistry 

 and mineralogy. Eight eases and one trunk filled with the like." 



With reference to a gun, pieces of china, and articles of a miscella- 

 neous nature belonging to Smithson, Mr. Rush was informed by his at- 

 torneys that they were taken in possession by his nephew, Henry James 

 Hungerford. 



Mr. Rush, in one of his dispatches to the State Department (July 14, 

 1838). says: "The boxes and trunk are to go on shipboard to-day. Be- 

 fore knowing anything of their contents, I thought proper to have them 

 opened and examined in the presence of our consul and two other per- 

 sons. A large portion of the contents proved to be unimportant; never- 

 theless, all will be delivered over on my arrival as I received them, ex- 

 cept to have them better packed for a sea voyage, and so as to prevent 

 further injury to that which time and bad packing have already done to 

 them." 



These articles remained in the New York custom house from the 29th 

 of August, 1838, until June, 1811, when, at the earnest solicitation of 

 the National Institute of Washington, they were sent to the latter city. 



The trunk contained manuscripts and clothing, the latter consisting of 

 the following articles, according to a list found among the papers of the 

 National Institute : " 1 net shirt, 4 sheets, 11 napkins, 5 light vests, 1 

 bag, 4 roundabouts, 5 light pants and short breeches, 1 bib, 3 drawers, 

 3 pair garters, 2 light coats, 1 cloth overcoat, 1 cloth military coat, 1 

 cloth hunting coat, 1 cloth cloak, 1 cloth surtout, 1 cloth pair of pants, 

 2 cloth vests, 4 pair stockings, 1 chapeau." 



The clothing was nearly ruined by moths, and was presented to an 



