JAMES SMITHSON AND HIS BEQUEST. 169 



sion of knowledge among men." For the cost of prosecuting the claim 

 an appropriation of $10,000 was made 



On the 19th of January, 1836, Mr. Adams made an elaborate report, 

 containing all the facts lie had been able to collect relative To Smithson, 

 and expressing in the most glowing and refined language his apprecia- 

 tion of the value of the gilt to America and its importance to mankind. 

 Mr. Leigh had convinced the Senate that it was the duty of Congress 

 to accept the bequest, and Mr. Adams brought before the House an ac- 

 count of the life of the testator, the nature of the trust, the character of 

 the trustees, the practical influence of our political institutions upon 

 Europe, and the vast benefits to the world which might grow out of the 

 legacy. The report was unanimously agreed to in the committee, but 

 Mr. Adams had great misgivings whether anything would ever be real- 

 ized from the bequest. The delays of the English court of chancery 

 were well known, and the opinion had even been expressed that the 

 whole affair was an imposture. Mr. Adams never wavered, however, 

 in his faith in the power of the government to procure the money and 

 its ability to administer it properly. He refers in his diary to it as the 

 favorite and almost absorbing subject of his thoughts, and for many 

 years he devoted untiling activity and personal efforts to its successful 

 accomplishment. 



No action was taken by the House on Mr. Adams's report until the 

 Senate had passed Mr. Leigh's resolution; wnen that was taken up, 

 changed in form to that of a bill, passed on the 25th of June, 183G, and 

 was approved by the President on the 1st of July, 1830. 



In accordance with this act the President appointed, on the 11th of 

 July, Hon. Richard Push, of Pennsylvania, as the agent to assert and 

 prosecute the claim of the United States to the legacy. His salary was 

 fixed at 63,000 per annum, and $2,000 were allowed for contingencies, 

 not including legal expenses. Mr. Push gave the necessary bond for 

 $500,000, Messrs. J. Mason, jr., and Benjamin C. Howard being his sure- 

 ties, who were accepted by Mr. Woodbury, Secretary of the 1 Treasury. 

 This appointment was one eminently tit to be made, and its wisdom was 

 proved by the successful accomplishment of the mission. Mr. Rush had 

 been Comptroller of the United States Treasury at a time when the fiscal 

 affairs of the government were in disorder ; he was next Attorney-Gen- 

 eral ; then minister to England for a period of eight years; Secretary 

 of the Treasury; and minister to France. " To these great and varied 

 employments,' 1 Hon. J. A. Pearce has remarked, "he brought integrity, 

 ability, intelligence, firmness, courtesy, and a directness of purpose 

 which scorned all Jiucsxc and which served his country to the full extent 

 of all that could have been demanded or hoped." 



Mr. Push immediately proceeded to London, placed himself in com- 

 munication with the attorneys of the executor of Smithson, and entered 

 with vigor into the measures necessary to assert the claim of the United 



