242 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 52 



On June 13, 1838, he reports that the sale of the stock is going 

 on well. He had first intended to sell all the stock for cash immedi- 

 ately, but found that an attempt to sell all at once would probably 

 have depressed the market for this particular form of security and 

 have occasioned a loss of several hundred pounds. In regard to 

 this matter of selling the stock, he reports that he received most 

 beneficial aid from the constant advice of our consul, Colonel Aspin- 

 wall. 



On June 26, 1838, he reports that the sales of stock are finally 

 closed ; that they have all been good — even fortunate. The prices 

 have been high as compared with the state of the stock market for 

 several years past. The entire amount of the sales yielded an aggre- 

 gate of more than a hundred thousand pounds. The two days on 

 which all the transfers are to be made are the 30th of June and the 

 6th of July. He will then convert the whole into English gold coin 

 and bring it to the United States. He concludes this dispatch with 

 very high praise of the solicitors, and says that had they desired 

 "to eke out a job," they could easily have made the suit last for 

 years to come. 



Under date of July 14, 1838, Mr. Rush writes that he has made 

 arrangements for obtaining, insuring, and shipping the gold ; that 

 it would be on the New York packet Mediator, by or before the 

 17th instant, and that he has taken passage on the ship himself. The 

 costs of the suit have been paid, but the other expenses he cannot 

 definitely report upon until he arrives in New York or Washington. 



On August 28, 1838, Mr. Rush writes to the Secretary of State, 

 from the harbor of New York, reporting the arrival of the ship 

 Mediator with the gold on board ; that he has paid the expenses of 

 every kind incurred by closing the business in London and shipping 

 the gold ; that the freight, primage, and other small charges are still 

 to be paid ; that when all expenses are deducted there will be upward 

 of £104,500. The whole is in sovereigns packed in boxes. He adds 

 that, the money being consigned to no one here, he must continue 

 to hold it in his custody until he has received instructions as to whom 

 to deliver it, as provided for by the Act of Congress of the 1st of 

 July, 1836. 



On actually landing in New York he received such instructions 

 from the Secretary of the Treasury, directing him to transfer the 

 Smithson fund to Philadelphia, to be deposited with the treasurer 

 of the mint to the credit of the Treasurer of the United States. 

 Mr. Rush also found a letter from the Secretary of State extending 

 him congratulations on the success of his mission and on his safe 

 return to this country. 



