Doc. ^0. 10. ' 11 



opinions, as far as known or inferred, were thought to favor monarcliical 

 rather than popular institutions ; but that he interested himself little in 

 questions of government, being devoted to science, and chiefly chemistry; 

 that this had introduced him to the society of Cavendish, Wollaston, and 

 others advantageously known to the Royal Society in London, of which, 

 body he was a member, and to the archives of which he made contribu- 

 tions ; and that he also became acquainted, through liis visits to the con- 

 tinent, with eminent chemists in France, Italy, and Germany. Finally, 

 that he was a gentleman of feeble health, but always of courteous though 

 reserved manners and conversation. 



Such I learn to have been some of the characteristics of tlie man whom 

 generations to come may see cause to bless, and whose will may enrol 

 his name with the benefactors of mankind. 



I have the honor to remain, with great respect, your obedient servant, 



RICHARD RUSH. 



The Hon. John Forsyth, 



Secretary of State. 



No. 26. 



London, June 5, 1838. 



Sir : With all my exertions to have the forms necessary for putting me 

 in possession of the Smithsonian fund completed in May, it will be seen, 

 from the enclosed copy of a letter to me from the solicitors, in reply to one 

 I wrote them on the last of May, (a copy of which is also enclosed,) that 

 it is only to-day that all the forms have been finally and fully completed. 



After getting this information, I went immediately to the proper depart- 

 ment of the accountant general of the court of chancery at the Bank of 

 England, and find that there has been transferred to me the following 

 stock, viz : 



1. Sixty-four thousand five hundred and thirty-five pounds eighteen 

 shillings and nine pence in the consohdated three per cent, annuities, com- 

 monly called consols by abbreviation. 



2. Twelve thousand pounds in reduced three per cent, annuities. 



3. Sixteen thousand one himdred pounds in bank stock. 



The books at the bank show the above stock to have been regularly 

 transferred to me under the authority of the court of chancery, by the 

 accountant general, as the proper officer of the court, in virtue of the 

 de.cree reported in my last ; and I have accepted the same on the books, 

 on behalf of the United States, by signing my name to a form of accept- 

 ance drawn out under each transfer. 



The above stock constitutes, with the exception of five thousand and 

 fifteen pounds, the whole property left by Mr.. Smithson to the United 

 States, and now recovered for them, with the further exception of some 

 small sum in cash, to which the solicitors refer as still to come from the 

 accountant general, but of which I have as yet no statement. 



The sum of five diousand and fifteen pounds in consols, it has been 

 decreed by the court is to be reserved and set apart to answer the annuity 

 payable to Madame la Batut ; the principal to revert to the United States 

 on the death of the annuitant. 



