16 Doc. No. 10. 



the law of Congress of the 1st of July, 1836, under which I am acting 

 But by the rate of exchange, as quoted at New York under the last dates, 

 there would be a gain to the United States, by the best calculations I can 

 now make, (though I am aware how exchange is ever liable to fluctuate,) 

 of upwards of a thousand pounds on bringing over the money in gold 

 rather than remitting it in bills. This would help to cover the commis- 

 sions on shipping the former, effecting insurance upon it, and paying the 

 premium of insurance, as well as charges for freight and those that have 

 been incurred on selling the stock. All these operations demand mercan- 

 tile agencies and assistance, to which I am inadequate in my own person, 

 beyond superintending them and seeing that they are rendered justly. I 

 will take care that these expenses are kept witliin limits as moderate as 

 possible, consistently with having the business regularly done according 

 to mercantile usage in operations of the same nature, so that the fund, in 

 bearing its own unavoidable expenses, may be encroached upon as little 

 as possible. 



I have not yet been able to get from the solicitors a statement of the 

 costs of the suit, but will not fail to obtain it before I embark. The final 

 payments under this head, and those I shall be called upon to make for 

 services enumerated above, can scarcely be completed but at the last mo- 

 ments of my stay ; hence I may not be able to transmit an account of 

 them to you until I arrive at New York, where also the freight will have 

 to be paid. 



In reporting to you the final decision of the court, I omitted to mention 

 some particulars not at first accurately known to me, but necessary to be 

 now stated, viz: £526 11*. 6f/. were decreed to be paid out of the fund 

 to Madame la Batut, as her arrears; £25 as arrears found to be due to 

 John Fitall, the annuitant under the will ; and, lastly, £53 7*. Gd. as due 

 for the use of certain warehouse-rooms in London. The two first items 

 explain themselves, after all I have written. The third has reference to 

 some personal property left by the testator, contained, as I understand, in 

 thirteen boxes or trunks deposited in the warehouse-rooms specified. I 

 have had no opportunity as yet of examining the contents of these boxes, 

 but am informed that they consist chiefly of books luibound, manuscripts, 

 specimens of minerals, some philosopjhcal or chemical instruments/and a 

 few articles of table furniture. The contents of the whole are supposed 

 to be of little intrinsic value, though parts may be otherwise curious. As 

 all now belong to the United States, under the decree of the court, I shall 

 think it proper to have them shipped when the gold is shipped, paying all 

 reasonable charges. 



Having more than once spoken of the possibility of fictitious claimants 

 starting up for the Smithsonian bequest, perhaps I may here be allowed 

 to mention what the- solicitors have informed me of, viz : that, since the 

 decision, two claimants have presented themselves at their office, neither 

 having any connexion with the other. When the decision was pronounced, 

 the sum recovered was also proclaimed in the London newspapers, 

 which had probably awakened these claimants into life. The solicitors 

 add that one of them desired, somewhat importunately, to know if the 

 case could not be reheard in court ? . It is needless to remark that he was 

 told he was a little too late in his application. 



I will use this opportunity — the last I may perhaps have of writing to 

 you before I embark, from the engagements likely to press upon me in 



