25th Congress, Doc. No. 11. Ho. of Reps. 



M Session. Executive. 



BEQUEST OF Jx\MES SMITHSON. 



- MESSAGE 



FROM TUK 



PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED SIATEIS. 



Upon the subject of the bequest of James Smithson to the United States. 



^ ^^ 



December 10, 1838. 



Read, and referred to a select comniittee. 



Washington, December C, 1838. 



To the House of Representatives of the United States : 



The act of the 1st July, 1836, to enable the Executive to asset t and 

 prosecute with effect the claim of the United States to the legacy be- 

 queathed to them by James Smithson, late of London, having leceived 

 its entire execution, and the amount recovered and paid into the Treas- 

 ury having, agreeably to an act of the last session, been invested in 

 State stocks, 1 deem it proper to invite the attention of Congress to the 

 oblij;ation now devolving upon the United States to fulfil the object of 

 the bequest. In order to obtain such information as might serve to 

 facilitate its attainment, the Secretary of State was directed, in July last, 

 to apply to persons versed in science, and familiar with the subject of 

 public education, for their views as to the mode of disposing of the fund 

 best calculated to meet the intentions of the testator, and prove most 

 beneficial to mankind. Copies of (he circular letter wiitten in compli- 

 ance with these directions, and of the answers to it received at the 

 Department of State, are herewith communicated, for the consideration 

 of Congress. 



M. VAN BUREN. 



Department of State, 



December 6, 1838. 



The Secretary of State has ihe honor to report to the President copies 

 of the circular letter v.ritten by his directions, in relation to the mode of 

 carrying into effect the provisions of the Smithsonian bequest, and of the 

 answers to it received at the Department of State. 



JOHN FORSYTH. 



To the President. 



