SMITHSONIAN BEQUEST. 17 



they suppose that tlic United States would not desire to 

 take the bequest tliroui^li any oversij^ht in the court or At- 

 torney General, admitting either to be possible in a case of 

 this publicity ; but only if the laws of England would war- 

 rant in all respects an adjudication in their favor — a senti- 

 ment in which I naturally and fully concurred. 



I was not able to command an interview with the counsel 

 for the sake of these explanations until yesterday, owing to 

 their constant engagements, although I sought it repeatedly 

 sines the 8th of the month, by personal calls as well as notes 

 desiring to have a time fixed. 



If there have been these delays that I have been unable 

 to prevent, I am glad to add that no time has been lost in 

 reference to the November term of the court, the first that 

 has been held since I came here. 



I have the honor to remain, with great respect, your obe- 

 dient servant, 



EiCHARD Rush. 



The Hon. John Forsyte, Secretary of State. 



Bkhard Hush to John Forsyth. 



London, December 20, 1836. 



Sir : I was yesterday honored with your letter of the 17th 

 of November, enclosing the account forwarded to the De- 

 partment by the consul of the United States at Paris, of M. 

 Castaignet, a French attorney, for certain fees charged by 

 him for services rendered in relation to the efi*ects of Mr. 

 James Henry Dickinson, deceased, alias de la Batut, alias 

 Hungerford, nephew of the late James Smithson, of Lon- 

 don, and requesting that I will examine it with a view to its 

 payment out of the Smithsonian fund in my hands, if 

 deemed just, and the amount reasonable; and mentioning 

 also that it may be proper to allow Mr. Delagrange, the 

 attorney consulted by Mr. Brent, a fee, after obtaining from 

 the latter precise information as to the amount of the 

 charge. Copies of Mr. Brent's explanatory letters of the 

 23d of October, 1835, and 14th of August, 1836, also came 

 enclosed in your letter, and I beg leave to say that the 

 whole subject shall have from me full attention. 



The Smithsonian case continues in proper train here, with 

 every advantage I have found myself yet able to give it, 

 2 



