SMITHSONIAN BEQUEST. 25 



at Leghorn, in Italy, it being understood that there is no 

 newspaper published at Pisa, where it is believed Hunger- 

 ford died. 



It was by my direction that the advertisements have been 

 framed with all the brevity compatible with the essential 

 object of the court's decree. I have caused to be carefully 

 kept from them any mention of the amount of property be- 

 queathed, and everything else respecting the nature of 

 Mr. Smithson's will. This course seems best adapted to 

 guard against the risk of raising up spurious claimants, or 

 combinations, in France, Italy, or this country, to battle 

 with the right of the United States, wdiereby, although their 

 ultimate recovery of the fund might not be prevented, great 

 delays might be interposed. 



Whether John Fitall be living or dead, the remaining 

 branch of inquiry, is a fact to be ascertained without diffi- 

 culty here in London. 



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

 dient servant, 



Richard Rush. 



The lion. John Forsyth, Secretary of State. 



Advertisements. 



Whereas, by a decree of the high court of chancery in 

 England, made in a cause wherein the President of the 

 United States of America is plaintiff, and Charles Drum- 

 mond and his Majesty's Attorney General are defendants, 

 it was (amongst other things) referred to Nassau W^illiam, 

 Sen., Esq., one of the masters of the said court, to inquire 

 and state to the court whether Henry James Ilungertbrd, 

 who formerly resided at Paris, in the Kingdom of France, 

 and is alleged to have died in Pisa, in the Kingdom of 

 Naples, in the month of June, 1835, is living or dead, and, 

 if dead, where he died, and wdiether he was married or 

 unmarried at the time of his decease, and, if married, 

 whether he left any children or child him surviving, and 

 the ages of such children, if more than one. Therefore, 

 any person who can give any information touching the said 

 Henry James Hungerford, is requested, on or before the 



