46 SMITHSONIAN BEQUEST. 



court were resumed, it is because I have had, heretofore, no 

 special matter to communicate, although doing all in my 

 power to accelerate the progress of the suit committed to 

 my superintendence, and endeavoring especially to hasten 

 the report of the master on all the matters referred to him 

 by the court's decree of the 1st of February. I mentioned 

 in one of my letters that there were upwards of eight hun- 

 dred suits in arrear in this court, some of w^hich it might 

 have been added involve in their issue sums exceeding in 

 amount the sum claimed by the United States. From this 

 cause, which naiarally overburdens with business the offices 

 of the masters, it has in part arisen that the master's report 

 in the suit of the United States has not hitherto been made. 



But at length, this week, it was in readiness to go in, and 

 would have embraced among other things a favorable report 

 on the claim of Madame la Batnt, to the amount of about 

 one hundred and fifty pounds a year, to be paid to her out 

 of the Smithsonian fund during her life. It will be seen 

 how large a reduction has thus been effected of the demands 

 put forth on her behalf, as my past letters have made them 

 all known to you. Our solicitors have rather a confident 

 opinion that there is a prospect of disproving this demand 

 by further evidence yet attainable in France, and I have 

 consequently directed them to take the proper steps for pro- 

 curing it with all despatch. It is not believed that more 

 than a month will be required for .procuring it, and the 

 master's report will be withheld in the mean time. When 

 it arrives, it will be my province to look well to its nature 

 and probable effect, that on the one hand nothing ma}' be 

 lost to which the United States may seem justly entitled, 

 and on the other that the great result of the suit be not put 

 in jeopardy, or injurious delays risked, b}'' doubtful contests 

 for fractional sums. 



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

 dient servant, 



RiCHAKD EUSH. 



The Hon. John Forsyth, Secretary of State. 



Richard Hush to John Forsyth. 



London, December 21, 1837. 

 oiR : I had the honor to receive on the 18th inst. your in- 

 structions of the 13th of November, authorizing and ra- 



