SMITHSONIAlSr BEQUEST. 15 



validity of the limitation to the United States, after a limitation to 

 illegitimate children, or by reason of any part of the property con- 

 sisting of interests in land. 



Thomas Pemberton. 

 Edward Jacob. 

 Lincoln's Inn, No-vemher ^, 1836. 



Richard Mush to John Forsyth. 



London, November 5, 1836. 

 1 am following up the Smithsonian business, as you will take for 

 granted. This week I had an interyiew with the counsel; but nothing 

 has transpired calling for an official letter to you since the one I wrote 

 on the 24:th of September. 



Richard Rush. 



John Forsyth to liicJiard Miish. 



Department of State, 

 Washington ., Novemher 17, 1836. 



Sir: You will receiye inclosed the copy of an account presented to 

 Daniel Brent, esq., consul of the United States at Paris, by M. Cas- 

 taignet, a French attorney, of certain fees charged by him for services 

 rendered in relation to the effects of Mr. James Henry Dickinson, 

 deceased, alias de la Batut, alias Hungerford, nephew of the late James 

 Smithson, of London. Copies of Mr. Brent's letters of 23d October, 

 1835, and 14th August, 1836, explanatory of the subject, are also sent. 

 As the whole amount of the fund appropriated by the act of Congress 

 of 1st July, 1836, for defraying the expenses incident to the prosecu- 

 tion of the claim of the United States to the Smithsonian bequest are 

 in 3"our hands, and as the bill, if correct, is properly chargeable to 

 that fund, I have the honor to request that you will examine this 

 account; and if you shall deem it just, and the amount reasonable, 

 transmit to Mr. Brent the sum necessary to discharge the claim. 



It may be proper also to allow to Mr. Delagrange, the attorney 

 consulted in this case by Mr. Brent, a fee for his advice. You will 

 perceive, however, that, before such an allowance can be made, it will 

 be requisite to obtain from the latter precise information as to the 

 amount of the charge. 



I am, sir, your obedient servant, 



John Forsyth. 



Richard Rush, Esq., London. 



