64 SMITHSONIAN BEQUEST. 



I will follow in the succeeding one of the 20th of Jul}^, which leaves 

 this port on the ITth, before which time I trust that everything- will 

 have been fully and satisfactorily closed, as far as the trust can be 

 closed here. 



I have the honor to remain, with great respect, your obedient servant, 



Richard Rush. 

 Hon, John Forsyth, 



Secretary of State. 



Richard JRvsh to JoJin Forsyth. 



London, June 26, 1838. 



Sir: Since my No. 27, the sales of the stock have been going on from 

 time to time, and at length are finally closed. 



They have all been good — perhaps T may say fortunate. The prices 

 have been high, as compared with the state of the stock market for 

 sevei'al years past; and I am confidentl}^ informed that, from the time 

 the stock came under my control until I sold it all, no higher prices 

 were obtained by any private seller than I obtained. 



The whole of the reduced 3 per cent annuities (£12,000) sold at 1)4. 

 This description of stock is never as high as consols, but 94 is reputed 

 nearly, if not quite, as good a price, in proportion to its general value 

 in the English stock market, as the 95^ I obtained for the consols. 



Of the bank stock unsold at the date of my last (viz, £8,100), I 

 obtained 205 for £5,000, and 205i for the remaining £3,100. Both 

 these prices, it will be perceived, are higher than the former ones I 

 obtained for this stock. 



The entire amount of sales has more than realized the anticipations 

 held out in my No. 27, having yielded an aggregate of rather more 

 than £105,000, as will be seen when I come to render a more particu- 

 lar statement. The two days on which I am to make all the transfers 

 are the 30th of this month and 6th of July. The money will all be 

 received simultaneously. 



Immediately afterwards I shall take measures for converting the 

 whole into English gold coin, having finally determined that this is 

 the proper mode in which to bring the money to the United States, 

 under the trust I have in hand. It appears to me the right course in 

 itself, independent of any question of exchange, considering the pe- 

 culiar object and terms of the law of Congress of the 1st of July, 1836, 

 under which I am acting. But by the rate of exchange, as quoted at 

 New York under the last dates, there would be a gain to the United 

 States, by the best calculations I can now make (though I am aware 

 how exchange is ever liable to fluctuate), of upward of £1,000 on 



