36 SMITHSONIAN BEQUEST. 



But to suggestions like these he was alike insensible, preferring 

 to take the course and put forward the extravagant claims I have 

 described. I have no fears that the court will allow them; but there 

 is ground for apprehending that he may be able to cause future, as he 

 has past, delays. There is no hope of bringing the case to a conclusion 

 during the present term of the court. It ends next month, and the 

 next term does not commence until November. The master in chan- 

 cery has not yet made his reports on any of the references made to 

 him by the court, as explained in my No. 9, although I have urged 

 them on by all the means I could use, and will not fail to continue my 

 efforts whilst the present term lasts. Had it not been for the obstruc- 

 tions created by Monsieur de la Batut, this part of the case would have 

 been expedited, and a door the sooner opened by which the United 

 States might have got possession of the fund. 



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

 servant, 



RICHARD RUSH. 



Hon. JOHN FOKSYTH, 



Secretary of State. 



Richard Rush to John ForsytJi. 



LONDON, August 1, 1837. 



SIR: I transmit, herewith, a copy of my account for the year ending 

 yesterday. I also send a list of my drafts upon the bankers of the 

 United States within the same period as authorized by your letter to 

 the late N. M. de Rothschild of July the llth, 1836. 



The only bill I have yet paid, because the only one I have been able 

 to get in, for legal expenses actually incurred, was one of two hun- 

 dred pounds four shillings, on the 8th of April, as shown by my draft 

 upon the bankers of that date. For this a voucher is enclosed, with a 

 full statement of the account. More expense, considerably, has been 

 incurred under this head, but no second account has hitherto been 

 rendered to me, although I have asked for and been desirous of 

 obtaining it, the solicitors saying that the items going to make it up 

 are, many of them, still dependent upon services outstanding and 

 incomplete. The heaviest legal expenses will, I apprehend, come in 

 at the final close of the suit. When this will be I dare not promise, 

 since none of our professional advisers will undertake to inform me 

 precisely, although none, I believe, can exceed them in diligence and 

 fidelity, and although they are urged by my reiterated instructions to 

 use all the expedition practicable. The necessity of a reform in the 

 court of chancery was the subject of a special recommendation from 

 the Throne to Parliament, at the session before the last. Its business 

 is very much in arrears. Mr. Pemberton, the leading counsel of the 

 United States, who is also a member of the House of Commons, stated 



