102 SMITHSONIAN BEQUEST. 



repaid by the Treasury. The freight was three-eighths of one per 

 cent this being the usual charge in the packet-ships and came to 

 393 12s. Primage was 19 13s. 8d. ; and the charges on bringing 

 the Smithsonian boxes (left in the custody of the collector, from 

 whom I had every facility on landing) were to have been 3 8s. 5d. or 

 thereabouts. 1 



It seemed to me that it would be best for the bank to pay all these 

 charges, as the most convenient mode of settling without delay with 

 the shipowners, to whom I had become responsible by my engage- 

 ments with the captain in London; and I have the hope that this course 

 will meet the approbation of the Secretary of the Treasury and }'our- 

 self. It left the gold, as secured in boxes at the Bank of England, 

 untouched at New York; and I had caused the seal of our consul at 

 London to be affixed to each of them. 



Somewhat worn down by fatigue since coming on shore, after an 

 uncomfortable voyage of squalls, gales, and head winds, I venture to 

 ask a little repose at my home, before proceeding to Washington, for 

 the purpose of making out and rendering to you an account of all 

 expenses that have attended the final recovery of this fund, of which 

 the United States, by the information I give you in this letter, are now 

 in possession. In the course of the next week I shall hope to proceed 

 to Washington with the view stated, and in order that, my account 

 of the expenses being found satisfactory, which I presume to hope 

 will be the case, I may ask to be discharged from all further responsi- 

 bility under the trust 1 have been performing. The net amount, in 

 dollars, of the fund as I delivered it over to the United States at the 

 mint, was found to be $508,318.46, as specified in the receipt given to 

 me for it by the treasurer of the mint. 



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



RICHARD RUSH. 



Hon. JOHN FORSYTH, 



/Secretary of State. 



Richard Rush to John Forsyth. 



PHILADELPHIA, September 11, 1838. 



SIR: I yesterday received a letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, 

 dated the 7th instant, stating it to be desirable that the expenses 

 attending the transfer of the Smithsonian fund to this country and its 

 deposit at the mint should be ascertained as early as practicable, 

 that the accounts in relation to it may be adjusted with a view to the 



1 There proved to be fourteen of these boxes, the additional one containing a picture, 

 of which I had not heard at the date of my No. 28. 



