108 SMITHSONIAN BEQUEST. 



mint at Philadelphia as soon as practicable; it being added that the 

 president of the Bank of America at New York had been requested to 

 render me any facilities in his power. The captain of the ship being 

 content to take the bank as payment for these last-mentioned charges, 

 I thought I should best consult the spirit of the Secretary's instruc- 

 tions by leaving the bank to pay them, which its president expressed an 

 immediate readiness to do. I supposed it could make no difference to 

 the Government in the end, whilst it saved the necessity of opening 

 one of the boxes of the gold at New York, out of which fund alone I 

 could have made the payment if demanded of me under the engage- 

 ment I had contracted. The bank may have further charges to make 

 for its aid to me otherwise in removing the gold to the mint, but I 

 know nothing of them in detail. 



Referring therefore to that part of the Secretary's letter to me of 

 the 7th instant, which I mentioned in my No. 33, asking a statement 

 of expenses attending the transportation of the gold after its actual 

 shipment at London, and its transfer to the mint at Philadelphia after 

 its arrival at New York, I beg to offer the above explanation, having 

 paid nothing myself. 



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

 servant, 



RICHARD RUSH. 



Hon. JOHN FORSYTH, 



Secretary of State. 



John Forsyth to Levi Woodbury. 



DEPARTMENT OF STATE, 

 Washington, September 18, 1838. 



SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith two letters from Mr. 

 Richard Rush, Nos. 34 and 35, with the papers which accompanied 

 them, in relation to the amount recovered of the Smithsonian legacy, 

 and the expenses attending the recovery and the transmission of the 

 proceeds to this country. 



I am, sir, your obedient servant, 



JOHN FORSYTH. 

 Hon. LEVI WOODBURY, 



Sewetary of the Treasury. 



Edward Stitbbs to Stephen Pleasanton. 



DEPARTMENT OF STATE, 

 Washington, September 24, 1838. 



SIR: I am directed to transmit to you, for settlement, the inclosed 

 account of Mr. Richard Rush, and a letter from him (No. 36) accom- 



