114 SMITHSONIAN BEQUEST. 



mother of the nephew of Smithson. The power of attorney was for- 

 warded to the care of Hon. Charles F. Adams, American minister to 

 England, and the money, when collected, will be deposited with 

 George Peabody & Co., bankers, London, subject to the order of the 

 Institution. 



From Report of the Secretary for the year 1863. 



A part of the original bequest, amounting to 5,015, was left by 

 Mr. Rush in England as the principal of an annuity to be paid to the 

 mother of the nephew of Smithson. The annuitant having died, a 

 power of attorney was sent, in November, 1862, to Messrs. Fladgate, 

 Clarke & Finch to collect the money; but it has not yet been received. 

 Although the whole legacy was awarded to Mr. Rush in behalf of the 

 United States, after an amicable suit in chancery, various objections 

 have been raised to allowing the small remainder to be sent to this 

 country. These objections appear to be principally of a technical 

 character and are scarcely compatible with an equitable interpretation 

 of the facts of the case. There should be no prejudice in England in 

 regard to the construction placed upon the terms of the bequest and 

 the policy which has been adopted, since 169 institutions in Great 

 Britain and Ireland are recipients of the Smithsonian publications and 

 specimens of natural history, and have enjoyed the advantages of its 

 system of international exchange. 



From Proceedings of the Board of Regents, January 25, 1864.. 



The Secretary called attention to the unexpected delays and em- 

 barrassments which had occurred in obtaining the remainder of the 

 original bequest of Smithson left in England as the principal of an 

 annuity to the mother of the nephew of Smithson, and read the cor- 

 respondence on the subject with the attorneys, and also a letter from 

 Hon. C. F. Adams, the American minister to England. 



On motion it was 



Resolved, That a committee be appointed, consisting of the Secretary, 

 Mr. Henry Winter Davis, and Professor Bache, to confer with the 

 Secretary of State and the British minister relative to the action of 

 the English authorities in regard to the money due the Smithsonian 

 Institution. 



From Report of the Secretary for the year 186 '4- 



It was mentioned in the last report that a part of the original 

 bequest, amounting to .5,015, was left by Mr. Rush in England as 

 the principal to secure an annuity payable to the mother of Smithson's 

 nephew. The annuitant having died, a power of attorney was sent in 

 November, 1863, to Messrs. Fladgate, Clarke & Finch (the same firm 



