SMITHSONIAN BEQUEST. 53 



say in their letter, not to dwell upon contingencies coming 

 within its scope that might make the time longer. Shouloi 

 the suit reach the House of Lords, for example, by appeal, 

 it would not be easy to assign a limit to its duration. 



I trust, therefore, it will be thought that I exercise a 

 proper discretion, as representing the interests of the United 

 States, in determining not to expose myself to any of these 

 hazards, and new ones that might even chance to spring 

 out of them as time was opened for their operation. It 

 seems to me, conclusively, that I should henceforth rather 

 strive to obtain a decision of their suit as speedily as possi- 

 ble, regardless of the small and temporary diminution of 

 the fund, should it be finally adjudged in their favor, which 

 the foregoing payments to Madame de la Batut would occa- 

 sion. Opposition has been effectively made to the claim 

 up to the point, it is believed, that duty enjoined and pru- 

 dence would sanction ; to go farther seems not reconcilable 

 with the latter, under the certain and contingent delays and 

 dangers I set forth. 



The occasion may be a fit one for remarking, that when 

 this claim first assumed a vexatious aspect last summer, my 

 immediate wish and suggestions were to get a decree in 

 favor of the United States for the general fund, leaving 

 such fractional portion of it sub judice as would have been 

 sufficient to satisfy the claim if established ; thus cutting 

 short delay from this source, by which this agency might 

 have had the chance to be closed the sooner, and the bulk 

 of the fund secured to the United States at the earliest 

 possible day. The last I hold an object of pressing im- 

 portance, encompassed, as all law suits more or less are, (to 

 say nothing of the peculiar nature of this,) by hidden risks. 

 But it was part of the vexation of the claim that our legal 

 advisers found the course I desired to pursue impracticable, 

 for the reason mentioned in the letter of the solicitors of 

 the 22d of July, a copy of which was forwarded with my 

 No. 15 on the 19th of August. 



Now that this obstruction is removed from my path by 

 the determination I have taken in regard to it, I indulge 

 the hope that no new one will be thrown across it ; and can 

 only repeat the assurance, that nothing within my power 

 shall be left undone towards accelerating the suit, anxiously 

 desiring, on all public and personal accounts, (if I may 

 speak in the latter sense,) to sec it terminated. 



In the continued hope that the decision, when it comes, 



