SMITHSONIAN BEQUEST. 113 



lions of selling the stock in the English funds, in which Mr. 

 Smithson's fortune was invested, and afterwards shipping 

 the gold, required and had ray constant supervision until I 

 saw the latter finally deposited at our Mint, in fulfilment of 

 his instructions; that, having suffered greatly from sea 

 sickness during the voyage, added to fatigue after landing 

 in a weak state at JSTew York, where the care of the gold 

 still required my personal superintendence, I had been 

 unable hitherto to prepare a statement of the expenses in 

 question, but that I was now regaining strength and intended 

 to set out for Washington on Saturday, at farthest, if then 

 able, as at present I had reason to hope would be the case. 

 I added, that I supposed a settlement of my account could 

 be effected more satisfactorily and promptly by my presence 

 with the accounting officers at Washington than by any at- 

 tempt to make it out here, and transmit it by letter, which, 

 it may be, might lead to writing backwards and forwards 

 before a final adjustment took place; of which correspond- 

 ence I have the honor to inform you, and to remain, with 

 great respect, your obedient servant. 



RICHARD RUSH. 

 Hon. JOHN FORSYTE, Secretary of State. 



Richard Rush to John Forsyth. 



WASHINGTON, September 15, 1838. 



SIR : I am now to give you a statement of all the expenses 

 that attended the recovery of the Smithsonian bequest for 

 the United States. 



It may be in order first to mention the whole amount of 

 stock and money that came into my hands from the court 

 of chancery, or otherwise. 



I received of English Government stock 64,535 18s. 9d. 

 in consols, 12,000 in reduced three per cent, annuities, and 

 16,100 in bank stock of the Bank of England, as heretofore 

 mentioned in my No. 26, and will now be seen by the original 

 order or decree of the court, which I enclose, (marked A.) 

 This document I could not obtain until the llth of July, 

 when I received it with the letter of the solicitors of that 

 date, also enclosed, (marked B.) 



On the llth of June I received from the accountant gen- 

 eral of the court of chancery 725 3s. 7d. This was the 

 sum remaining to be paid to me, after previous payments to 

 others, out of cash in hand appertaining to the Smithsonian 

 8 



