772 MEMOIRS OF JOHN QUINCY ADAMS. 



I said that, at all events, it was a subject in which I coub 

 have no agency, though if they should obtain encouragement 

 to their wishes from the President, or in Congress, I would 

 cheerfully withdraw from the committee. 



The Doctor asked if I should be willing to receive any 

 further communication from him upon the subject. 



I said, certainly, with pleasure, and with the best disposi- 

 tion to do anything useful to the college in my power. I gave 

 him printed copies of the two messages of the President to- 

 the Congress on this subject at the present session. 



JANUARY 8, 1839. 



At ten I met the Smithsonian Bequest Committee. 

 Present, Adams, Smith, Charles Shepard, Thompson, Ogle, 

 Holt, and Kennedy; absent, Garland, of Virginia, and 

 Hunter of Ohio. There was more desultory conversation, 

 and some question made as to a boasting passage or two in 

 one of Mr. Rush's letters, that he had avoided giving too 

 much publicity to the notice for illegitimate children of 

 James Hungerford, the first devisee of the whole property. 

 Rush had been bitterly assailed in the Gazette of the United 

 States for this, and Thompson expressed some suspicion of 

 unfairness in the transaction, which would vitiate the whole 

 procedure, and so taint it that he would not consent under 

 it to take a dollar of the money. But the decree of the 

 Master of the Rolls was read ; and the report of the Master 

 to whom it had been referred, explicitly and positively de- 

 clared that Hungerford died without issue, legitimate or 

 illegitimate ; aiicT Mr. Thompson waived all objection to 

 further proceeding. 



The Chairman of the committee was instructed to move in 

 the House that the memorial of Charles Lewis Fleischmann, 

 presented at this session and referred to this committee, 

 should be printed, and the drawings accompanying it litho- 

 graphed for the use of the House ; and also to prepare a 

 bill vesting the whole Smithsonian fund in the Treasury of 

 the United States, pledging their faith to be responsible for 

 it, and for the payment of the yearly interest upon it at 

 six per cent. Adjourned to next Tuesday. 



JANUARY 15, 1839. 



Meeting of the Smithsonian Committee. Presetit, Adams, 

 Thompson, Kennedy, Hunter. No quorum. Thompson 

 made objections to Mr. Rush's proceedings to recover the 

 fund. The joint resolution constituting a joint committee- 



