30 The Smithsonian Institution 



ating silently and gradually throughout time, yet operating 

 not the less effectually. Not to speak of the inappreciable 

 value of letters to individual and social man, the monuments 

 which they raise to a nation's glory often last when others 

 perish, and seem especially appropriate to the glory of a 

 republic whose foundations are laid in the presumed intelli- 

 gence of its citizens, and can only be strengthened and 

 perpetuated as that improves." 1 



On May 9, 1838, a decree of the Court of Chancery 

 was solemnly pronounced, adjudging the Smithson bequest 

 to the United States, and the estate was immediately trans- 

 ferred to Mr. Rush, who took passage for America in the 

 packet ship Mediatory which sailed from London July 17, 

 and reached New York August 29, 1838. 



The various securities were converted into gold sovereigns 

 for convenience of transportation, and these were packed at 

 the Bank of England in one hundred and five bags, each 

 containing 1000 sovereigns, except one which contained 960 

 sovereigns and certain change which Mr. Rush minutely 

 records as amounting to " eight shillings and sevenpence 

 wrapped in paper," a minuteness somewhat entertaining, since 

 in another place he records with equal minuteness that he 

 delivered eight shillings and sixpence at the Mint. 



The money was deposited with the Bank of America until 

 September i, when Mr. Rush, accompanied by two agents 

 of the Bank, took stage for Philadelphia, and on the same 

 day delivered his charge to the Director and Treasurer of 

 the United States Mint. The contents of the bags, ^104,- 

 960, 8s., 6d., was found to be the equivalent of $508,318.46, 

 which was the amount for which Mr. Rush obtained a receipt. 



1 Letter to the Honorable John Forsyth, England, see Rhees, " The Smithsonian 



Secretary of State, dated London, May 12, Institution : Documents relative to its 



1838. For all the correspondence and other Origin and History"; Washington, 1879, 



documents relating to Rush's mission to pages 3-122. 



