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incur no further arrears in meeting a palpable and high national duty. In conclu¬ 
sion, I may be pardoned for adding that, in obedience to a call from the Government, 
I offered a plan, in fulfilment of his will, immediately after returning from England 
with the fund. In some respects it was like yours, though not so good, because 
not so simple; besides that yours has now the advantage of actual and successful 
organization. 
With ardent wishes for its further and full success, whether adopted by Congress 
or not, but with wishes as ardent that that high body may not suffer this great trust 
fund to remain any longer as a talent buried in the earth, I am, dear sir, with great 
respect and regard, your faithful and obedient servant, 
RICHARD RUSH. 
FROM PETER S. DU PONCEAU: ON THE SMITHSON BEQUEST. 
Philadelphia, April , 1842. 
Francis Markoe, jr., Esq., 
Cor. Secretary of the National Institution for the Promotion of Science 
My dear Sir : I have received your several letters, with the documents, respect¬ 
ing the Smithsonian legacy, which you have had the goodness to transmit to me 
at my request. I have studied them with great attention, and, I shall add, with 
pleasure ; as you well know that the subject is very near my heart, you will judge 
of the satisfaction that I have had in their perusal, and in reflecting upon their 
contents. 
When the subject of this legacy was brought, for the first time, before Congress, 
by a message from the President, I find, from the report of the select committee to 
whom it was referred, (at the head of which was the illustrious John Quincy 
Adams,) that numerous plans and schemes were presented to that committee for the 
application of that fund. No one of them, says the report, appeared to that com¬ 
mittee adapted to accomplish the purpose of the testator. “ They generally con¬ 
templated the establishment of a school, college, or university. They proposed 
expenditures absorbing, in the erection of buildings, the capital of the fund itself, 
or a very large portion of it, leaving little or nothing to be invested as a perpetual 
annuity for future and continual appropriations, contributing to the improvement of 
future ages, as well as of the present generation; and in most of the projects there 
might be perceived purposes of personal accommodation and emolument to the 
projector, more adapted to the promotion of his own interest than to the increase 
and diffusion of knowledge among men.” 
I have used the words of the committee, without adding any thing of my own. 
It appears to have been the opinion of that respectable body, that neither the esta¬ 
blishment of a school, college, or university, was adapted to the accomplishment of 
the purpose of the testator. It appears, also, that the great expense which the plans 
proposed would occasion, and which will absorb not only the interest but the prin¬ 
cipal of that legacy, was a strong objection in the minds of the committee. There¬ 
fore, two things resulted from this opinion; the first, that something more was con- 
