64
Proviso.
Statute I.July 1, 1836.
May appointan agent to pro-secute theclaim.
Agent to givebonds.
To defray theexpenses.
the lends, aforesaid of the United States ; Provided, That should thesaid bridge never be constructed, or having been constructed, shall beabandoned, by the said company, the rights vested therein, by this act,shall cease and determine.
Approved, July 1, 1836.
Chap. CCLIJ. —An Act to authorize and enable the President to assert and prose-cute with effect, the claim of the United States to the legacy bequeathed to them,by James Smithson, late of London , deceased, to found at Washington, underthe name of the Smithsonian Institution , an establishment for the increase anddiffusion of knowledge among men.
Beit enacted, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the UnitedStates of America in Congress assembled, That the President of theUnited States be, and he is hereby, authorized to constitute and appointan agent or agents, to assert and prosecute for and in behalf of theUnited States , and in their name, or otherwise, as may be advisable, inthe Court of Chancery, or other proper tribunal of England, the rightof the United States to the legacy bequeathed to them by the last willand testament of James Smithson, late of London , deceased, for thepurpose of founding, at Washington, under the name of the SmithsonianInstitution , an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledgeamong men : and to empower such agent or agents, so appointed, toreceive and grant acquittances for all such sum or sums of money, oroilier funds, as may or shall be decreed or adjudged to the United States ,for, or on account of, said legacy'.
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the said agent or agentsshall, before receiving any part of the said legacy, give a bond or bonds,in the penal sum of five hundred thousand dollars, to the Treasurer ofthe United States , and his successors in office, with good and sufficientsecurities to the satisfaction of the Secretary of the Treasury , for thefaithful performance of the duties of the said agency, and for the faithfulremittance to the Treasurer of the United States , of all and every sumor sums of money, or other funds, which he or they may receive, forpayment in whole or in part of the said legacy. And the Treasurer ofthe United States is hereby authorized and required to keep safely, allsums of money or other funds which may be received by him in virtueof the said bequest, and to account therefor separately from all otheraccounts of his office, and subject to such further disposal thereof asmay be hereafter provided by Congress .
Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That any and all sums of money,and other funds, which shall be received for, or on account of, the saidlegacy, shall be applied in such manner as Congress may hereafterdirect, to the purpose of founding and endowing at Washington, underthe name of the Smithsonian Institution , an establishment for theincrease and diffusion of knowledge among men ; to which applicationof the said moneys, and other funds, the faith of the United States ishereby pledged.
Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That, to the end that the claimto the said bequest may be prosecuted with effect, and the necessaryexpenses in prosecuting the same be defrayed, the President of theUnited States be, and he is hereby, authorized to apply to that purpose,any sum not exceeding ten thousand dollars, out of any moneys in theTreasury not otherwise appropriated.
Approved, July 1, 1836.