_(a)_ DECLARATION BY WILLIAM A. RICHARDSON Whereas, I have this day deposited in my name, as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, U. S. A., in the Bank of England, two million five hundred and fifty thousand pounds sterling, and shall probably hereafter make further deposits on the same account: Now I hereby declare that said amount and deposits, present and future, are official and belong to the Government of the United States, and not to me personally that the moneys so deposited are the proceeds of the sale of five per cent bonds of the "Funded Loan"; that whatever money I may at any time have in said Bank under said account, will be the property of the United States Government, held by me officially as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, acting under orders from the Secretary; that the same is, and will continue to be subject to the draft, order, and control of the Secretary of the Treasury, independently of, and superior to my authority, whenever he so elects, and that upon his assuming control thereof, my power over the same will wholly cease. In case of my decease before said account is closed, the money on deposit will not belong to my estate, but to the Government of the United States. Witness my hand and seal, (Signed) WILLIAM A. RICHARDSON, _Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, U. S. A._ LONDON, ENGLAND, _December_ 28, 1871. _Witnesses:_ JNO. P. BIGELOW, E. W. BOWEN, GEO. L. WARREN. _(b)_ JUDGE RICHARDSON TO JOHN P. BIGELOW 41 LOMBARD ST., LONDON, ENGLAND, _December_ 28, 1871. _To_ JOHN P. BIGELOW, _Chief of the Loan Division, Secretary's Office, Treasury Department, U. S. A._ I have this day deposited in the Bank of England, in my name as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, two million five hundred and fifty thousand pounds sterling money, belonging to the United States, received in payment of five per cent bonds of the Funded Loan delivered here in London. All money hereafter received for future delivery of bonds will be deposited to the same account. Herewith I hand you a declaration of trust signed by me declaring that said account and moneys belong to the United States, and not to me personally, also the Deposit Book and a book of blank checks numbered from 35,101 to 35,150, both inclusive, received from said Bank, all of which you will take into your custody and carefully keep in one of the iron safes sent here from the department in the same manner as the books are kept. This money, and all the money deposited in said bank on the account aforesaid, will be drawn and used only in accordance with the orders of the Secretary of the Treasury to redeem or purchase five-twenty bonds and matured coupons, or such other and further orders as he may make in relation thereto.