appreciation in which this Board holds its departed associate than in any expectation that formal action can adequately express its sense of the great loss that we personally feel, and that this Institution has experienced, your committee submits the following resolutions:

Whereas the members of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution have been called upon to mourn the death of their distinguished colleague, the late Dr. Asa Gray, who has been actively interested in the welfare of the Institution from its beginning, and who held for fifteen years the office of Regent, with great advantage to the Institution: Therefore, be it

Resolved, That with a high appreciation of Dr. Gray's most eminent labors in the development of all scientific truth, and especially in the advancement and popularization of the study of botany; with a grateful sense of the service he has rendered to the Smithsonian Institution, and with reverence for his pure life, we record our admiration of the Christian character in which the truths of science were all seen in the same light that shone on a life of steadfast faith.

Resolved, That we mourn not only the great investigator, the teacher and the associate, whose single mind found outward expression in a manner so well remembered in its simple and indefinable charm, but that above all we grieve for the loss of a friend.

Resolved, That this preamble and the resolutions be spread on the minutes of the Board in respectful tribute to the memory of our venerated colleague, and that a copy be transmitted to his family in token of the share we take in their bereavement.

The Secretary stated that having learned from the widow of Dr. Gray that she needed about eighty copies of the second part of the "Flora of North America,” by her husband, which had been published by the Smithsonian Institution, to complete the sets in her possession and render them available, he had ventured in the name of the Regents to furnish these desired volumes, and had taken the occasion to express their continued interest in the result of the labors of their late colleague; for which Mrs. Gray had asked him to express her very sincere thanks.

The chairman announced the election by joint resolution of Congress, approved by the President February 15, 1888, of Dr. Andrew B. White, of the State of New York, as Regent for the term of six years, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Dr. Gray.

The chair then announced as the next business in order, the election of Chancellor.

On motion of Mr. Cox, Chief-Justice Melville W. Fuller was unanimously elected Chancellor of the Institution.

Mr. Fuller, in accepting the office, after thanking the members of the Board for the compliment, expressed his desire to promote the objects of the Institution, in whose welfare, he was well aware, the late chancellor, Chief-Justice Waite, had such great interest, and he earnestly hoped that he should be able to discharge his duties with as much fidelity and success.

Dr. Welling, chairman of the Executive Committee, presented its annual report for the year ending June 30, 1888; which was read and accepted.

On motion of Mr. Cox it was

Resolved, That the income of the Institution for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1890, be appropriated for the service of the Institution, to be expended by the Secratary, with the advice of the executive committee, upon the basis of the operations described in the last annual report of said committee, with full discretion on the part of the Secre tary as to items of expenditures properly falling under each of the heads embraced in the established conduct of the Institution.

The Secretary presented his annual report, which in accordance with the rules of the Board had been printed and distributed in advance to the members. He expressed his readiness to make additional explanations or remarks in regard to any part of the operations of the Institution.

Mr. Cullom inquired as to the Zoological Park, and the prospect of its establishment. He expressed great interest in the project and hoped it would speedily be realized.

The Secretary briefly urged the importance to science of the measure, as the means of rescuing from speedy extinction some of the animals which formerly inhabited this continent in vast numbers, and expressed his fear that if the land was not now secured (which in its natural state was pre-eminently fitted for the Park) within a year, so-called "improvements" would entirely destroy its character and adaptability.

General Meigs stated that thirty years ago he had pointed out to the Government the desirability of securing the Rock Creek region for a public park, and the land could then have been procured for an insignificant sum.

After a general expression of opinion by the Regents in favor of the proposed Zoological Park, the members of the Board in the Senate and House were requested to urge the passage of the bill by Congress as speedily as possible.

The Secretary stated that a reference had been made at the last annual meeting of a bill introduced in the Senate December 12, 1887, for the erection of a bronze statue of the late Professor Baird. This bill had passed the Senate unanimously February 9, 1888, and was referred 1 in the House to the Committee on Library, which had not made a report.

Mr. Cox stated that if the bill came up for action in the House he had no doubt it would be favorably acted on.

The Secretary made the following remarks:

The Smithsonian contribution to the Library of Congress now consists of over a quarter of a million titles, forming a collection of its kind absolutely unequaled in the world, created mainly out of the Smithsonian income and practically a donation to the General Government. Further, nearly a quarter of the Smithsonian yearly income is indirectly devoted to the increment of this great collection.

It had been hoped that this collection would have been kept in a hall distinct from other books in the Library of Congress, but the exigen

cies of the demand on the Librarian have caused it not only to be crowded into insufficient space, but in an inaccessible room, so that the collection is not seen and in no way recalls the source of its contribution, and to the general public its very existence is unknown.

In the new Library of Congress building adequate space will presumably be provided for its preservation and increase, but if it seems fit to the Regents that a distinct hall or halls shall be devoted to it, and that they shall also in their construction and decoration not only be worthy of the contents, but recall that the collection is due to the Smithsonian fund, the following resolution is submitted:

Resolved, That since the Smithsonian. deposit now numbers over 250,000 titles, and is still increasing at the cost of the Institution, it is, in the opinion of the Regents, desirable that in the new building for the Library of Congress sufficient provision shall be made for its accommodation and increase in a distinct hall or halls, worthy of the collections, and such as, while recalling to the visitor the name of Smithson, shall provide such facilities for those consulting the volumes as will aid in his large purpose of the diffusion of knowledge among

men.

On motion of General Meigs, the resolution was adopted.

The Secretary called the attention of the Board to the act recently passed by Congress (approved by the President, January 4, 1889), to incorporate the American Historical Association, and providing that said association shall report annually to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution its proceedings, etc., who at his discretion shall communicate the same to Congress, and further authorizing the Regents of the Institution to receive on deposit the collections, papers, etc., of the said association.

On motion of Mr. Cullom, it was

Resolved, That the American Historical Association be and hereby is permitted to deposit its collections, manuscripts, books, pamphlets, and other material for history in the Smithsonian Institution or in the National Museum, in accordance with the provisions of the act of incor poration, and that the conditions of said deposit shall be determined by the Secretary, with the approval of the executive committee.

On motion of Mr. Cullom, the Board adjourned sine die.

H. Mis. 224——II

REPORT OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS

OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.

(For the year ending 30th of June, 1889.)

To the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution:

Your Executive Committee respectfully submits the following report in relation to the funds of the Institution, the appropriations by Congress for the National Museum and other purposes, and the receipts and expenditures for the Institution and the Museum for the year ending June 30, 1889:

Condition of the fund July 1, 1889.

The amount of the bequest of James Smithson deposited in the Treasury of the United States, according to the act of Congress of August 10, 1846, was $515,169. To this was added by authority of Congress (act of February 8, 1867) the residuary legacy of Smithson and savings from annual income and other sources, $134,831. To this $1,000 have been added by a bequest of James Hamilton, $500 by a bequest of Simeon Habel, and $51,500 as the proceeds of the sale of Virginia bonds owned by the Institution, making in all, as the perma nent Smithsonian fund in the United States Treasury, $703,000.

Statement of the receipts and expenditures of the Smithsonian Institution July 1, 1888, to June 30, 1889.