XIV PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS. 



Although the time at which tlie Institution will derive any profit from the above 

 legacy may reasonably be assumed to be somewhat remote, it is believed, if the news- 

 paper estimate of $200,000 be even approximately accurate, that the amount of the 

 fund Avhich will accj-ue to the Institution will not be inconsiderable. At present 

 there would seem to be no further duty imposed upon the Institution than to see 

 that the property is accounted for and is held in safe hands. 



On motion, the report was accepted. 



Senator Henderson, as chairman of the executive committee, pre- 

 sented the following resolution, which was adopted: 



BeHolred, That the income of the Institution for the fiscal year ending June 30, 

 1903, be appropriated for the service of the Institution, to be expended by the Sec- 

 retary, witli the advice of _the executive committee, with full discretion on the part 

 of the Secretary as to items. 



REMOVAL OF SMITHSON's REMAINS. 



The Secretary recalled to the Board the resolution adopted by it 

 at the last meeting with regard to the removal of the remains of 

 James Smithson. The wishes of the Board were communicated to 

 one of the officers of the English church at Genoa, Mr. PI A. Le 

 Mesurier, who, under date of December 23, 1901, replied in part as 



follows: 



******* 



You are aware tliat (lur h()])e iseventually to (il)tain for our countrymen a separate 

 burying i)lace which by an easy, and I may say obvious, arrangement might be 

 made to give shelter not merely to British subjects, but to American also. I regret 

 to say, however, that I see no chance for the present of this most desirable consum- 

 mation, as the authorities (apparently in consequence of the difticulty of finding an 

 alternativ(^ site) have withdrawn their offer of i)roviding us with a fresh cemetery if 

 we allowed them to transfer at once all remains from San Benigno, where your founder 

 rests. The j'resent i)olicy of the authorities is presumably to let things remain as they 

 are until the time comes (three years or so hence) when the law of public utility 

 will strengthen their liands as to taking possession of the San Benigno ground, of 

 course under the obligation of transi)orting the remains elsewhere, which would in 

 all prol)abiiity mean a portion of the general Protestant C'emeter}' and not a separate 

 place of interment. When the time for the transfer approaches it will be obviously 

 expedient to apply to the British andjassador at Rome (hacked up as we are con- 

 fident will 1h> the case by the friendly offices of the representative of the United 

 States) to put the case before the Italian (iovernment, so that the local authorities 

 may he cnjoiiuMl to cany out tht" process with all due rcvi'n'uce and if possible (as 

 it oiii,dit lo he possible ) to a specially reserved new cemetery. Our consul is most 

 fidly alive to the importance of diplomatic support and will take the initiative in 

 due course. 



Ml. r>(dl licrc siiid lliut he would like wvy iiuich to have in the 

 record tliat lie had jjrcsented to the Board at the hist meeting his 

 strong feeling that the remains of Smithson shoiihl bo bi-ought to this 

 country. 



The Secretary iiil"orm('(l Mr. Bell thtit his remarks were now on the 

 written record. 



