JOURNAL OF THE BOARD. XIII 



ITiider t])e provisions of this act the Chaucellor had taken the fol- 

 lowing action : 



Lyme, Conn., July 2, 1884. 



By virtue of the authority conferred on me by the act of May 13, 

 1884, " 10 provide for the apijointmeut of an Acting Secretary of the 

 Smithsonian Institution," I hereby designate and appoint Mr. William 

 J. Rhees to act as Secretary of the Institution when there shall be a 

 vacancy in that office, and whenever the Secretary shall be unable from 

 illness, absence, or other cause to perform the duties of his office. 



M. R. Waite, 

 Chancellor of the Smithsonian Institution. 



Dr. Maclean presented the annual report of the Executive Commit- 

 tee, which was read. 



On motion of Dr. Coppee it was — 



Besolved, Tliat the report of the Executive Committee be accepted, 

 and that the income for the year 1885 be appropriated for the service 

 of the Institution upon the basis of the above report, to be expended 

 by the Secretary with full discretion as to the items, subject to the 

 approval of the Executive Committee. 



The Secretary presented the following communication he had received 



since the last meeting of the Board : 



June 2, 1884. 

 Spencer F. Baird, 



Secretary Smithsonian Institution, 



Washington, I). C. : 



Sir : I intend to make a bequest for the advancement of science — 

 that is, of physical science. For many reasons I would like to make 

 the bequest in favor of the Smithsonian Institution ; but there is one 

 difficulty which must be cleared up before I can decide. If money were 

 left by will to the Smithsonian Institution would it defend the will 

 against the claims of any and all persons who should contest the will 

 and take legal steps to set it aside? Has it authority by law; has it 

 funds that it would be authorized to use for the purpose of defending a 

 will in its favor ? As I have no children the will would be less likely 

 to be contested, but there are others who might attempt to set it aside. 

 For this reason what I wish above all to be assured of, is that any legacy 

 that 1 leave for the purpose named will not be given up without making 

 a fight of it if needful. Please explain this point. 



I wish you to send me a form of words, the very words themselves, 

 in which a bequest should be made so that there could be no pretense 

 of setting it aside for vagueness; and that will carry out my intentions, 

 which I will explain : 



The chief joart I would desire to bequeath to the Institution would be 

 for the "increase and diffusion of knowledge among men," and beside 

 would wish to have the Institution invest say 8300 (is that too insig- 

 nificant for the purpose?) and use the income thereof for conferring a 

 gold medal either annually or biennially (which would be the better?) 

 on the person who had made the most important discovery in physical 

 science during the year, or two years, ending, say a year before the 

 date of ccnferring the medal. For example, the Regents would have 

 to decide, say in the month of December, 1883, who made the most 

 important discovery in i)Iiysical science during the year, or two years, 

 ending December 31, 1882. If yon have my meaning put it in language 

 that will make it perfectly clear without multiplying words. 



