XX PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS. 



REPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON THE DISPOSITION OF THE REMAINS 



OF JAMES SMITHSON. 



The Chancellor stated that at the meeting of the Board of Regents 

 held January liT, 1904, the folloAving resohition was adopted: 



KesolrctI, 'I'hat the C'liancellor and the Secretary, with the members of the 

 executive cunimittee, he apijoiiiteil a conunittee upon tlie question of tiie tinal 

 disposition of tlie remains of James Sniitlison and of the monument to be erected 

 to liini. with power to act in the entire mattei". 



The committee provided by the above resohition met on March 4, 

 1904, and after discussion adopted the following resolution : 



Resolved. That a fitting tomb sliould be erected on the grounds of the Smith- 

 sonian Institution as a final resting place for the body of James Smithson, and 

 that after consideration of the character and cost of such tomb Congress be 

 requested to make an adequate appropriation for it. 



NATIONAL (JALLERY OF ART. 



The Secretary then brought before the Board the matter of the will 

 of the late Mrs. Harriet Lane Johnston, who left a number of paint- 

 ings to the Corcoran Galleiy of Art until a national gallery of art 

 had been established by the Ciovernment. The Corcoran gallery had 

 declined the pictures under these conditions, and Mr, Corcoran Thorn 

 had communicated with the Secretary with regard to the j^robability 

 of the (Jovernment establishing such a national gallery of art under 

 the Institution. After discussion, on motion of Senator Cullom, the 

 matter was referred to the executive committee. 



The Board then adjourned. 



APPENDIX TO PROCEEDINGS OF REGENTS, 



KEPOKT OF COIMMITTEE ON TIIE TRANSFER OF THE REMAINS OF JAMES 

 SMITHSON TO THE UNITED STATES, 



To the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution. 



Gentlemen : As the committee charged with the duty of bringing 

 to the United States the mortal remains of eJames Smithson, the 

 founder of the Smithsonian Institution, I beg to report the successful 

 a(;complishment of my missicm; and the remains were handed over 

 to the Smithsonian Institution last Monday, the 25th of January, 

 1904. 



I reached Genoa. Italy, on the 25th of December, 1903, and next 

 day presented my credentials to the American consul, Mr. AVilliam 

 Henry Bishop, and to ]\Ir. Noel Lees, for the conunittee of the 

 British Burial Ground Fund Association. 



On the 29th of Deceml^er I made formal a[)|)lication t'oi- the 

 remains of James Smithson, and on the Hist of December they were 

 delivered into my custody. \\\ accordance with the expressed wish 



