XXii PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD 01* REGENT^. 



The above certificate of the American consul was signed by the 

 witnesses named in the mortuaiy chapel of the cemetery after the 

 casket had been soldered up in their presence. The witnesses named 

 and the workmen employed then stood around with uncovered heads 

 while the consul of the United States placed over the remains of 

 James Smithson the American flag. 



The casket was left in the mortuary chapel to await my convenience 

 in transporting it to America; and Giovanni Battista Firpo, the 

 gardener employed by the Smithsonian Institution as the custodian 

 of the grave of James Smithson, was left in charge — he agreeing to 

 remain in the mortuary chapel night and day until the removal of the 

 remains. 



On Saturday, the 2d of January, 1904, the foregoing witnesses 

 again assembled in the mortuary chapel of the cemetery, and in tlieir 

 presence the metallic casket was placed within a coffin of strong wood. 



Before the lid of the coffin was screwed down our consul, Mr. 

 Bishop, placed upon the casket the seal of the consulate of the United 

 States and covered the casket with an American flag. Mrs. Bell then 

 placed within the coffin a wreath of leaves from the grave of Smith- 

 son, and all the witnesses contributed flowers. 



Innnediately before the removal of the remains from the mortuary 

 chapel the following addresses were made : 



REMARKS OF WILLIAM HENRY BISHOI*. UNITED STATES CONSUL. 



[On the occasion of the removal of the remains of James Smithson from the mortuary 

 chapel of the cemetery of San Benigno, January 2, 1904.] 



Dr. Alexander Graham Bell : You arrived here, luy dear Dr. Graham Bell, 

 charged by the Smithsonian Institution with the mission of removing to Wash- 

 ington the remains of the founder of that Institution, James Smithson, who has 

 l)een buried till now in the cemetery where we stand, since his death at Genoa 

 in the year 1S20. Having been invited by you and by the Smithsonian Insti- 

 tution to aid you to what extent I might be able in this object, it has been a 

 matter of great pride and pleasure to me that I have been allowed to do so. 



All the steps necessary to such removal have now been taken. We have 

 received the authorization of the governmental heads of the province, the city, 

 and the British Burial Ground Fund, in which latter the title to the cemetery 

 and the custody of the grave of James Smithson is vested, and all of these have 

 kindly coojieratcvl with us in the work. 



The body of James Smithson has now been reverently raised from the earth; 

 it has been placed in .a case securely sealed, and this case stands ready to pass 

 into the charge of the steamship company which will convey it to New York. 



I assure yoii that it is with a feeling of real emotion that I have just now 

 cast the American flag over the body of this illustrious man. this noble but as 

 yet little known benefactor, as it is on tlie \(M-;,'e of licgiimiiig its journey to the 

 United States. Tht^ Hag adopts him already. ;is it were, in the substance, for 

 our country, to which h(> lias so long lielonged in tbe spirit. He is now .Mbout 

 to receive there a portion of the outw.-ird vi-neration ,iiid iiomage he so supremely 

 merits, and v.hich. owing to the modest circumstanc.'s of iiis life, and his inter- 

 ment here in some sense almost forgotten, he has never had. 



