XXX PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS. 



I tbereu]iuu consulted with Mr. Langley who assured me that all formalities 

 were being arranged so that the remains might be admitted into this country 

 without delay. On Sunday. January 10, I cabled to you at Gibraltar as 

 tollows : 



" Bell, Princess Iretie, (lihraltar. 



" Congratulations. Formalities arranged. 



" Gilbert Grosvknor." 



On Mombiy. .Tanuary 11. I received the following cablegram from you: 



" (Gibraltar, January 11, lOO'i. 

 "Gilbert (Jrosyenor, Washington. D. ('. 



" Hope Smithson's remains will be received with as much honor as those of 

 John Howard Payne. Notify me at quarantine what to expect. 



" Graham Bell." 



Upon receipt of this message I called upon Dr. S. P. Langley and expressed 

 your desii-e that suitable honors be rendered James Smithson upon the arrival 

 of the remains in this country. I then addressed the following letter to the 

 President of the United States, Hon. Theodore Roosevelt : 



" Hubbard Memorial Hall, 

 "Washington. D. C, -January 11, 190 Jt. 

 " Sir: The remains of James Smithson, the founder of the Smithsonian Insti- 

 tution, are now being brought to the United States by Dr. Alexander (Jraham 

 Bell, one of the Regents of the Institution. The remains left Gibraltar this 

 morning on the steamer Princess Irene, and are due in New York about the 20th 

 instant. Dr. Graham Bell has cabled me ui'ging that the remains be received 

 with as much honor as those of John Howard Payne. It would seem most 

 appropriate that a Government vessel, a ship of war, a revenue cutter, or even 

 a tug, be detailed to meet the Princess Irene when she enters the harbor of New 

 York and receive Smithson's remains. This olficial tribute from the American 

 nation seems due a man who be(iueathed his entire fortune to a people whom he 

 had never seen. As the time is urgent I take the liberty of addressing you 

 directly, rather than through otlicial channels. I would respectfully beg, in 

 case your honor does not de(>m it titling to order detailed a vessel to welcome 

 Smithson in the harbor of N(nv York, that 1 be so informed at once, in oi'der 

 that private ]ihu)s for paying honor to this illustrious benefactor may then be 

 carried out. 



" I beg to remain, most respectfully, 



"Gilbert H. Grosvenor. 

 "Hon. Theodore Roosevelt, 



"President of the United States." 



On Tuesday, January 12, I received word from the Secretai-y of the Navy that 

 my request for a war shi]) had been ap])roved by the President, and I was asked 

 to send a formal application for the detail of the Dolpiiin. I thereupon for- 

 warded the following ai)itlication : 



"January 12, 1904. 

 " Sir : T'ursuant to the request from the Secretar.v of the Navy, I beg hei-ewith 

 formally and respectfull.v to iietition that the l)(>li)hin be detailed to receive the 

 remains of Jaiiu^s Smithson. the founder of the Snutlisonian Institution, in New 

 York Ilai-bor and convey them to Washington. 1 beg to remain, 

 "Most i'es|)ectfnl"ly. 



'■ (iU.BKKT H. ({ROSVEXOK. 



" Hon. Theodore Roosevelt, 



"President of tJie Jlnited Siale-^. \\ dshini/lon." 



The Do1i)1iiii was thereupon detailed and ordered to New York. 



On January IS 1 called upon the Chief of Staff. Lieut. Gen. Adna R. Chaffee, 

 and requested a military escort to receive the I'eniains of James Smithson when 

 they reached this city. nn<l on January lit forwarded the following formal 

 application : 



" January IS. 1004. 



"Sir : The i'<<mains of James Smithson, the foinider of the Snutlisonian Institu- 

 tion, will reach Washington on Friday or Saturday of this week. The remains 



