XXIV REPORT ON THE HENRY STATUE. 



act as a respected channel of communication between the Institution 

 and scientific and literary individuals and societies in this and foreign 

 countries ; and, in a word, a man worthy to represent before the world 

 of science and letters the Institution over which this Board presides." 



Immediately after the adoption of this resolution the Board proceeded 

 to the election, and the first ballot resulted in the choice of Professor 

 Henry, then occupying the chair of natural philosophy in Princeton 

 College. Experience has shown that the world possessed no better man 

 for such a place. He was all the resolution required, and more; and 

 from the day of his election until now, the wish has never been ex- 

 pressed that another had been chosen in his stead. 



He accepted the appointment on the 7th of December, and on the 

 next day, the 8th, finished and sent to the Eegents an elaborate paper 

 giving his views of the will of Smithson, and presenting a plan for the 

 organization of the Institution. He entered on the performance of his 

 duties on the 21st of December, and from that day until his death, on 

 the 13th of May, 1878, almost one-third of a century, he was engaged 

 in making the Smithsonian Institution what its munificent founder de- 

 sired it to be — an active and efficient instrument for the increase and 

 diffusion of knowledge. 



The statue which will now be unveiled has been erected by the 

 United States as a token of gratitude for the labors of his useful life, 

 and for his faithful administration of the important public trust so long 

 in his keeping. 



