XXXVIII JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS. 



not be present at Wasbingtoii as it would give me very great satisfac- 

 tion to honor the memory of onr late distiuguishecl Secretary for the 

 singular fidelity, forecast, and devotion with which he has discharged 

 the manifold duties of this office, and the eminent success which has 

 crowned his enterprising labors. Under his administration the Smith- 

 sonian Institution has enlarged its sphere of usefulness and activity 

 and has established itself most firmly in the confidence and esteem of 

 the American people. The direct services which the late Secretary 

 rendered to the wealth and welfare of the American people through 

 his connection with the Fish Commission and the honor which he 

 gained for his country abroad are too well known to need any com- 

 ment, while his personal simplicity and integrity are above all praise. 

 Very respectfully, 



Noah Porter. 

 S. P. Langley, Esq., 



Acting Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. 



The Chancellor, Chief Justice Waite, then made the following re- 

 marks : 



Gentlemen of the Board of Regents: It is my sad duty to 

 announce to you the death of Spencer Fullerton Baird, ll. d., the 

 Secretary of the Institution, at Wood's Holl, Mass., on the 19th day of 

 August last. Professor Baird was appointed by the lamented Professor 

 Henry, while Secretary of the Institution, on the 5th of July, 1850, 

 under the authority of this Board, to the office of Assistant Secretary 

 " in the department of natural history, to take charge of the Museum, 

 and to render such other assistance as the Secretary may require." 

 He entered at once on the performance of his duties, and until the 

 death of Professor Henry, nearly 28 years afterwards, filled his place 

 with great ability, and to the entire satisfaction of his distinguished 

 chief and of the Regents. 



Professor Henry died on the I'Sth of May, 1878, and on the 17th of 

 the same month Professor Baird was unanimously chosen his successor 

 as Secretary of the Institution. From that day until he died he was 

 faithful to every duty of his high office, and devoted himself untiringly 

 to giving effect to the will of our munificent founder by the " increase 

 and diffusion of knowledge among men." 



As his death occurred when some of you were absent in Europe, and 

 others away in different parts of this country, it was found impracti- 

 cable to get au extraordinary meeting of the Board to take action upon 

 the deplorable event at that time. We have now met for that purpose 

 and I invite your special attention to the subject. 



Senator Justin S. Morrill moved that Prof. S. P. Langley be appointed 

 to fill the vacancy in the office of Secretary created by the death of 

 Professor Baird. 



It having been represented that the Executive Committee had pre- 

 pared a minute of proceedings to be submitted to the Board, and that 

 paper having been called for, it was read by the chairman, Dr. J. C. 

 Welling : 



