THE REMOVAL OF THE REMAINS OF 

 JAMES SMITHSON 



By S. p. LANGLEY 



The remains of James Smithson, founder of the Smithsonian 

 Institution, who died June 27, 1829, at Genoa, Italy, were deposited 

 in the httle cemetery belon.s^ing to the EngHsh Church, on the 

 Heights of San Benigno, a soHtary spot planted with cypress trees, 

 and looking down upon the Gulf of Genoa. In 1891 the Secretary 

 of the Institution visited the grave, and, with the approval of the 

 Regents, deposited with the Secretary of the English Church Fund 

 a small sum to invest in Italian five-percent rentes, for its perpetual 

 care. It was visited on two later occasions by the Secretary, who 

 placed a bronze tablet containing a bas-relief of Smithson, in the 

 English Church, and one also at the tomb, whence it was subsequently 

 stolen. 



At this time it was understood that there was a probability that 

 before many years the site of the cemetery might be required by the 

 Italian authorities, and the following communication to this effect 

 was made to the Secretary on the 24th of November, 1900, by the 

 Committee of the British Burial Ground : 



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