PROCEEDrNGS OP THE BOARD OF REGENTS. XVII 



expired ])y limitation and all assets in the hands of the trustee were to be 

 conveyed to the United States of America to be held as a portion of the 

 funds of the Smithsonian Institution, and to be known as the " Sprague 

 Fund." One-half of the income of this fund was to be added to the 

 principal each year; the other half to be exjoended under the direction 

 of the Institution, in such manner as would " best promote the advance- 

 ment of the physical sciences " by the giving' of free lectures, provid- 

 ing laboratory facilities for original scientific research, publishing the 

 results' of such researches, or by awarding medals or other rewards 

 for meritorious discoveries. The half of the gross income authorized 

 to be expended annually in this manner was to be cumulative, and any 

 portion not expended during one year might be expended during any 

 subsequent year. 



The Secretary continued that it had not yet been possible to obtain 

 an inventory of the value of the estate, but he might mention that in 

 a newspaj^er estimate it was represented at $200,000. 



TWO-HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ROYAL PRUSSIAN ACADEMY OF 



SCIENCES. 



The Royal Prussian Academy of Sciences having invited the Smith- 

 sonian Institution to participate in the celebration of the two-hundredth 

 anniversary of its foundation, on the 19th and 20th of March, 1900, 

 the Hon. Andrew D. White, United States Ambassador at Berlin, and 

 member of the Board of Regents, was requested to represent the Insti- 

 tution on this noteworthy occasion. A suitably engrossed address, 

 conveying the congratulations of the Institution, and transmitted 

 through the Department of State to Dr. AVhite, was presented by him 

 to the Prussian Academy and cordialh' acknowledged in terms of which 

 the following is a summary: 



The Royal Prussian Academy expresses tlie most sincere thanks for the interest 

 the Smithsonian Institution has taken in the celebration of its two-hundredth anni- 

 versary. The expression of this friendly interest lias added greatly to the success 

 and jjleasure of these commemorative exercises throughout their entire course. 



For a lasting memorial of this anniversary the Academy sends a description of the 

 festival, which it begs tlie Institution to place in its archives. This record will 

 derive its chief value from the ad(b'esses and memorials attached to it. 



An interesting letter from Dr. White was laid before the Regents. 

 It described the exercises as having been of an exceptional interest. 

 The}' took place in the Royal Palace, where the King and Emperor 

 received the entire body of guests in state, surrounded by the high 

 functionaries of the Kingdom bearing the Royal insignia, while the 

 monarch from the throne delivered a very interesting address of wel- 

 come. Later there were entertainments in honor of the delegates not 

 only by the King, but by the C'hancellor of the Empire and others. 

 On the second day occurred a general reception in the great hall of 

 SM 1901 II 



