l'l{()('KKI)IN(iS OK THE BOARD OK KEGENTS. XXIII 



Sli;il! 1 adiiiit tlint on lakiuK possession ol" my post as consul at Gonoa, I 

 (lid not oven know wlio James Smitlison wasV I may say that I was surprised 

 to loai-n tiiaf he was Ituried at Genoa: more surprised still that he was an 

 Eni^lisjiman. who had never even set foot in America. He left his jjcreat bequest 

 to the United States, then in its infancy, through achniring confidence in our 

 future. It is likely that many, or even most, Americ;ins Jire in the same condi- 

 tion as was I myself; for occasion has rarely arisen for taking thought as to 

 the i)ersonality of the man. II:ii)|)ily this unenlightened condition of mind is 

 aliout to (■e;ise. 



Dr. (iraham I'.ell, 1 wish you a lu>arty godsiu'cul across the ocean with your 

 precious freight, 'i'lie .\nierican iieople will i-eceive it with general gratification, 

 ;ind, through the Smithsonian Institution, will soon delight to pay it great honor. 



HKMAUKS OF A I.KX A M)KK (lUAIIAM I'AAA. JN BKSPO.NSE TO Till: AIJOVK. 



Mr. Consul: It is with feelings of deep emotion that I undertake the trans- 

 Itortation of the remains of James Smitlison from the cemetery where they have 

 so long rei)osed to their last resting place in the United States. 



*)n behalf of the Smithsonian Institution allow me to thank you, Mr. Consul, 

 for the unwearied zeal and care with which you have given me your assistance. 

 Without your active cooperation and without your personal sympathy it would 

 have been difficult indeed for me to have accomplished the object of my mission 

 here. 



On behalf of the Smithsonian Institution, I beg to thank you, too, Mr. Noel 

 FiCes, for your courtesy and attention; and trust that you will convey to His 

 r.ritisli Majesty's consul-general and to the committee of the British Church 

 lUirial Ground Fund my thanks and the thanks of the Institution I represent 

 for their ready assistance in furthering my nussioii. 



The United States of America will provide in Washington, D. C, a suitable 

 and permanent resting place for the remains of her great benefactor, James 

 Smithson, through the instrumentality of the Smithsonian Institution — the 

 establishment created by the Government to perpetuate his name. 



REMARKS OF NOEL LEES, ESQ. 



[On belialf of the P.ritisli F.iirial (Iround Fund ("oiumittee.] 



Dr. Graham Bell : I beg to thank you heartily for the words you have said 

 with regard to the aid you have received from the burial board and myself. 

 Although we regret to l©se the remains of James Smithson, we at the same 

 time feel that in the country to which he left his money, with such charitable 

 intent, his remains will receive the honor and glory which have so long been 

 due to them, and we must understand that our loss is America's gain. To us 

 it will always remain a pleasant memory that, from the date of his burial 

 to the present day, we have had in our custody in this picturesque little 

 churchyard the remains of a man whose foresight and kindness have enabled 

 so many in the New ^^■oI•ld to ixMietit. 



Upon the coiiclusioii of these remarks the remains of James Smith- 

 son were transported to the North (xernian Lloy<l steamship Princess 

 /reitc, accompanied by tlie American consul and myself. The steamer 

 left (lenoa for New Yoi-k on the Tth of ffamiai-y, li)()4, tonchin<»; at 

 Naples and (xihraltar on the way. The American consid at Naples, 

 General Byinglon, contributed an Amerit-an Hag to cover the wooden 

 coiRii containing the remains. 



