XXX PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS. 



I tbereupoii ((Uisultod with Mr. Langley who assured me that all foriualities 

 were hein;; arransjced so that the remains might be admitted into this country 

 without delay. On Sunday, January 10. I cabled to you at Gibraltar as 

 lollows : 



" Bell. J'rincrfi.s Jrciic, GihraJtar. 



"Congratulations. Formalities arranged. 



" Gilbert Grosvenor." 



On Monday. J.anuary 11, I received the following cablegram from you : 



" Gibraltar, Janiiari/ 11. 1901). 

 "Gilbert GKOsvE^"^OR, Washington. D. C. 



" Hope Smithson's remains will be received with as much honor as those of 

 John Howard Payne. Notify liie at quarantine what to expect. 



" Graham Bell." 



Upon receipt of this message I called upon Dr. S. P. Langley and expressed 

 your desire that suitable honors be rendered James Smithson upon the arrival 

 of the remains in this country. I then addressed the following letter to the 

 Pi-esident of the Ignited States, Hon. Theodore Roosevelt : 



" HinBAKi) Memorial Hall. 

 ''WasJiiiifftoii. D. ('.. ./an nary 11. IDOJ/. 

 "Sib: The remains of James Smithson. the founder of the Smithsonian Insti- 

 tution, are now being brought to the United States by Dr. Alexander Graham 

 Bell, one of the Regents of the Institution. The remains left Gibraltar this 

 morning on the steamer Princess Irene, and are due in New York about the 20th 

 instant. Dr. Graham Bell has cabled me urging that the remains be received 

 with as nuich honor as those of John Howard Payne. It would seem most 

 appropriate that a Government vessel, a ship of war. a revenue cutter, or even 

 a tug, be detailed to meet the I'rinress Irene when she enters the harlwr of New 

 York and receive Smithson's remains. This official tribute from the American 

 nation seems due a man who bequeathed his entire fortune to a people whom he 

 had never seen. As the time is urgent I take the liberty of addressing you 

 directly, rather than through oHicial channels. I would respectfully beg, in 

 case your honor does not deem it .^tting to order detailed a vessel to welcome 

 Smithson in the harl)or of New York, that I be so informed at once, in order 

 th.'it jirivate plans for paying honor to this illustrious benefactor may then be 

 carried out. 



" I beg to remain, most i-espec(fully, 



"Gilbert H. (Jrosvenor. 

 " Hon. Theodore Roosevelt, 



"President of the VnHe(t States.'' 



On Tuesday, January 12, I received word from the Secretary of the Navy that 

 my request for a Mar ship had been approved by the President, and I was asked 

 to send a formal ai)i)lication for the detail of the Dolphin. I thereupon for- 

 warded the following application: 



"January 12, 1904. 

 " Sir: Pursuant to the request from the Secretary of the Navy. I beg herewith 

 formally .nnd respectfully to itetition that the Dolphin be det:iil'ed to receive the 

 remains of James Smithson, the founder of the Smithsonian Institution, in New 

 York Harbor and convey them to WashingtoiL 1 beg to remain, 

 ■' :Most respectfully, 



" Gilbert H. Grosvenor. 

 " Hon. Theodore Roosevelt, 



"President of the United States, Washington." 



The Dolphin was thereupon detailed and ordered to New York. 



On January IS I called upon the Chief of Staff, Lieut. Gen. Adna R. Chaffee, 

 and reipiested a military escort to receive the remains of James Smithson when 

 they rcMcbed this city, and on Jainiary P.) forwarded llie following formal 

 aiii)lication : 



" Jani'arv is. 1!»(»4. 



"Sir: The remains of James Smithson. the founder (if the Smithsonian Institu- 

 tion, will reach Washington on Friday or Saturd.ay of this week. The remains 



