10 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



cemetery, as well as by our own consul, Mr. William Henry Bishop, to whom I am 

 much indebted for his valued services. 



On the 31st of December, 1903, the tomb of Smithson was opened in my presence, 

 as the representative of the Smithsonian Institution, and in the presence of the 

 American consul and six other witnesses. The remains of Smithson were reverently 

 raised from the grave and placed in a metallic casket, over which the consul of the 

 United States cast the American flag, while the witnesses stood around with uncov- 

 ered heads. The casket was then left in the mortuary chapel of the cemetery, 

 securely sealed and under guard, until the 2d of January, when it was placed in a 

 coftin of strong wood, as demanded by Italian law, and was then transported to the 

 North (ierman Lloyd steamship Princess Irene, accompanied by the American consul 

 and myself. 



The steamer sailed from Genoa on the 7th of January, and upon arrival in the 

 United States, the remains of Smithson were received with national honors by direc- 

 tion of the President, and of the Secretary of the Navy and the Secretary of War. 



The remains were brought to Washington on board the U. S. dispatch boat Dol- 

 jMn, and have been escorted to the Smithsonian Institution by United States cavalry. 



And now, Mr. Senator, my mission is ended, and I deliver into your hands, as the 

 representative of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, the remains 

 of this great benefactor of the United States. 



Senator Fr3'e replied: 



Sir: The Smithsonian Institution receives with profound gratitude the remains of 

 its distinguished founder. Providence, every now and then, seems to place in the 

 world a man and inspires him with a purpose to elevate his fellow men. Such a 

 man was Mr. Smithson, the founder of this Institution. The spirit, sir, which 

 prompted you to such earnest endeavor, resulting as it did in taking these remains 

 from their resting place in a country foreign to him and foreign to us, and bringing 

 them here where for so many years we have enjoyed the rich fruits of his splendid 

 benefaction, your countrymen will appreciate. His grave here will be an incentive 

 to earnest, faithful, wise, and discreet endeavor to carry out Iiis lofty purposes, and, 

 sir, it will be to our people a sacred si)ot while the Repuljlic endures. 



The i)rief but inipi-essive ceremonies of the occasion conchtded with 

 the following prayer, offered by the Rev. Dr. Randolph H. McKiin: 



Almighty God, eternal source of light and truth, by whose wise providence all 

 things in heaven and earth are governed, we give thee thanks that thou didst put 

 into the heart of thy servant whose dust we receive with reverence here to-day, to 

 lay the foundation of this school of science, and we pray thee that it may more and 

 more be instrumental in the true interpretation of the laws of nature, and in unveil- 

 ing to the mind of man the glory of God in the work of his hands, to the end that 

 for all the generations to come this Institution may be a beacon light of truth and of 

 progress, to the glory of God and to the good of mankind. All this we beg through 

 Him by whom all things were made, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. 



The remains rest temporarily in a room which contains the few per- 

 sonal relics of Smithson, until their final disposal by the Regents. 



ADMINISTRATION. 



In view of the ever-increasing responsi))ilities imposed upon the 

 Institution, both by the administration of its own fund and the several 

 dependencies placed by Congress under its direction, a .system has 

 been from year to year carefully worked out, which, while retaining 



