164 BOARD OF REGENTS. 



The Secretary brought before the Board the subject of the pay of 

 the assistants ; which, after some remarks, was referred to the Sec- 

 retary and the Executive Committee. 



Professor Bache made the following remarks : 



Mr. Gustavus "Wiirdemann, in charge of the tidal observations of the Coast Survey 

 on the Florida reefs and Gulf of Mexico, died at his home in New Jersey on the 30th 

 of September. His health had been failing for some years, and during the last year 

 he had discharged his duties with great difficulty, owing to great physical debility. 

 Mr. Wiirdemann entered the survey under my predecessor, and served throughout a 

 somewhat extended career, with a fidelity and singleness of purpose that has never 

 been exceeded. Exact truthfulness was the leading trait of his character, and his 

 observations, even the most minute, were always reliable. It is easily seen that it is 

 no exaggeration to say that such a man was invaluable in his place, and an example 

 worthy to be held up as the type of faithfulness. During the discharge of his labo- 

 rious duties he found time and opportunity to make collections in natural history, 

 which have been acknowledged by the Smithsonian Institution as among the most 

 valuable contributions to the knowledge of the fauna of Florida. 



On motion of Professor Bache, the following resolution was 

 unanimously adopted : 



Resolved, That the Eegents of the Smithsonian Institution have learned with regret 

 the decease of Gustavus Wiirdemann, tidal observer in the Coast Survey, whose col- 

 lections of specimens from the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, and especially of the 

 birds of Florida, liberally furnished to the Smithsonian Institution, have proved of 

 great importance in increasing our knowledge of the natural history of the southern 

 part of the United States. 



Resolved, That this resolution be communicated to the widow of Mr. Wiirdemann. 



The Secretary read the following authentic notice, which had 

 appeared in a recent periodical, respecting the late Professor Cleave- 

 land : 



" Professor Parker Cleaveland died on the 15th of October, 1858. He was born in 

 Rowley, (Byfield parish,) Massachusetts, January 15, 1780; graduated at Harvard 

 College in 1799 ; taught school and studied law until 1800, when he was appointed 

 tutor in mathematics in Harvard College. He was made professor of mathematics and 

 natural philosophy, chemistry and mineralogy in Bowdoin College in 1805, and dis- 

 charged with distinguished ability the extended duties of that professorship until 

 1828, when a professor of mathematics was appointed, and he was relieved from that 

 part of his labor. He continued to be the professor in the other departments until his 

 death. He became widely known in the United States, and in Europe, by his early 

 and successful treatise on mineralogy and geology, published in 181G, and in a second 

 edition in 1822. A third was called for, and he labored in its preparation more or less 

 for thirty-five years, leaving it nearly ready for the press. His high reputation as a 

 lecturer was spread through the country by a succession of graduates of Bowdoin Col- 

 lege of more than fifty years. He was a member of the American Academy of Arts 

 and Sciences, and of many literary and scientific societies in this country and in 

 Europe. In 1824, the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws was conferred on him by 

 Bowdoin College. In private life he was universally respected for his unblemished 

 moral character, and his genial and affable disposition. His death called forth unu- 

 sual and remarkable demonstrations of respect to his character and memory. In 

 June, 1853, he was elected an honorary member of the Smithsonian Institution." 



On motion of Mr. Douglas the following resolutions were adopted : 



Resolved, That the Regents of this Institution have learned with deep regret of the 

 decease of Professor Parker Cleaveland, of Bowdoin College, one of the honorary 

 members of this establishment, who was highly esteemed on account of his labors as 

 a man of science and a teacher, and whose memory will be held in grateful remem- 

 brance. 



Resolved, That the Regents offer to the family of the deceased their sincere condo- 

 lence at the loss which they and the country have sustained. 



