PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS. XV 



Addison T. Be id case. — The surrogate in Brooklyn has decided in 

 accordance with the Institution's view of the construction of the will, 

 and matters arc left in shape for the Institution to avail itself of the 

 bequest at some future time. 



On motion the report was accepted and ordered tiled. 



KEPORT OF THE SPECIAE COMMITTEE OX THE FINAL DISPOSITION OF 

 THE REMAINS OF JAMES SMITHSON. 



The Chancellor, as chairman of the committee, reported as follows: 



At a meeting on December 6, 1904, the Board of Eegents adopted the following 

 resolution : 



^'Resolved, That the special committee, having in charge the matter of the final 

 disj^osition of the remains of James Smithson, be authorize! to receive the original 

 tomb and to place it, suitably inscribed, with the remains, in some proper position 

 that the}' may select in the grounds of the Institution; the expenses involved in the 

 matter to be met from the funds of the Institution." 



Your committee having directed the shipping of the tomlj to this country, it 

 arrived in the port of New York and has just been brought on here. It is tempora- 

 lily set up near the Institution. It is a most modest structure, but sufficient in its 

 place in a cemetery surrounded by other tombs. Your committee would like to 

 have the Regents see it before they place it permanently in any conspicuous exter- 

 nal position. Should the Regents please to authorize the committee to place it 

 within the Institution, at least temporarily, they will find a place for it. 



After realizing the insufficiency of the tomb for an external site, your committee 

 have some hesitation in choosing a place for it in the open grounds of the Institution 

 under the terms of the resolution, but would probably place it immediately north 

 of the present building. Your committee feel that in that case, some accessory 

 would be necessary. 



The adoption of this report will be considered by the committee as authorizing 

 them to place the tomb and remains within the Institution, at least temporarily. 



Repectfully submitted. 



Melville W. Fuller, Chairman. 



On motion the report was adopted. 



FREER COLLECTION. 



The Secretary said that during the early part of the year 1904: he 

 had had an interview at the Institution with Mr. Charles L. Freer, of 

 Detroit, who was desirous of giving- his valuable collection of objects 

 of American and oriental art to the Smithsonian Institution or to the 

 United States Government on certain conditions. Mr. Freer had 

 outlined orally the extent of the collection, its cost, and the conditions 

 under which he proposed to make the offer. 



The Secretary had brought the matter ])efore the executive com- 

 mittee, and he read a letter which he had sent to Mr. Freer reciting 

 his understanding of the collection and conditions of gift, and which, 

 further, contained the following action of the committee: 



The executive committee, having heard with interest and apprecia^'icn the state- 

 ment l^y Secretary Langley of the proposition and views of Mr. Charles L. Freer, 



SM 1905 2 



