30 EEPORT OF THE SECEETABY. 



of success. It is expected that the expedition will remain on Mount 

 Wilson until late in the autumn. 



I take this opportunity^ to express my obligation to the Carnegie 

 Institution and to Professor Hale and his coworkers for the aid 

 and counsel thej^' have so generously extended in furthering the 

 objects of the expedition. 



Additional details of the work of the Astrophysical Observatory 

 will be found in the report of the aid acting in charge. 



NECROLOGY. 



ORVILLE HITCHCOCK PLATT. 



It is wdth a keen j^ersonal regret that I have to record the death 

 on April 22, 1905, of Senator Orville H. Piatt, of Connecticut, who 

 for six years had served on the Board of Regents, and who at all 

 times took much personal interest in the w^elfare of the Institution. 



Senator Piatt was born in Washington, Conn., July 19, 1827, 

 After an academic education he undertook the study of law at Litch- 

 lield. He was admitted to the bar in 1849, and practiced at Meriden. 

 He became secretary of state of Connecticut in 1857. In 1861-62 

 he was a State senator; later he served as a member of the State 

 house of representatives and as speaker of that body. From 1879 

 until the time of his death he was United States Senator from his 

 native State, and his public life belongs to his country. I shall not 

 add here my poor testimony to that of the history which will record 

 his contribution to the national good. He was a man honored by 

 all and best loved by those who best knew him. 



Respectfully submitted. 



S. P. Langley, 

 Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. 



