JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE SMITH- 
SONTAN INSTITUTION. 
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 
Washington, January 28, 1891. 
In accordance with aresolution of the Board of Regents of the Smith- 
sonian Institution, fixing the time of the beginning of the annual ses- 
sion on the fourth* Wednesday of January in each year, the Board met 
to-day at 10 o’clock A. M. 
Present, Chief-Justice FULLER, Chancellor of the Institution, Hon. 
J.S. MORRILL, Hon. S. M. CULLom, Hon. R. L. Grsson, Hon. H. C. 
LopGE. Hon. JOSEPH WHEELER, Dr. HENRY CoPPEE, Dr. JAMES 
C. WELLING, Gen. M.C. Meigs, Dr. ANDREW D. WHITE, and the 
Secretary. 
The minutes of the last meeting (January 8, 1890) were read and 
approved. 
A letter from Dr. J. B. ANGELL was read, stating the reasons for 
his absence from the meeting. 
The Secretary informed the Board that the following resolution had 
been passed by Congress and approved May 22, 1890: 
No, 23. Joint resolution to fill vacancies in the Board of Regents of the Smith- 
sonian Institution. 
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled, That the vacancies in the Board 
of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, of the class other than mem- 
bers of Congress, shall be filled by the appointment of Charles Devens, 
of Massachusetts, in place of Noah Porter, of Connecticut, resigned ; 
and by the appointment of James C. Welling, of Washington City, 
whose term of office has expired. 
Approved, May 22, 1890. 
The Secretary read a letter from Judge Devens, September 20, 1890, 
declining the honor of the position of one of the Regents of the Smith- 
sonian Institution, on account of a provision in the constitution of the 
State of Massachusetts, that ‘ Justices of the supreme judicial court 
“Resolution of the Board, January 8, 1890. 
