48 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



Soutlun'ii Jii'my. Most of his service was rendered on staff duty, and 

 was regarded by his superiors as of the hig-hest vahie. 



Soon after General Lee was called to the presidency of AVashington 

 and Lee University, he assigned to Mr. Johnston the chair of litera- 

 ture and history in that institution. The duties were most congenial 

 to him, and with marked success he held the position for ten years. 

 While there he wrote the well-known biography of his father. 



In 1880 he was called to the presidency of the University of Louisi- 

 ana at Baton Rouge. With characteristic vigor he set about the task 

 of lifting it from its apparentl}^ moribund condition. When in 1883 

 Paul Tulane set apart a most generous sum for the (nidowment of the 

 iiistitution which now bears his nam(\ Colonel Johnston was asked to 

 organize the new university. With nuich tact and wisdom, he, with 

 others, made a successful endeavor to merge the State University and 

 the Tulane University in one institution, over which he presided with 

 signal efficiency to the da}' of his death. Tulane University comprises 

 several departments, and holds a most conspicuous position among 

 the universities of the South. It is the general verdict of those most 

 familiar with its history that its success has been largely, if not mainly, 

 due to the Avisdom. learning, and influence of our lamented colleague. 



President Johnston was not onl}' a successful administrator, hut he 

 was also a waiter of decided literar}- merit. His essays on literary 

 su])jects and his occasional addresses are of a high type of excellence. 

 He has also printed at least two volumes of poems that breathe the 

 deeply religious spirit which was one of the marked characteristics of 

 the author. 



President Johnston was held in the highest esteem l)y all who knew 

 him on account of his dignity, sincerity, and elevation of spirit. 



For several years past he has had to contend in the discharge of his 

 important official duties with a serious bronchial affection which was 

 very debilitating. But his fidelitv to his trusts and his invincible 

 energy held him firmly at his post until the end of his days. 



He was deeply interested in the work of the Smithsonian Institu- 

 tion. We wish hereby to record the expression of our sense of the 

 great loss we have sustained in his death. 



The following resolutions Avere then adopted by the Board: 



Whereas the Regents of the Smithsonian Institution are called upon 

 to mourn the death, on July 16, 1899, of William Preston Johnston, 

 LL. D., president of Tulane University, and a member of this board 

 since 1892, 



Be it resolved, That the Regents desire to place on record an expres- 

 sion of their sense of the great loss thej^ have suffered in the decease 

 of their esteemed colleague, their high appreciation of his profound 

 scholarship and literary gifts, of his wise and conspicuous influence 

 in the promotion of sound learning, of his })rilliant and useful career 

 as a teacher and as an administrator of universities, of his sincere 

 devotion to the interests of this Institution, and of his pure and noble 

 character, which conuuanded the respect and affection of all who knew 

 him. 



liesolved, That these resolutions be placed upon the records of the 

 Institution, that a copy be comnuinicated to the family of President 

 Johnston, and that we, the Regents, convey the assurance of deep 

 sympathy with them in their affliction. 



