JOSEPH HENRY 133 



"Your committee will not withhold their opinion that upon 

 the choice of this single officer, more probably than on any other 

 act of the Board, will depend the future good name and success 

 and usefulness of the Smithsonian Institution." 



Previous to the election of Secretary the following resolution, 

 from the same comittee, was adopted by the Board: 



"Resolved, That it is essential, for the advancement of the 

 proper interests of the trust, that the Secretary of the Smithso- 

 nian Institution be a man possessing weight of character, and a 

 high grade of talent; and that it is further desirable that he possess 

 eminent scientific and general acquirements; that he be a man 

 capable of advancing science and promoting letters by original 

 research and effort, well qualified to act as a respected channel of 

 communication between the Institution and scientific and literary 

 societies in this and foreign countries; and, in a word, a man 

 worthy to represent before the world of science and of letters the 

 Institution over which this Board presides." 



Although couched in general terms it may be supposed that 

 these expressions had direct reference to the subject of our notice, 

 and were meant to justify the Board in selecting a scientific inves- 

 tigator of so much eminence to take charge of the establishment. 

 Professor Henry was elected on December 3, 1846, and signified 

 his accceptance a few days later. It was a frequent remark of his 

 in after years th^| hp h^ n^v^r sought a position, and had never 

 accepted one without fear and trembling. Of the few positions 

 he ever accepted we might well suppose that this was one on which 

 he entered with most hesitation. Held in the highest esteem by 

 the authorities of the college, his position at Princeton was in 

 every respect most agreeable. His enthusiasm as a teacher could 

 not fail to bring around him an appreciative body of pupils. He 

 was not moved by any merely worldly ambition to seek a larger 

 and more prominent field of activity. He thus enjoyed what is 

 almost the happiest lot of man, that of living in a community 

 suited to his tastes and pursuits, and of being held in consideration 

 by all with whom he came in contact. He was now to take a 

 position around which had raged for eight years a conflict of 

 opinion which might at any time break out anew. That all parties 



