74 The Smithsonian Institution 



longer. Few men seemed to possess greater power for good. 

 He died as he lived, an honor to human nature." 



At a meeting on January 21, 1885, on the occasion of the 

 resignation of Doctor Peter Parker from the Board, resolu- 

 tions were passed expressing "high appreciation of the valu- 

 able and efficient services he had rendered to the Institution, 

 for, when required, he had worked without weariness and 

 watched without flagging, even after he had begun to feel the 

 burden of age." 



On the occasion of the death of Chancellor Waite, in 1888, 

 it was by the Regents resolved : 



"That while an obvious sense of propriety must dictate 

 that we should leave to others in that great forum which was 

 the chosen arena of his life's career the sad privilege of depict- 

 ing, with minute and detailed analysis, the remarkable com- 

 bination of strong and lovely traits which met in the person 

 of the late Chief Justice and gave to the symmetrical char- 

 acter of our beloved friend its blended sweetness and light, 

 we cannot omit, even in this hour of our special sorrow, to 

 bear our cheerful testimony to the pleasing amenity with 

 which he presided over the deliberations of this council 

 chamber as the Chancellor of the Smithsonian Institution ; 

 and sharing, as we all do, in a profound admiration for the 

 intelligence he brought to our discussions while ever moder- 

 ating them by the guidance of his clear thought and mild 

 wisdom, we can but render our reverent homage to the en- 

 gaging personal qualities which endeared him to us as a man, 

 while at the same time gratefully confessing our obligations 

 to him for the provident care and deep interest which he 

 always brought to the discharge of his official duties in this 

 place, where, through all the years of his honorable and use- 

 ful service at the head of this Board, the Secretary of the In- 

 stitution, in common with ourselves, has leaned on him as the 

 wise and true counsellor who could be trusted as well for the 



