76 The Smithsonian Institution 



In 1892, General Montgomery C. Meigs, U. S. A., who 

 had been for seventeen years a member of the Executive 

 Committee, died, and Doctor Coppee, in a memorial record 

 presented at the annual meeting, said: 



" His valuable services to the Institution began, indeed, 

 before he was officially connected with it as Regent, and con- 

 tinued until his death, rendering most important service in 

 1876 by designing the new building for the National Mu- 

 seum, a marvel of economic design. Directly upon his en- 

 trance into the Board, December 26, 1885, he became an 

 active member of its Executive Committee. He was always 

 present, extremely painstaking, and eminently judicious in 

 his counsel and judgment on important points of business and 

 policy. He had just been nominated as Regent for another 

 term of six years when he was taken away from us by sudden 

 illness. Few Regents have been of such importance to the 

 Institution." 



Appropriate action was taken at the meeting held on Jan- 

 uary 23, 1895, by the adoption of suitable resolutions in 

 honor of the memory of President Welling. On that oc- 

 casion Doctor Coppee said : 



" Doctor Welling was one of the most valuable citizens 

 of Washington, to whom was confided many trusts, among 

 them the presidency of the Columbian University and the 

 chairmanship of the Executive Committee of this Institution ; 

 and he did well everything that was confided to him. He 

 was a man pure in thought, honest in purpose and action, 

 and intelligent in judgment. He held a ready pen, and how 

 polished his public utterances were, all here would remember 

 who had heard him when he presented papers and other 

 matters before this Board." 



Also the following tribute to his interest in the Institution 

 was made by Secretary Langley : 



