INTRODUCTION. 



On the death of Joseph Henry, who for the third of a century 

 had administered the operations of the Smithsonian Institution, as 

 its first Secretary and executive officer, — with honor to himself and 

 credit and distinction to the Institution, — the Board of Regents felt 

 that in grateful appreciation of one whose services in the advance- 

 ment of science, no less than in the promotion of the interests of the 

 ( ieneral < rovernment, had been so conspicuous and so valuable, some 

 formal and public memorial was pre-eminently fitting. Accord- 

 ingly, at a meeting of the Regents held on the day following the 

 funeral, the Executive Committee of the Board (consisting of Dr. 

 Parker, Dr. Maclean and General Sherman) were requested to make 

 arrangements for a public commemoration in honor of the late 

 Secretary, "of such a character and at such time as they may deter- 



mine." 



In pursuance of this instruction, the said Committee, through 

 the Hon. Hiester Clymer, a Regent, and a Member of the House of 

 Representatives, presented the subject to the attention of Congress. 



In the House of Representatives. 

 Monday, December 9, 1878. 



Mr. CLYMER. (Member from Pennsylvania.) "I ask unanimous 

 consent to submit fur adoption at this time a concurrent resolution, 

 to which I think there will be no objection." 



The concurrent resolution was read, as follows: 



"Resolved by the House of Representatives, (the Senate concurring,) 

 That the Congress of the United States will take part in the services 

 to be observed on Thursday evening, January 1(>, 1879, in honor 

 of the memory of Joseph Henry, late Secretary of the Smith- 

 sonian Institution, under the auspices of the Regents thereof, and 

 for that purpose the Senators and Representatives will assemble on 

 that evening in the Hall of the House of Representatives, the Vice- 

 President, supported by the Speaker of the House, to preside on 

 that occasion." 



There being no objection, the resolution was adopted. 



