ADDRESS OF PROF. S. NEWCOMB. 453 



" 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 committee, 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 Smithsonian Insti- 

 tution 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 individuals and 

 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 investigator of so 

 much eminence to take charge of the establishment. Professor Henry 

 was elected on December 3, 1846, and signified his acceptance a few 

 days later. It was a frequent remark of his in after years that he 

 had never 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 the one on which he entered with 

 most hesitation. 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 promi- 

 nent field of activity, and was held in the highest esteem by the 

 authorities of the college. 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 into 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 could be satisfied was 



