70 The Smithsonian Institution 



"The relation borne by Mr. Seaton to the city of Wash- 

 ington, the delight with which he watched and aided its pro- 

 gress, a certain native taste also for artistic embellishment, 

 led him to take special interest in the architectural character 

 of the Smithsonian building and the ornamentation of the 

 public grounds around it. 



" Mr. Seaton was a constant attendant at the meetings of 

 the Board of Regents, and from his familiarity with the early 

 history of the Institution and the state of the funds, as well 

 as from his long experience in public office, was enabled to 

 offer suggestions, always marked by clearness of conception 

 and soundness of judgment. The social attentions which he 

 was accustomed to extend to the Regents, especially those 

 who were called from abroad to attend the annual meetings, 

 and to gentlemen invited to lecture before the Institution, 

 were but the expression of his characteristic hospitality ; but 

 by thus adding to the pleasure of their sojourn in Wash- 

 ington, he contributed largely to increase the number of its 

 friends and supporters. The columns of the ' National Intelli- 

 gencer,' under his direction, were always open to the defense 

 of the policy adopted and the course pursued by the Insti- 

 tution, and he rarely failed to soften, by the courtesy of his 

 manner and the moderation of his expressions, any irritable 

 feeling which might arise in the discussion of conflicting 

 opinions. It would, indeed, be difficult to say in how many 

 and in what various ways he contributed to the popularity as 

 well as to the true interests of the Institution. The Secretary, 

 who was in the habit of conferring with him on all points 

 requiring mature deliberation, may with justice acknowledge 

 that he never failed to derive important assistance from the 

 wisdom of his counsels." 



At a meeting on February 22, 1867, similar resolutions 

 were passed in honor of the memory of Professor Alexander 

 Dallas Bache, who had served as a Regent and one of the 

 Executive Committee from its first organization to the time of 

 his death. In a eulogy prepared by Professor Henry, at the 



