The Benefactors 241 



from the Institute of France in 1880, and with this, and con- 

 siderable additions, he founded in 1883 the Volta Bureau, and 

 erected a building in Georgetown, where it is installed. It 

 includes a library and facilities for investigations into the 

 condition of the deaf and dumb, in which subject Doctor 

 Bell has always continued to take a deep interest. 



In his adopted country, Doctor Bell's contributions to 

 science have been recognized by an election, in 1883, to the 

 National Academy of Sciences, and the recent conferment 

 of the degree of LL.D., while the decoration of the Legion 

 of Honor has been received by him from the French gov- 

 ernment. 



In 1891 Thomas George Hodgkins gave $200,000 to the 

 Smithsonian Institution, stipulating that while that sum should 

 be included with the original Smithson Foundation, the in- 

 come of one-half of it should be devoted to researches and 

 investigations on atmospheric air in connection with the wel- 

 fare of man. Subsequent to his death an additional sum of 

 nearly $50,000 was received by the Institution from his es- 

 tate, making the total gift one of about a quarter of a million 

 dollars. 



Mr. Hodgkins was born in London, England, in 1803, 

 and died in Setauket, Long Island, on November 25, 1892. 

 His ancestors were clergymen, and belonged to the class of 

 English gentlemen, but his father, who was in reduced cir- 

 cumstances, was unable to keep him at Eton or Harrow, 

 and sent him to France, where he remained for his educa- 

 tion until he was about fifteen years old. During this time 

 his language, habits, and manners, became rather French 

 than English. 



He returned to England; but troubles with a stepmother 

 made his home unbearable, and, against the urgent entreaty 



