JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS. XVII 



of the Hodgkins bequest largely in prizes of considerable amounts, 

 which were intended to draw attention to the subject. He had also 

 placed before the Eegents a portion of the circulars which were sent 

 all over the civilized world, on the part of the Institution, to this end, 

 and he had taken occasion in the same connection to send a description 

 of the Institution, written in various languages, which had been pre- 

 pared after consultation with one of the Regents, and which some of 

 them might care to see. 



The result of this work had been the presentation of more than two 

 hundred competitive works for the prizes, some of them from the most 

 eminent men of science in Europe and America, and some from names 

 comparatively unknown; and a committee — whose active members are 

 Dr. G. Brown Goode, Assistant Secretary of this Institution, Deputy 

 Surg. Gen. John S. Billings, IT. S. A., and Prof. Mark W. Harrington, 

 Chief of the Weather Bureau — was engaged in examining them. 



It was expected that the European committee would be composed of 

 Professors Huxley, Janssen, and Helmholtz, who had kindly consented 

 to serve, but the death of the last-named eminent man of science has 

 temporarily deferred its formation. 



The Secretary added that he was not yet prepared to advise the 

 Eegents of the result of these competitions, further than to say that, 

 incidentally to their main object, they had probably brought the work 

 of the Institution before not only European men of science, but the 

 world of action, as well as of study, more completely than any incident 

 which had occurred at any time in its history. This interest was slow 

 in awakening, but afterwards grew rapidly, so that the time for receiv- 

 ing the essays was extended to the close of 1894. 



The Secretary considered that the system of prizes had now com- 

 pleted its best work in calling attention to the Institution and the fund 

 it administered, as well as to its fitness as an administrator of other 

 trusts of this character. 



The Secretary continued that he had already advised the Regents 

 that a bequest had been made to the Institution by a resident of Wash- 

 ington, Mr. Robert Stanton Avery, whose extremely feeble health at 

 the time of the last Board meeting did not give hope that he would 

 survive the year. Mr. Avery died on September 12, 1894. Owing to 

 the general fall in prices, the amount coming from the estate is likely 

 to be very much smaller than the testator supposed he was giving. 



On motion, the report of the Secretary was accepted. 



Dr. Coppee then said that by reason of the death of the chairman of 

 the Executive Committee, it devolved upon him to present the report 

 of that committee for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1894, which he 

 did in printed form, and, on motion, the report was adopted. 

 SM 95 ii 



