XII JOURNAL OP PROCEEDINGS OP THE BOARD OF REGENTS. 



The Chancellor announced that the vacancies existing in the Execu- 

 tive Committee were customarily filled by the adoption of resolutions, 

 and General Wheeler introduced the following: 



Resolved, That the vacancies in the Executive Committee be filled by the election 

 of the Hon. William L. Wilson and the Hon. Gardiner G. Hubbard. 



Resolved, That the Hon. J. B. Henderson be elected chairman of the Executive 

 Committee. 



Ou motion, the resolutions were adopted. 



The Chancellor announced the death of Dr. Henry Coppee, and 

 appointed Senator Henderson and the Secretary a committee to draft 

 suitable resolutions. Senator Henderson, on behalf of the committee, 

 presented the following : 



Whereas the members of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution 

 are called to mourn the death of their colleague, the late Henry Coppee, LL. D., 

 acting president of Lehigh University, for twenty years a Regent of the Institution, 

 and long a member of its Executive Committee: 



Resolved, That the Board of Regents feels sincere sorrow in the loss of one whose 

 distinguished career as a soldier, a man of letters, and whose services in the promo- 

 tion of education command their highest respect and admiration. 



Resolved, That in the death of Dr. Coppe> the Smithsonian Institution and the 

 Board of Regents have suffered the loss of a tried and valued friend, a wise and 

 prudent counsellor, whose genial courtesy, well-stored, disciplined mind, and sin- 

 cere devotion to the interests of the Institution will be ever remembered. 



Resolved, That these resolutions be recorded in the journal of the proceedings of 

 the board, and that the Secretary be requested to send a copy to the family of their 

 departed associate and friend in token of sympathy in this common affliction. 



On motion, the resolutions were unanimously adopted by a rising 

 vote. 



The Secretary presented his annual report for the fiscal year ending 

 June 30, 1895, and said : u I may speak of the last year as one of varied 

 and fruitful activities, which are detailed in this report, which, however, 

 does not cover some points I desire presently to bring before the 

 Regents." 



After discussion by the Regents of a report upon the condition of the 

 Avery fund, the Secretary said : " I may ask the attention of the Regents 

 to the fact that the Hodgkins fund prizes have been awarded, one of 

 which — the principal one, of $10,000 — was given through the American 

 embassy in London to Lord Rayleigh and Professor Ramsay for the dis- 

 covery of a new element in the atmosphere 'Argon.' A similar prize 

 of 50,000 francs was given nearly simultaneously to the same persons 

 by the Institute of France. The second prize was not awarded, and 

 the third (of $1,000) was given to M. Varigny for the best popular trea- 

 tise, in accordance with the terms of the announcement. Morever, three 

 silver and six bronze medals have been awarded to the laureates out 

 of nearly two hundred contestants. Letters had been sent to these, with 

 the thanks of the Institution, and inviting them to say whether they 

 would have their memoirs remain here or be sent back. In certain 

 cases, in accordance with the suggestion made last year by General 



