12 REPORT OP THE SECRETARY. 



deducting a legacy to Miss Julia 1ST. Avery, is estimated to "be valued 

 at between $6,000 and $7,000. 



SMITHSONIAN HALF-CENTURY MEMORIAL. 



The act of Congress establishing the Smithsonian Institution was 

 signed by President Polk, August 10, 1846, and the first meeting of the 

 Board of Regents was held on September 7 of that year. In view of 

 the completion of the first half century, I discussed with the executive 

 committee, as far back as 1893, the best method of celebrating this 

 event. It seemed quite impracticable to arrange for a gathering of 

 delegates from other scientific institutions, such as is often held on 

 similar occasions by universities and academies of science. The simplest 

 and most effective means of commemorating the event appeared to be 

 the publication of a suitable memorial volume, which should give an 

 account of the institution, its history, its achievements, and its present 

 condition. 



The late Dr. G. Brown Goode, whose acquaintance with the history of 

 the Institution was unrivaled, drew up a comprehensive plan for the 

 volume. This plan being settled upon, Dr. James C. Welling, having 

 at that time just retired from the presidency of Columbian University, 

 agreed to undertake the editorial supervision .of the volume. His 

 death seemed to put a stop to the proposed work, for there appeared to 

 be no one sufficiently acquainted with the history of the Institution who 

 had the ability, the willingness., and the leisure to undertake this very 

 considerable task. It was then that Dr. Goode told me of his great 

 desire to undertake the work. Knowing how numerous his duties 

 already were, I at first refused, and it was only at his earnest solicitation 

 that I agreed to his editorial supervision of the volume. 



At the time of his death the manuscript was so far advanced as to 

 render possible its completion for the press and publication upon the 

 lines he laid down. He had not only written many of the chapters 

 himself and made arrangements for the illustrations, but had almost 

 settled with the printers, as to the style of the type and form of the 

 page, and other details of the book. While its appearance has been 

 slightly delayed, I feel able to say that the volume will be published 

 early in 1897, and it is sufficiently advanced to allow the statement that 

 the editorial work is Dr. Goode's, and to express the confidence that it 

 will be found as worthy of the Institution as was every other task ever 

 intrusted to his hands. 



The volume will be a royal octavo of about 750 x>ages and will be 

 printed from type in an edition of 2,000, with 250 additional copies 

 on hand made paper. The scope of Part I is indicated by the following 

 chapters : 



The Founder, James Smithson, by Mr. S. P. Langley. 



The acceptance of the Smithson Bequest by the United States, by Mr. G. Brown 

 Goode. 



