182 NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 
ment was exhibited at the meeting of the British Association in 
1833. “The poet Coleridge, who was present at its exhibition 
in Cambridge, spoke with enthusiasm, not only of the magnitude 
of the discovery of the inductive electrical effects of magnetism, 
one of the claims of Faraday—to imperishable reputation—but 
also of the ingenious invention of Mr. Saxton, by which the 
transient electrical currents might exhibit their effects in so 
brilliant and so powerful a manner.” (Henry.) 
Saxton produced many other inventions while in London, 
among them a locomotive differential pulley, an instrument to 
measure the velocity of vessels, another for measuring the height 
of water in a steam boiler, a fountain pen, etc. He also devised 
a method for locating the interior magnetic poles of the earth, 
and constructed the apparatus used by Wheatstone to measure 
the velocity of electricity in a long wire. 
Leaving London in 1837, he was appointed constructor and 
curator of the standard weighing apparatus in the Mint at 
Philadelphia. While here his improved form of Gobrecht’s 
instrument for reproducing the designs of medals by engraving 
was brought into use. He also constructed balances for weighing 
coins, of such delicacy that they would turn with one three- 
millionth part of their load. 
In 1834 Saxton was awarded the Scott Medal of the Franklin 
Institute for the invention of a reflecting pyrometer, an instru- 
ment which was capable of indicating changes in the length of 
a metal bar to the one-hundred-thousandth part of an inch. 
In 1843 Saxton was appointed by Professor Bache to take 
charge of the construction of the standard balances, weights and 
measures which were authorized by Congress for distribution 
to the several States of the Union. While in this position he also 
devised many instruments for use in the Coast Survey, including 
an automatic instrument for recording the height of tides, and an 
improved automatic dividing machine. 
At the meeting of the American Association for the Advance- 
ment of Science in 1858, Saxton gave an account of the use of the 
revolving mirror in minute measurements, such as the expansion 
