Patterson] 1U4 [Nov. 18. 



Dr. Robt. 31. Patterson, then Director, a reform was effected in the 

 method of reporting assays, the millesimal system taking the place of the 

 time-honored but cumbrous method of carats and grains. About this time, 

 also, the older plan of assaying silver was abandoned, the humid assay 

 being substituted, and largely worked under the direct supervision of Mr. 

 DuBois. 



About 1838, Branch Mints were organized in the States of Louisiana, 

 Georgia and North Carolina. The labors and responsibilities of the Phila- 

 delphia assay department were increased by this development, partly from 

 the necessity of instructing assayers for the new branches, and partly in 

 testing the correctness of the assays made there. 



In 1848, the great discovery of gold in California was made known. 

 This brought a tremendous pressure on every department of the Mint, and 

 not the least on the Assayers. The gold coinage was in three years raised 

 from a little over three million dollars to more than sixty-two millions. The 

 assays were often counted by hundreds in a day. But whatever the pres- 

 sure in the office, accuracy ruled, and the correctness of the assays was 

 never impeached. 



In 1853, a change was effected in the law for providing subordinate 

 silver coins. This brought about, for some years succeeding, an unprece- 

 dented coinage of that metal, and still further increased the labors of the 

 Assaj'' Department. 



Shortly after, a minor coinage, in part of nickel, was established, and the 

 assay of that metal became a part of the routine of the deparment. The 

 determination of nickel alloys was not well laid down in the books, and 

 the assay was troublesome, but all difficulties were overcome, and a prac- 

 tical method introduced. A bronze coinage afterwards followed, calling 

 for further assay processes. 



Finally, and after Mr. DuBois became principal Assayer, in 1872, fol- 

 lowed the heavy coinages of gold as a consequence of the Resumption 

 Act, and of silver under the Silver Act of 1878. These, while they brought 

 heavy labor and responsibility on the Assay Department, involved nothing 

 new in the methods, and only served to test the accuracy and system of 

 the office while placed in his charge. 



This review points to the occasions, connecting Mr. DuBois most directly 

 with the Mint by his official action. But he was not content with the per- 

 formance of routine duty. More than once he has quoted as a rule of 

 action a saying of Paley, that "a life without employment is a life mot 

 worth living." He was, indeed, never idle. We might infer that the 

 harassing labors of an Assayer would prove sufficiently absorbing. Yet 

 not long after he entered the Assay Department, Mr. DuBois found, or 

 made, the time for engaging in other tasks. 



One of these was the foundation of the Cabinet of Coins which now 

 adorns the Mint. This was commenced in 1838. A small annual appro- 

 priation was procured from Congress for this purpose, and the work of 

 collection committed entirely to Mr. DuBois. He brought to it all the 



