444 



PIONEERS OF SCIENCE IN AMERICA. 



Twice was Agassiz sent to study the formation of the coral 

 reefs of Florida, and the causes that promote and restrict 

 their growth. The magnetic constants were determined for 

 every important point possible within reach of the survey. 

 The scientific progress of the nation was promoted by Bache 

 through the agency of the Coast Survey more than by any 

 other man. His work for commerce, for the safety of passen- 

 gers and seamen, and for national defence was thorough and 

 important all the more so because he called to his aid the re- 

 sources of the highest science. 



Other duties were assigned to Prof. Bache by the Govern- 

 ment from time to time. He was made Superintendent of 

 Weights and Measures, and in the exercise of this function 

 directed a series of investigations relative to the collection of 

 excise duties on distilled spirits, and superintended the con- 

 struction of a large number of sets of standard weights and 

 measures for distribution to the several States of the Union. 

 He was appointed on a commission created to examine the 

 lighthouse system of the United States, and was a member of 

 the Lighthouse Board, into which this commission was merged, 

 from its organization till his death. In this work he took a 

 lively interest and rendered important service. 



As to the connection of Prof. Bache with the Smithsonian 

 Institution we can not have better testimony than that of him 

 who was identified with the institution for more than thirty 

 years, its first secretary. Prof. Henry says: "In 1846 he had 

 been named in the act of incorporation as one of the regents 

 of the Smithsonian Institution, and by successive re-election 

 was continued by Congress in this office until his death, a 

 period of nearly twenty years. To say that he assisted in 

 shaping the policy of the establishment would not be enough. 

 It was almost exclusively through his predominating influence 

 that the policy which has given the institution its present 

 celebrity was, after much opposition, finally adopted." * Not 

 the least of Bache's services to the institution was securing Henry 

 for its secretary. The latter states, in the place just quoted, 

 that " it was entirely due to the persuasive influence of the 

 professor " that he was induced to take the position. 



Although not fond of physical exertion, Prof. Bache had 



* Biographical Memoirs of the National Academy of Sciences, i, 197, 198. 



