DISCOURSE OF W. B. TAYLOR. 211 



the Hudson river on the east, to lake Erie on the west, a distance 

 of about three hundred miles. The proposal was too tempting to 

 his natural proclivities to be refused ; and being appointed, he em- 

 barked upon his new and arduous duties with the zeal and energy 

 which were so prominent a feature of his character. "His labors 

 in this work were exceedingly arduous and responsible. They 

 extended far into the winter, and the operations were carried on in 

 some instances amid deep snows in primeval forests." In connec- 

 tion with Professor Amos Eaton, he completed the survey with 

 credit to himself, and to the entire satisfaction of the Commissioners 

 of the work. 



So attractive appeared the profession of engineer to his enter- 

 prising disposition, that he was about to accept the directorship in 

 the construction of a canal in Ohio, when he was informed that the 

 Chair of Mathematics in the Albany Academy would soon become 

 vacant, and that his own name had already been prominently 

 brought forward in connection with the position. At the urgent 

 solicitation of his old friend and former teacher Dr. T. Romeyn 

 Beck, he consented with some hesitation to signify his willingness 

 to accept the vacant chair if appointed thereto. 



Election as Professor of Mathematics. — In the spring of 1826, 

 Henry was duly elected by the Trustees of the Albany Academy 

 to the Professorship of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy in 

 that institution. As the duties of his office did not commence till 

 September of that year, he was allowed a practical vacation of about 

 five months ; which was partly occupied with a geological explora- 

 tion in the adjoining counties, as assistant to Professor Eaton, of 

 the Rensselaer School, and partly devoted to a conscientious prepa- 

 ration for his new position. 



In a worldly point of view, this variety of occupation and ver- 

 satility of adaptation might perhaps be regarded as unfavorable to 

 success. As a method of culture, it was of unquestionable advan- 

 tage to his intellectual powers. A hard student, with great capacity 

 for close application, he accumulated large stores of information; 

 and in addition to the slaking of his constant thirst for acquire- 

 ment in diiferent directions, his leisure was occupied to a considera- 



