DISCOURSE OF W. B. TAYLOR. 207 



acteristic early developed gave form and color to his mental dispo- 

 sition throughout later years, an unflagging energy of purpose. 



In 1810, or 1811, when about thirteen years of age, he was ap- 

 prenticed to Mr. John F. Doty, a watch-maker and silver-smith, 

 in Albany. He remained in this position about two years; when 

 he was released by his employer giving up the business. 



About the year 1814, while a boy of still indefinite aims and of 

 almost as indefinite longings, having been confined to the house for 

 a few days in consequence of an accidental injury, he took up a small 

 volume'on Natural Philosophy, casually left lying on a table by a 

 boarder in the house. Listlessly he opened It and read. Before he 

 reached the third page, he became profoundly interested in the state- 

 ment of some of the enigmas of the great sphinx Nature. A new 

 world seemed opening to his inquisitive eyes. Eagerly on he read, 

 intent to find the hidden meanings of phenomena which hitherto 

 covered by the "veil of familiarity" had never excited a passing 

 wonder or a doubting question. Was it possible ever to discover 

 the real causes of things? Here was a new Ideal if severer, yet 

 grander than that of art. He no longer read with the languid en- 

 joyment of a passive recipient; he felt the new necessity of reaching 

 out with all the faculties of a thinker, with all the activity of a co- 

 worker.* For the first time he realized (though with no conscious 

 expression of the thought) that there is so to speak, an imagi- 

 nation of the intellect, as well as of the emotional soul; that Truth 

 has its palaces no less gorgeous no less wonderful than those reared 

 by fancy in homage to the Beautiful. 



The new impulse was not a momentary fascination. Thencefor- 

 ward the novel was thrown aside, and poesy neglected ; though to 

 his latest day a sterling poem never failed to strongly impress him. 

 As it dawned upon his reason that the foundation of the coveted 



* " There is a great difference between reading and study, or between the indolent 

 reception of knowledge without labor, and tha't effort of mind which is always neces- 

 sary in order to secure an important truth and make it fully our own." J. HENRY. 

 (Agricultural Report of the Patent Office for 1857, p. 421.) The book which so strongly 

 impressed him was entitled " Lectures on Experimental Philosophy, Astronomy, 

 and Chemistry: by G. Gregory, D. D., Vicar of West-ham." 12mo. London, 1808. 

 The owner of the book a young Scotchman named Robert Boyle observing the 

 close application of the boy, very kindly presented the book to him. Many years 

 afterward Henry wrote in it: " It accidentally fell into my hands when I was about 

 sixteen years old, and was the first book I ever read with attention." 



