DISCOURSE OF W. B. TAYLOR. 315 



A formal report made to the Honorable Secretary of the Treas- 

 ury by the Naval Secretary of the Light-House Board, dated May 

 21st, 1878, (very shortly after Henry's death,) simply detailing for 

 information, the character of his gratuitous services to the light- 

 house establishment during a quarter of a century, (and not 

 intended for the public,) takes the inevitable form of eulogy. A 

 portion of it is here quoted : 



" As Chairman of this committee, Professor Henry acted as the 

 scientific adviser of the Board. But in addition it was his duty to 

 conduct the experiments made by the Board, not only in the matter 

 of original investigation, and testing of the material used, but in 

 examining and reporting on the models, plans, and theories, pre- 

 sented by others to the Board. The value of the services he ren- 

 dered in this position is simply inestimable. He prepared the 

 formula for testing our oils; he conducted the series of experiments 

 resulting in the substitution of lard oil for sperm oil, which effected 

 an immense saving in cost; and he also conducted the experiments 

 which have resulted in making it possible to substitute mineral oil 

 for lard oil, when another economy will be made. His original 

 investigation into the laws of sound have resulted in giving us a 

 fog-signal service conceded to be the best in the world. His exami- 

 nations into the action of electricity, have enabled the Board to 

 almost completely protect its stations from the effect of lightning. 

 The result of his patient, continuous, practical experimentation is 

 visible everywhere in the service. No subject was too vast for him 

 to undertake ; none too small for him to overlook. And while he 

 has brought into the establishment so many practical applications 

 of science, he has done almost as much service by keeping out 

 what presented by others seemed plausible, but which on examin- 

 ation proved impracticable. 



"Every theory, plan, or machine, which was pressed on the 

 Board, as for the interests of commerce and navigation, was referred 

 to the committee on experiments, when it was examined by its 

 Chairman, and was formally reported upon. If it had no practical 

 value, the report on record simply stated the inexpediency of its 

 adoption : but the Professor often verbally pointed out to the pre- 

 senter, its fallacy; and sent him away if not satisfied at least 



