322 BULLETIN OF 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 examination proved 

 impracticable. 



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

 Board, as for the interests of commerce and navigation, was re- 

 ferred to the committee on experiments, when it v^^as examined 

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

 practical value, the report on record simply stated the inexpe- 

 diency of its adoption : but the Professor often verbally pointed 

 out to the presenter its fallacy ; and sent him away — if not. 

 satisfied — at least feeling that he had been well treated. He 

 thus prevented not only the adoption of impracticable plans, but 

 avoided the enmity of their inventors. 



" Professor Henry made many valuable reports, containing the 

 results of his elaborate experiments into matters which were for- 

 mally referred to him, which are spread on the records of the 

 Board ; and the reports were drawn in such form that his sug- 

 gestions were capable of and received practical application. But 

 in addition to this, he was constantly extending his scientific re- 

 searches for the benefit of the service in all directions. • His 

 summer vacations were as a rule passed in experimentation at 

 the laboratory of the Establishment at Staten Island, on its 

 steamers, or at its light-stations, pushing his inquiries to their 

 last results. To experimentation in the interests of this service, 

 Professor Henry seemed to give his whole heart. It appeared 

 as if he never lost sight of the needs of the Establishment, and 

 Bs if he never neglected an opportunity to advance its interests. 

 In addition to his other duties, Professor Henry presided as 

 Chairman of the Light-house Board for the last seven years at 

 its weekly meetings, when he did much to infuse into the different 

 members of the Board, his own spirit of labor for, and devotion 

 to its interests."* 



Services to the National Government. — The value of Hehry's- 

 services to the various Executive Departments of our Govern- 

 ment, faithfully and unostentatiously performed through a long 

 series of years and a succession of Presidential Administrations, 

 cannot be estimated, as its history can never be written. What- 

 ever material for it existed in the form of abstracts of inquiries, 

 trials, and reports, prior to 1865, unfortunately perished in the 



* Executive Documenis, No. 94, Forty-fifth Congress, 2d Session, Senate, 

 pp. 2, 3. It is gratifying to know that on the presentation of his report 

 and recommendation to Congress, by the high-minded Secretary of the- 

 Treasury, a moderate appropriation in slight recognition of Henry's " ines- 

 timable" services was at once passed for the benefit of his bereaved family. 



96 



