1872.} 549 : [ Dubois. 
gold assays by dozens, we had to go through with hundreds, every day 
following the arrival of each steamer. We procured young men as opera 
tors in the weigh-reom and additional workmen in the laboratory ; and 
in spite of all the help we were all overworked. Here let me say that 
the persons who have been educated by Mr. Eckfeldt to this profession 
have done credit to the selection that was made, not only by skill, dili- 
gence, and good character while here, but wherever they are now scattered 
to other mints and assay offices, or to different pursuits. No doubt they 
receive with profound serrow the tidings of the decease of their instruc- 
tor. 
The gold pressure continued for about five years, when it was relieved 
by the creation of a government assay office in New York, and a branch 
mint at San Francisco. But directly sequent to this came the change 
of standard in silver coin, causing an immense recoinage in small pieces, 
Thus our daily assays continued to count by hundreds. This lasted for 
some years. When it began to slacken off, a law was passed for calling 
in the large copper coins and issuing in their stead pieces of copper-nickelk 
alloy of much smaller size, 
The analysis of Nickel alloys was net well laid down in the books, and. 
the European or other assays which came with purchased lots showed 
an incorrect determination. Mr. Eckfeldt was therefore obliged to study 
out and perfect this assay, which is more tedious and laborious, though 
of less consequence, than the assay of the precious metals, 
But it was his habit to be as scrupulous in minor matters as in major ; 
and after the routine was well settled it went on with the same clock- 
work regularity as the other branches of assaying. I need not say that 
this nickel coinage imposed another heavy pressure upon the mint for 
years. 
After this came the substitution of the Brenze alloy ; and this called 
for another process of assay, and brought us a great deal of work. 
I thus hastily review this sequence of gold, silver, nickel, and bronze, 
not only as an interesting part of Mint History, but to show the varied 
and abundant services of the untiring, energetic Principal Assayer, and 
the masterly skill with which he met every obligation. 
His nervous system, naturally not one of repose, was a good deal im- 
paired by the cares and labors of the first period just reviewed, and in 
1853 he had to seek relief by travelling southward, ‘This had a beneficial 
effect, but from that time onward, although he continued to be very 
active, there was a marked deterioration of health. Early in the Summer 
of 1870 he had a serious spell of illness, in which an affection of the 
heart was developed. This, by degrees, culminated in a dropsical state of 
the system, and on the 26th day of April, 1872, he was at the mint for 
the last time. : 
I would not undertake to define his various traits of character, pro- 
fessional or personal ; but a few remarks in that way may be in place. 
In every character we may observe apparent or real opposites ; and in 
respect to Mr. Eckfeldt, there were two notable instances, 
