648 WILLIAM BOWER TAYLOR. 



In 1870 Congress provided for the permanent appointment of a 

 librarian in the Patent Office at a much lower salary than that of an 

 examiner, and as Mr. Taylor still held the appointment of principal 

 examiner he was not an applicant for the new position, which was 

 filled by a political appointment. Mr. Taylor then expected to be 

 restored to his former duties as examiner, but by reason of smaller 

 Congressional appropriations, winch necessarily reduced the number 

 of appointments, he was unfortunately legislated out of office. 



In a letter dated December 6, 1^76, in relation to this matter, Professor 

 Henry remarks: "M»\ Taylor, I can truly say, without disparagement 

 to any officer of the Patent Office, is, for extent of knowledge and 

 practical skill in reporting on the Originality of inventions, without 

 a superior in the office. He has long been a collaborator of the 

 Smithsonian Institution, is a member of the Washington Philosoph- 

 ical Society, and has achieved an extended reputation as an active 

 contributor to science by his publications. His separation from the 

 Patent Office I consider a public loss^and justice to himself and the 

 interests of the inventors require his restoration." 



In a |)iivate note to a prominent senator Professor Henry commends 

 Mr. Taylor to his "special attention," and says, "He is held in the 

 highest estimation by all who know him and can appreciate his char- 

 acter. He is not only a gentleman of extensive information and refined 

 culture, but is admirably constituted in regard to intellectual and 

 moral qualities." 



While Mr. Taylor was librarian he also acted as examiner of inter- 

 ferences, a very important duty. In fact, Prof. Edward Farquhar, his 

 assistant at the time, remarks that "the various functions lie discharged 

 in the office were endless. When a committee was needed to revise the 

 whole classification of the office he was one of the leading members. 

 He was perpetual referee and consulting examiner in a general capacity, 

 as necessarily resulted from his extraordinary knowledge and readiness 

 to impart it, supplying more especially perhaps the principles of science 

 and of law than their practical applications. In the Patent Office, as 

 elsewhere, he was a constant fountain of instruction to all." 



In 1872 Professor Henry strongly recommended Mr. Taylor, without 

 his knowledge, for a chair in one of our leading colleges, as one "who 

 from the clearness of his conceptions and the lucidness of his exposi- 

 tions has the elements of an excellent teacher." 



Other occasions offered for the employment of Mr. Taylor as a teacher 

 or professor, but he always shrank from assuming the duties of a pub- 

 lic instructor and preferred the retirement and privacy of closet study 

 and editorial impersonality. 



Early in his residence in Washington he formed the acquaintance 

 and earned the friendship of the leading literary, and especially the 

 scientific men of the city, and with Bache, Henry, Schaeffer, Meigs, 

 and other cougeirial spirits, founded a scientific club, which, without 



