Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-02-23
MATTHEW FONTAINE MAURY.

Commodore Matthew f. Maury died at
the Virginia Military Institute in this place
on last Saturday, at half-past twelve. Since
his return last fail from a tour to the North
and West bis health has been precarious.
On bis arrival at home in October his
stomach was much irritated and bleeding.
The surgeon succeeded in subduing the in-
flamation, but the system could not be raj
lied. For weeks the utmost skill of his
physician could only prevent a decline.
The noble sufferer saw the situation and
judged the contest ominously. He inter
pretpd it as the command Of God to launch
On the viewless and eternal sea. He had
stood before kings. He was summoned
now before the King of Kings. He set his
house in order and prepared for the voyage
with the rational diligence of philosopher
and the serene courage of christian. He
called his medical adviser and thanked him
for his faithful services, requesting him to
make no more exertions to prolong the con-
test. The distant members of his family
were called around him. His temporal af-
fairs were arranged with careful, wise and
unhurried effort. He gave himself, after he
ordered the door to swing wide for the ex-
pected messenger from the skies, larger
attention to his devotlons, and waited with
serene confidence and christian tranquility
the coming Of the courier.
During this time he corrected some of
bis later publications. In alluding to bis
probable burial in E iStern Virginia he ex-
pressed the wish thai his body might re-
main in Lexington till the Spring, when |
the laurel and flowers in the Goshen Gap |
Che always travelled this picturesque Pass |
on the outside of the stsge) would be in |
bloom.
BE requested that when the physician |
pronounced him dying he should be in |
formed of it. After dissolution had begun,
he was asked if he was aware of bis con-
dition, be answered that he was. He re-
tanned his consciousness till within brief |
time of his death. As the supreme hour |
drew near, he turned to his son, Col. r. l.. |
Maury, and asked, in the Language of the |
ruling passion, "Do seem to drag my an |
chors?" The answer, 'they are sure and |
steadfast," gave hin a gratifying assurance. |
When he had been silent for sometime and |
supposed to be speeches., Col. Maury ap- |
preached him and enquired his condition. |
he responded with marked distinctness and |
emphasis, "All is we'll"
Soon he saw the signal and set sail for |
the eternal shores.
The tolling bells announced his death to |
the town; the telegraph spread the sad |
tidi0gs over country which his last labor |
was to bless, and across the sea his genius |
had subdIed, and over continents whose |
kings solicited the honor of his citizenship. |
Maury is dead. His fame will die only |
when the winds wither and ''there shall be |
10 more sea-" 1t lives and perishes with |
the globe.
The Virginia flag flew at halfmast at the |
Institute. The body lay in State Monday |
and Tuesday in the Library, draped in |
mourning. The colors of Tennessee and |
Virginia dropped above the coffin. A guard /
of honor from the cadets was stationed in |
the room. Many persons visited the scene. !
The features were somewhat emacisted, |
but very natural and striking. The wasted |
face gave more than usual prominence to
the massive head.
Fresh flowers were tas tefnlly interviewer |
with brilliant orders of nobility on his |
breast. We noticed the Cross of the Com |
mander of the Legion of Honor, given by |
the Emperor Napoleon; the Portuguese |
Order of the Tower and Sword; the Cheva-
lier of the Order of st. Ann of Russia; the |
Order of Our Lady Of Guadaloupe of Mexi-
co, conferred by the Emperor Maximillian
and placed over the shoulders of the emf
Hent SGUGnt by the fair hands of the EN-
press Carlotta, and the Order of Drsnne-
brog of Denmark.
THE FUNERAL.
On Wednesday at II NJ. the ceremon les
began in the library, the Rev. DIR. Pendle-
ton off eating. The solemn services for
the dead, of the Episcopal church, were |
used, the venerable Clergyman standing by [
the side of the coffin. The hymns Chow
Firm Foundation" auds"Nearer to Thec,
My God" we're selected with touching ap-
propriateness.
The procession left the Military Institute
at P. NJ. The bearse was drawn by four
gray horses, with colored groom in black
suit and white scarf at each bride. The
corps Of Cadets with reversed arms and
muffled drums guarded the hearse. The
officers of the Institute and the University,
students and citizens followed in long line
behind the cortege. The artillery fired at
regular intervals as the cortege moved.
The religious services were finished at the
cemetery, and the remains were placed in
a vault facing the grave of Gen. T. j.
Jackson.
The following dispatches were forward
ed on the day of their Date. The President
of the United States has not made anv ac-
knowledgment Of the reception of the tele-
gram:
VIRGINIA MILITARY INsTITUNE, Feb,
1,1sFS.-To Gen. Grant, President of the
United States: NJ. F. Maury, formerly
Superintendent of National Observatory
and late professor of physics in the Virgin
ia Military Institute, died to-day at P. NJ.
The distinguished scientific position of
the deceased and his worldwide fame make
bis death an event of more than national
concern. With this view the institution to
which he gave bis last services deems it not
inappropriate to ask the President of the
United States to communicate the informa-
ton of his death to the Representatives Of
Foreign Courts at Washington.
.-- J. Z. L. PRESTON,
Acting Sup't. V. M. l.
VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE, Feb.
/, 1S73.-To Superintendent National OBJ
servatory, Washington: M. F. Maury died
to-day at p. N. j. T. i. PRESTON.
Acting Sup't. V. NJ. /. |