The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-02-06
COIaUMBIA4 g. G.
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Thursday Morning, February 6. 1873.
kCommodore n1aury.


tCommodore maury. 4 &
Very recently. and within one month
of each other, three illnstrious men, re-
spectively of France, England and the
United States-Louis Napoleon. Bulwer
and Maury-have Ruooumbed to fate,
and been consigned to the tomb. They
represented important spheres OF mental
activity in government, literature and
science. They were widely different in
their organization. endowments and
1abors; but each was strong and earnest
the object of admiration to his contem-
poraries, and likely to live long in the
regards of mankind. The last named
was the more original OF the three, tho
more, conscientious]y toiling, and his
services to his raoe are likely to grow III
higher appreciation with the flow OF
time and with the fuller development of
the effect of his researches. His career
is OF commanding interest, although his
life was comparatively obscure and
unobtrusive. Born in Virginia, in Jnnu-
ary, 1907, at his death, only few days
ago, he had just passed the sixty sixth
anniversary OF his life Descended from
Huguenot family, which was compelled
to flee their native country to escape
persecution, he illustrated in his charac-
ter the virtues and exoellencies of that
race, blended with the sterling qualities
Of the Virginian stock, with which it
was united. Inheriting no fortune, and
thrown early upon his own resources for
education and advancement, at the age
ofvtfourteen he met with generous
friend in the late Bishop Otey. of Vir-
ginia. who gave him q, helping hand.
He became distinguished for his aprli.
cation to- study and for the habit OF
careful observation. Astronomy was his
fayorite branch. His tastes led him to
get an appointment as q midshipman in
the navy. He made the best use of the
opportunities which his voyages afforded.
After trips to Europe and in the Pa,
oific. he was advanced to the position of
Lieutenant on board the Powhattan.
His first work was on navigation. By
the Recommendation of the Secretary of
the Navy, it was adopted as textbook
in naval schools. Other,works followed,
and his fame began to grow and extend,
and be was made Commander in the
navy. Becoming lame in 1889, from an
accident. and debarred from active pur-
suits, he devoted himself the moro az
siduously to scientific studies. He was
appointed Director OF the National OBJ
servatory, at Washington. He published
his Sailing Directions" and "Wind and
Current Oharts," and in his "Ph ysioal
Geography of the Sea" achieved at once
worldwide fame. although scientific
men differed somewhat at fret as to the
value Of 'the novel views which it con-
tanned. sIt exhibited pains-takipg de-
duction, no less striking than the origi-
nal genius Of the conception. His con-
clusions we're drawn from an immense
mass of observations, and hitherto un-
noticed: -,acoumulations. The practical
results were a lasting contribution to the
science of navigation, by which life and
property have been saved, and tho time
of voyages diminished.
Commander Maury was the leading
f.. spirit in the Congress of the representa-
tives Of maritime nations at Brussels, in
1854. The Congress adopted his plan OF
engaging The observations Of navigators
to be inserted on prepared charts, to be
used in future comparisons. In q short
time. over 10000 vessels of different
countries were actively employed under
his system in collecting valuable facts.
Its results are we'll presented in the fol.
lowing extract from an article in the Now
York Herald:
''Under this beautiful arrangement,
each ship ct sen was floating observa.
tory, and its experience was added to
that of every other ship whose keel had
furrowed the same waters, to provide
common magazine of nautical knowledge
for the guidance and safety of every
future sailor. It has been recently well
said by Buchan, the eminent chief of the
Scottish meteorological Society, that
the name of Captain Alaury will always