Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1873-02-18
Matthew EOutaIne Maury.

At the death of great scientific men,
the world is wont 10 express its deep
sorrow. Those whose innovations
have remodcled long practised arts, as
those whose discoveries have led TO
new ones, are alike the recipients of
the worlds laudations, and as their
value, like all temporal blessings is
rarely appreciated till lost, il is when
no longer they can solve the great
problems above the popular mass
COMPREHENSION, that their worth APP
fears I'm it's true light. Today great
Maury's death IL mourned. His ma
tive State, Virginia, joins hand with
his educator. Tennessee, and each
other State of the Union adds link
TO the chain to sound his virtues and
his value. in sorrowing cncomiums
whilst the crest of each turbulent
Atlantic billOw, now no longer
rejecting the gay, frivolous white,
hut clad i'm solemn black, rolls unto
the shore of mourning Europe, to
murmur the saddened requiem, 7" Our
great philosopher is no more" And
/ fancy that even the myriad families
of fishes in their mid-ocean homes,
hearing the disturbed roll of the super
incumbent waves, would comprehend
the cause, and cease, for while ia
honor of the mighty dead. the frOlic-
some play. And the mighty inland
streams, with their voices, murmur
no longer a CHEEKY strain, but In aw-
full, solemn tones sound high tribute,
20 the hero who Is gone,
Commodore Maury, was born In
Spottsylvania county, Virginia, in
g. q,
er and removed to Franklin, Tenn,
in the childhood of Matthew. lt was
here that his mind, under the direc-
tion Of the Rev, Otey-afterward bish-
op of Tennessee-received the ele-
ments Of education, and here also that
the rapidity of its expansion i'm the
acquisition of knowledge. presaged
the inherent virtue and might, which
was to place him in the constellation
of Science, the most refulgent star.
We next see him in 1925 a mid-ship-
man in the United States Navy. No
Naval college had then been estab-
lished. so he was compelled to enter
immediately into the rude toll of ac-
tive service. Here, with devoted at
tention to duty and study he served for
twelve years receiving several promo
tons. During this time his work OH
navigation was written and published.
1t was Immediately adopted both in
the Naval Acadamy, where as n text
book 1t is used to-day and i'm the whole
commercial navigation of the United
states, as well as other countries.
This first called the scientific world to
note his rising genius. Afterwards
having had his leg fractured, he re-
tired from the service and wrote. in
eognitO. on the system of navigation
then practiced. The strength and
vigor of his pen caused many impor-
tant changes-the establishment of a
Navy Yard at Memphis, the arrange
ment for riveT-guages ut the principal
towns of the Mississippi and its trib-
utaries and many others. in 1852, he
was appointed TO select the Decessa-
Ties and to establish a national Obser-
vatory and photographed depart
ment. He lRbored in this enterprise
with great zeal and his labors were
successful. Here he completed his
" Wind and Current Chart and sailing
Directions" which have been TO the
commercial interests of all christen-
dam, of incalculahle value. He was
the originator of the meteorological
Department at Washington, aud aid
ed in the establishment of an inter-
national department. of this order
Shortly after his last mentioned pub
hcation, appeared The Physical Ge-
ography of the Sea |" a work. which
for scientific research for originality,
Tor depth Of thought, and for ciearness
N illustration, is excclled by no work
ever written on navigation. Ii was
translated into almost all the Europe |
an languages; a clear proof of its val /
ue, IN collection and system. All the |
civilized powers Of the world at this |
uine showed him their estimation Of |
ms labors. His match and equal in /
modern days Is Morse alone and at the 1
Ieet OF this great benefactor, were 4
,ald all species of earthly tribute of
aspect. gratitude and honor. He |
ii'eu strictly confined TO Science, un-