Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-02-04


Tennesseeans, becaEse the great Com
modore Of that name, who died few
days ago, although. born in Virginia,
was reared ard educsted here, in the
county which bears his name. he
was a pupil Of the late Bishop
Otey, with whom he was always an IN
innate correspondent, and who took an
affectionate interest and had much
pride in his high scientific attainments,
and the great results OF his patient in
vestiration-results that, as General
Butler said the other day Of
the services OF the Southern PEN
siouers Of 1Sl2-should have ex-
cused to the people and Government
Of the United States the part he played
in the recent civil war This intimacy
and correspondence only closed with the
good Bishops death. Commodore Maui
~ was born in Spottsylvania county,
Virginia, on the fourteenth OF January,
1906, and removed to Maury county,
Tennessee, at a very early age. There
he studied, and thence entered the
navy in 1925, as midshipman,
being appointed 20 the Brapdywine,
on board which General Lafayette re-
returned to France. On this vessel he
continued until transferred to the Vim
cennes, then on the Pacific station. A
vesr after, on this vessel, he first cir
COMMUNICATED the globe, a "Trip of four
wears, during which he commenced
those observations which resulted in his
first work, 4 Treatise on Navigation,
which has passed through many edi-
tions, and been adopted as textbook
10y all the navies Of Europe as well as
our own. He served in the Pacific on
the Falmouth and the Potomac until
1856, when he was promoted to lieu
tenancy and assigned to duty as astron-
omer to the South Sea Exploring Expe-
dition. In 1889, while on professional
duty, he met with sn accident which
lamed him, and rendered sea-ser-
vice thereafter impossible. The Govern
ment at once, in appreciation of study
and devotion to science then very rare
in its service, placed him in charge Of
the depots of charts and instruments at
Washington, afterwards the hydro
graphical office, and which subsequent
~ became, under his management, and
is now the Naval Observatory
In this position he was en-
abled to prosecute the inquiries
and investigations which led to his
.P5ysical Geography Of The Sea. This
work brought him most cOnspicuously
into notice in Europe as master of new
science and one hitherto deemed all but
impossible. 1t was accepted by navi-
gators as a remarkable effort in their
behalf. His conclusions respecting the
Gulf Stream were published in 1874,
and received the Endorsement of the
scientific world. In 1858, nine years
after he had the pleasure Of being
present at the 'Maratime Conference held
at Brussels, and which was brought to-
gether by his urgent entreaty through
the United States Government. At this
he recommended a form of abstract
log to be kept on board ships of war and
merchant vessels, in which q cen
densed and uniform statement was CIV
eu Of all important and noticeable facts
IN meteorology, or the general history
Of winds and waves, during voyages in
all parts of the world. The result was
embodied in his Physical Geography Of
the Sea, the charts of which are ingeni-
ously constructed, so as TO presentin the
most simple way, and for every part of
the ocean, the results Of all pre-
vious experience there, whether Of
winds, storms, rain, snow or any possi-
ble phenomena. Each square Of five
degrees contains the meteorological and
other history Of the locality clearly ex-
pressed to the eye and the sailing direc-
JiOns give Cor every great thoroughfare
guides indicatingthe shortest and safest
route. Besides this immensely valuable
practical information, which has
almost revolutionized the science
of navigation, there is much
other knowledge Of a theoretical
character in this work, some Of which
the great savant afterward made use Of
in the comprehensive system Of geog-
Taphies prepared by him, and recently
published among the University Series
OF School Books. Among the beIlefi-
cial results following upon the publica-
tion Of this work, an enduring
monument Of his genius for
maratime science, it is claimed
that he shortened the time from our
Atlantic TO our Pacific seapOTts fully
forty days, and the voyage to Europe
from this country in like proportion.
This, Of itself, would have immortalized
him. 1t was his crowning glory with
European governments and societies,
which showered honors and fellOwships
upon him until all could claim him in
that way as their own. Through him
the great submarine plateau on which
rests the Atlantic cables, was discov-
cred, making that possible which other
wise, perhaps. could not exist. In 1855 he
was promoted to the rank Of COmmo-
dore, and continued TO serve bis eOun-
try faithfully, increasing his vast store
house Of knowledge and making con-
slant additions TO his important con-
tributiOns, and, we may almost
say inventions, in aid of the naviga-
tions OF the seas. The civil war broke
in upon the quiet Of his studies and the
retreat which will always be honOred by
his memory and the association of his
name. At the call Of Virginia he left
all-honors, fame and fOrtune-and en-
tered her service, and subsequently that
Of the COnfederacy, in which he con-
tinued until the close Of the war. His
services to the South were the best be
could give, being always characterized
10y a patriotic devotion worthy his emf
nence in science. At the close he was
offered positions Of high honor by many
governments, especially by Russia. But
he declined them all and settled down
in Virginia as teacher OF
the rising generation, only now
and then emerging nom his scholarly
retreat to urge upon the people be loved
schemes for their welfare and advance
ment. The citizens of Shelby county
win not soon forget his address, deliy-
cred some years ago before their
agricultural society, an address that
we believe was mainly instrumental
in deciding the Government to enter