The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-02-06

Mourning Decorations Of the Body
The Funeral Services. IS.
Correspondence of the Richmond Dispateh.J
Tlle life and Last Illness or the Dc.
ceased.
VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE, ."
LEXINGTON, February 8, 1873.
at ] O'Clock P. NJ. on Saturday, February
lst, Commodore Matthew F.. injury breatIied
his last, the proximate cause Of his death
being inanition.
On the 1st Of last October, while in excel
lent health, he accepted an invitation to visit
the North and to address the Agricultural
Society of Massachusetts. This he did. And
from Boston he went TO New York; from
there he went to Cincinnati, stopping at
several other cities along the route; thence
to Chicago; and thence to st. Louis. In all
of these cities he delivered addresses, which
entailed upon him an immense amount Of
fatigue, both mental and physical. His con-
stitution, already sorely tried, could ill-with-
stand such work, so that when he returned
home about the middle Of October he was in
condition OF extreme prostration. His
nervous and digestive systems were COM
pletely deranged. In consequence of this he
suffered for two months or more from uIcera-
tion of the stomach, attended with great PAIN
which necessitated the mostabsteminous diet
and cautious medication. @
At the expiration Of this time bis disease
seemed to yield completely to the remedies
employed, and the fond hope was enter.
tained that he would at last rally and con-
valcsce. This hope, however, was deusire,
for bis constitution had received a shock
from which it was impossible to rally. So,
slowly, steadily, quietly, patnlessiy, he passed
away.
[Uur correspondent here gives biographi-
cal sketch OF Commodore Maury, which,
| having been anticipated, we omit. He then
refers as follows to his history since the
| war:] 81 -' ~.
How he was Appreciated Abroad.
| The Emperor of France, justly apprc-
ciating the greatness of this man, offered
him the position Of Superintendent of the
National Observatory. He declined the offer.
The Emperor of Russia begged his accept
ance of high place in his Government. He
declined this offer likewise. A short while
afterwards Maximlian invited him to visit
/ Mexico, promising him carte blanche to du
what he wished. This invitation he &C.
| cepted--why, it will not do to say here
though the southern people know-and went
to Mexico. He afterwards found it neces
sary to return to Europe in order to procure
the apparatus requisite for the Department. he
was to take charge of under Maximilinn's
Government; and while in England tina,
unfortunate Emperor was slain. Hence this
undertaking was nipped in the bud.
In September, 1868, Commodore Maury
was appointed Il professor in the Virgins
Military Institute, and Immediately upor
hearing Of the action OF tue Board of Visit
ors accepted the appointment and sailed fol
his native land. Arrived in this country, af
ter n short visit to his relatives In this State
| he repaired to the Institute and reported fol
duty. He was assigned to the Department
| of Physics, and placed in charge of the PLY
sical Survey of Virginia, then about to b.
made by the Virginia Military Institute
| This position he held till his death. '3s'
| 1t Is not my province to speak of the in
valuable service he rendered this institution
and this State. His reports of the survey
are before the world; they speak for them
selves. Let VirgnianS read them and pro
fit by them, rs thousands of Europeans have
already done.
| !
mind we will sec that he was even greater
in heart, in soul. desire to speak of
His Moral Character
and of bis death. About the year 1910 Com
modore Maury became 4 Christian, connect
| ing himself with the Protestant Episcopa
| Church. During the whole of his Christian
| life he took Christ for his example, and strovt
| by constant communion with him to initiate
| him. His faith was the beautiful and simple
| faith of the child. He knew he was q sin
per-al men are sinners-and he be
| lieved Jesus died to save such, there
fore he embraced him. as has Saviour
The Bible was his constant compan
ion. It is said of him that he coulC
repeat whole chapters, SO thoroughly ant
prayerfully had he studied il; and he wp
constantly finding new beauties in its sacret
pages. A close observer and lover of nature
he read Gods infinite love and power il
every pebble and in every leaf He loved
to sit in the balmy summer atmosphere anC
watch the setting sun and the clouds evel
changing their fantastic shapes, and wher
ni"ht had thrown her mantle over nature
| twas his delight to observe the sparkling
diamonds that bcstudded the canopy of hea.
ven. With this man the God Of Nature was
the God of the Bible. Huxleyism and Oar
wanism could do him no hurt; his faith ir
the Scriptures and in crucified Saviour was
too deeply rooted to be shaken by any sucf
attempt to prove the ,rant Of correspondence
between nature and the Bible.
$. HIS Death.
Such was the life of this man. But what
of his death? Did his death illustrate that
| in life he had "chosen that good part that
can never be taken from bim?" Aye, an
swer, it did, and more toosit showed that
the true Christian is not afraid to die and
stand before the great Judgment Bar of the
Almighty,
Long before his loved ones felt that he was
indeed going to die, Commodore Maury Tell
it-knew it. He summoned them all (foI
they were all present) to his bedside and told
them he was dying, but not to grieye, for be
was at peace with God, and was ready and
anxious to go.
During the forty-eight hours just prior to
bis death he ate nothing, and talked OF no
thing but the glories that so soon awaited
him. l would that / could tell you. and
through your paper the whole world, Tue
grand, the sublime language he then uttered
but | would be trenchipg on ground tot
| sacreu. 1 IHusl iOiDeiI) uut tbaI iauSu
that benedtction-will live In my memory
| forever.
| It was announced in all the churches II
| Lexington yesterday that the remains e
| Commodore M. F.. MalWy would lie in state
| in the hall of the public library Of this in
stitution from o'clock this afternoon til
| "Wednesday, in order that all the friends ant
admirers of the great and good man nigh
be enabled to see his face once more, Sc
| this morning number Of the ladies Of Lex