The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-02-05
roe pe..s 81 cemnsasrs II.
wIa@0~

Matthew Fontains Maury BIB. p,
died at Lexington. Virgins, on sster-
day, the 3lst Of iJanusry,in the sixty
seventh yesr Of his age. At the tine
| Of his death he was Professor of
Physics in the Virginia Military 1nsti-
tute. Tits not extravagant 10 say that
in the death OK Commodore Aaary
science has lost pus Of its most mature
and creative minds. Devoted to The
investigation Of physical science from
early manhood, he has given to it the
assiduous labor of strong intellect,
and he has sdded, perhaps. more to the
progress Of its development than any OF
his contemporaries. As an astronomer
and photographer his works are Of the
best authority. ..
Commodore Msury was born IN
Spottsylvania county, Virginia, January
IA, 1906. His parents removed while
he was young to Tennessee. In 1928
he entered the naval service as mid
shipman, and was assigned to the Bran
DIVINE, then fitting out TO convey Gem
eral Lafayette to France. He was at
forwards trans ferred to the sloop Of
war Vincennes, and made the tour
around the globe. During this cruise,
and while . midshipman, he begsu his
treatise on navigation, which passed
through several editions and was used
az text book in the navy. He was
again sent to the, Pacific as master Of
the Falmouth, and on his return was
transferred as acting Lieutenant to the
Potomac. In 1886 he was promoted
to lieutenancy. In 1889 he met with
AN accident which resulted in perma-
neut lameness and unified him for
active service. He was then placed In
charge of the Autographed office at
Washington. aud upon the combination
with it OF the national now naval) ob.
servatorv, he was. made superintendent
of it. Before this time, however, Com
modore Maury had been engaged in
collecting material for bis great work,
The Physical Geography Of the Sea"
which was translated into most Of the
languages of Europe, and obtained for
him honors and decoration from all ma
tons. 1t threw a flood of light upon
winds, currents, &c, and has served rs
the most reliable ocean chart. Besides
these practical results, the new theory
inaugurated by Commodore Maury OF
the crossing OF the trade-winds at the
equator, whereby the excess Of evapor
alton in the southern hemisphere is
made to supply the greater require.
ments of precipitation on the dry land
of the northern. is fully developed.
Among the practical advantages OF
these Investigations is the shortening OF
the passage from the Atlantic to the
Pacific ports BY forty days, and the
voyages from Europe to America in
proportion; also the discovery OF the
telegraphic ocean plate au. In 1853 he
was promoted to the rank of command
er. He was a member Of many OF the
pripcipsl scientific associations In
Europe and America. He was also the
author OF Scheme for rebuilding
Southern Commerce" Letters on the
Amazon and the Atlantic States Of
South America" Relation between
Magnetism and the Circulation of the
Atmosphere" Astronomical Observa-
tions," Letters Concerning Laws for
the Steamers Crossing the Atlantic"
&c &c.
Commodore Maury remained in
charge OF the National Observatory at
Washington until the commencement:
OF the late civil war, when, 10 common
with so many other Virginians, he re
signed his position to cast his lot with
his native State, and was made one Of
the executive council ofthe Confederate
S ates.
This action Of his, in connection with
certain rivalries and jealousies devel-
oped a ysarior two, previous, furnished
occasion in the North for severe criti-
cisms, and he was even charged with
being charlatsp, thus showing the
unreasonableness Of prejudice and par
tisan feeling. As soon as it was known
that he had resigned his place in the
service OF the United States, he was
solicited to become the guest Of Russia,
where every provision was made for
his comfort and to enable him to CON.
tinue HE researches. This invitation,
% we'll asa similar one from France, he
declined. Commodore Maury spent
most OF bis time from 1862 to 1868 in
Europe. While in Europe he prepared,
by permission. for the son Of the Grand
Duke Constantine and his cousin Alexis
an elementary work on physical geog-
raphy, which, BY imperial orders. was
translated for the schools Of Russia.
1t was during the latter wear OF bisstay
in Europe that he devoted himself to
the preparation Of his geographical
text books, which have been published
by the University Publishing Company
OF New York and Baltimore. He has
also devoted himself to the restoration
and development OF the South, en-
couraging emigration aud melting the
population to its vast physical sdyan-
tages by means of essays and lectures
upon its climate and soil, but more par
ticularly was the labor Of his declining
years congeuial to his tastes in the in
struction OF the youth Of bis native
State in the Gcience he loved.
The Ram that Butsed the Damsel
over the Washtub.