Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-03-27
Commodore Many.

We have received a copy of petition
addressed TO Congress by julius A.
PALMER. q citizen of Massachusetts, ask
ing for the erection of statue in memory
of the late MATHEW FoNTAINE MAURY, Of
the State of Virginia. The petition was
presented in the Senate some time ago.
Mr.. PALMER IS q liberal-minded man.
Though ne lives in Boston be fully re-
cognizes the great talents of Commodore
MAURY as well as his patriotism and pub
lie spirit. and credits him with the good
which he accomplished for mankind. We
cannot forbear TO call the attention of the
Younger portion of the community to
some facts in the history of that dis
tinguished Virginian, or, If anybody pre-
fers the word. that distinguished American.
We give only such facts as are mentioned
by Mr.. PALMER.
Everybody has heard of MAURY's wind
and current charts. That these charts
completely revOlutionizcd commerce" was
the testimony Of the Secretaries of the
Navy from 1850 TO 1856. They not only
saved millions of dollars to those engaged
in ocean commerce, but added glory and
voyage was shortened forty and to some
over ninety days. Sir JoHN PAcKMGToN,
of the British Admiralty, testified on this
point. The following are very interesting
facts:
when the San Francisco, with hun
dreds of United States troops on board,
foundered in an Atlantic hurricane and the
rumor reached port that she was ID need of
help. the Secretary of the Navy sent to
Maury for information. He at once showed
on a chart where the winds and waves act
ing upon helpless wreck would drift her
TO this spot relief was sent, aud there the
survivors were picked up. When the
Prince of Wales returned from his visit to
the United States he sailed from Portland,
Me- (; his coal gave out: he got into a region
of contrary winds and was overdue ten
days. The Lords of the Admiralty waited
ON Maury and asked for information of his
whereabouts. Maury showed them, and
they sent aid and brought him home in tn
umph in time 10 celebrate his birthday"
M.URY's "pilot charts" his isothermal
charts, ETC., are of incalculable value.
In 1853 the Government of the United
States invited all the European nations to
meet MAURY in meteorological conference
OF Brussels This was done, and he then
urged that the system of meteorological
observations he had already inaugurated
at sea should be extended TO the land, and
thus form weather bureau with observers
in all parts Of the world. Thus MAUBY
was the real originator Of the weather
bureau. He said on this subject:
Tho atmosphere is great basin which
envelopes the globe, and every plant and
animal that grows there il dependent for
Its well-being upon the laws which govern
and control the wind in its circuit and
none more so than man, the lord of ALL
To study these laws we must treat the
atmosphere ms a whole. We have now the
sea made white with floating observatories,
all equipped with instruments that are
comparable, observing the same things ac-
cording TO uniform method and record
ing these observations according to a UNI
versal plan. In the process of discussing
these observations. thus obtained from the
pea, have arrived at that point at which
observations on the land are found 10 be
essential TO successful prosecution of my
Investigations into the laws which govern
the grand atmospherical machine ] want
20 soc the land. therefore, spotted with CO.
iaborers observing also, according to some
uniform plan. such as may be agreed upon
with the most distinguished meteorolo
tsts al homo aud abroad, and have adj.
matter vs.,utry because they have in this
In Is4s -'49fest at stake"
snce Of n ,Io,.a,,sy prophesied " the exist
$50. P4a'eau uh>, the Atlantic ), snd
suggested that q subtsnnae A''an'ic' ana
.ao'e uniting the two continent. e ''sDa'
slu 'here. He urged the secretars - y, ~
nayy TO have soundings made there " nnS sno
shs s direction to ascertain the truth Of b;s
!, ,ha I ,., 70 omit mention of many thipps
a. As 'iie OF this extraordinary man Snf
p ~. " 70 say that Denmark. Portugs,
.s a.s's' france, Belgium, and Mexico nrs
s on.sa decorations and orders Of KNIGHT
nooo. which last be declined lbeing a. o,s
. Ger o. the United States nayyl, Hs Ssd
ns.S $3.50, sIoa. twenty diplomas from as
'o''sa scientific societies, but from,