Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-24
MAuRY,s DECORATIONS.
Probable That They VIII he Placed
I'm the Congressional Library.
New York Herald.)

New York Herald.)
The family OF the late Commander NJ. r.
Maury has been approached by the com
mittee having charge OF the new Unitec
States Library at Washington with pre-
posals for obtaining possession Of the In
teresting and unique collection OF medals,
decorations. etc, bestowed on this dis
tinguished scientist by the crowned heads
of Europe.
The collection consists OF twenty-five
| gold and silver medals, given by Prussia.
Austria, Norway and Sweden, Holland,
Belgium, France, the Pope Sardinia, and
| Bremen; three copper medals, given by
England, Belgium, and Batavia; four de-
coratlons-the Dannebrog, the Tower, and
Sword. ST. Ann and Our Lady OF Gaude-
| loupe-giyen by Denmark, Portugal Rus
STA, and Mexico respectively 1.-TWO others
| st. Leopold, from Belgium, and the Legion
OF Honor from France-were returned at
Maury's death to the monarchs who gave
them, but these doubtless could be du-
pllcated) a pearl and diamond brooch
from the Car of Russia and u diamond
pin from the unfortunate Emperor OF Mex
ico a gold and silver casket containing
a gift from the Lords of the British Adj
miralty, and q silver service from the
merchants and underwriters Of New
York.
These honors were conferred upon
Maury by the governments mentioned In
token of respect and admiration excited
and benefits conferred by his Wind and
Current Charts" his Sailing Directions"
and his Physical Geography Of the
Sea" on the navigators of the world;
the suggestions, improvements, and dis
coveries made by him with regard to
the Atlantic submarine cable, his steam
lanes" across the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans, and as the originator OF the |
present system of the Weather Bureau. |
Congress has now under discussion |
petition from Boston to erect on one |
Of the government reservations a monu-
ment TO this great American, in CRATE
full remembrance of the benefits con-
ferred on the navy and navtgators by
Maury's discoveries Of the secrets that
govern and control the movements of
the atmosphere and the oceans" On
Maury's wind and Current Charts"
and from Maury's plans and methods
the present world renowned United
States Pilot Charts. issued monthly by
the Bureau of photography of the
United States Navy, are built and con-
structed.
The largest and handsomest Of the
gold medals. the great Cosmos medal,
vas given 10 Maufy by tne hluB Oh !
Prussia. 1t was struck for the famous
and philosopher, Baron
humboldt and at his request was dupli-
'ated for Maury. These two are the
,nly ones in existence. All the other
,old medals, except the Austrian, one
rom France, one from Belgium and the
'ope's, were struck in Maury's honor,
nd have no duplicates.
This collection, Maurys friends and
dmirers think, should not be scattered
broad among his heirs and hid away
4 private houses, where thieves may
reak through and steal or fire may
estroy, but should be gathered to- {
ether, preserved and exhibited with
ride by the United States Government
5 a tribute paid TO an illustrious son,
nd an object lesson that future genera ,
ons Of the youth of this country may !
trive TO emulate I
Maury started life poor. and by his n
wn efforts became the distinguished me-
soroloHst, photographer, and scientist
rat "kings delighted to honor"