by Diane Fontaine Maury-Corbin

“ I received much consideration, and was brought into social intercourse with the best people of the realm, all of which was very charming, but, after all, not worth the absence from my dear home, the sweet wife and dear children with which each of us is blessed, and which makes home the sweetest place on the face of this earth. ”

“ PRESIDENT LINCOLN REFUSES TO ACCEPT MY RESIGNATION! THE OBJECT OF THIS WILL BE PLAIN ENOUGH. But in such a cause the HALTER has no more terror than the bullet. Death is death. Our cause is just, and we enter the contest in armour. ”

“ Your indefatigable researches have unveiled the great laws which rule the winds and currents of the ocean, and have placed your name amongst those which will ever be mentioned with feelings of gratitude and respect, not only by professional men, but by all those who pride themselves in the great and noble attainments of the human race. ”

“ That your name is well-known in Russia I need scarcely add, and though “barbarians,” as we are still sometimes called, we have been taught to honour in your person disinterested and eminent services to science and mankind. Sincerely deploring the inactivity into which the present political whirlpool in your country has plunged you, I deem myself called upon to invite you to take up your residence in this country, where you may in peace continue your favourite and useful occupations. ”

“ Paul mortgages.... There is nothing like excitement here. All of us are of one mind — very cool, very determined; no desire for a conflict. WE ARE ON THE DEFENSIVE. WE HAVE NOTHING TO FIGHT THE NORTH ABOUT; but if the North wants a fight, it can have it. We are ready; but the North must come to us for it. From all I see in the public journals here, we have no idea, and never had any idea, of attacking Washington, or of invading any Northern right, or Northern soil.
M. F. Maury
WILLIAM C. H. OF NEWBURGH
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, MAY 12TH, 1861 MY DEAR FRIEND ”

“ Maury also declined a similar invitation from FRANCE, because Virginia wanted him. THESE LETTERS WERE BROUGHT TO RICHMOND, VIRGINIA UNDER A FLAG OF TRUCE, by the RUSSIAN MINISTER, BARON VON STACLE; and the FRENCH MINISTER, accompanied by the PRUSSIAN ENVOY, BARON FRIEDRICH VON GEROLT, who came, they said, in person to pay their respects and make their adieus to the “philosopher and man of science, who had given up all, everything he had save honour, at the call of his native State in her trouble.” ”

“ Maury made earnest efforts to avert war, maintain peace, and insure to the South her equal rights in the Union. MAURY ADDRESSED APPEALS TO THE GOVERNORS OF PENNSYLVANIA, NEW JERSEY, MARYLAND, and DELAWARE, TO STAND IN THE BREACH and STOP THIS FRATRICIDAL STRIFE.
HIS EXCELLENCY GOVERNOR WILLIAM F. PACKARD, HARRISBURG, PA.
OBSERVATORY, WASHINGTON, JANUARY 3RD, 1860
DEAR SIR,
When the affairs of a nation are disturbed, quiet people, however humble their station, may be justified in stepping a little out of their usual way. ”

“ There is no telling when or where it will stop, as long as there is fuel to feed it. So I have been thinking it might be as well to have that thing that “pestered me so” back again, or in some other shape. ”