by Diane Fontaine Maury-Corbin

“ Various elements are at work in our political system to try the strength of the Constitution. Whenever, if ever, a political storm shall burst upon us, this canal will prove a noble anchor to windward.... Such agents are at work, as tend to foster sectional jealousies....Intolerance and fanaticism are the bane of free institutions — they may be destined some day to try the strength of the Union. ”

“ For them our merchant vessels, when pursued, would shape their course, and find safety in the strength of these two points. In our present unprotected state, and without the above mentioned defenses, all the immense wealth which is poured into and out of the Gulf of Mexico, as through a funnel, would be at the mercy of an enemy.” In the same paper Maury advocated the establishment of a naval school for midshipmen, “that they might there be instructed in the higher duties of their profession,” and urged the use of regular textbooks. ”

“ In a paper entitled “The Navy and the West,” published in the Southern Literary Messenger of January 1843, Maury insisted upon the advantages which would accrue “from the building of a dock and navy yard and school of instruction for naval engineers at Memphis, so that they might be ready to understand and control the steam power which was beginning to be adopted as a motive power in the Navy.” ”

“ Under the old system, the power of a man of war was expressed by the number of her guns, some having as many as 120. Maury predicted that in future wars few vessels would have more than six. Experience has shown how accurate his judgment was.
In the early part of the same year Maury drew attention to “great circle sailing,” — as a means of shortening the distance between American and English ports. He also wrote on the subject of “Direct Trade in Southern Bottoms”. ”

“ In another “scrap” for the same paper he advised that “a navy yard and forts should be established at Memphis and Pensacola,” and wrote: “Pensacola and some point in Georgia, or on the Eastern Coast of Florida, cannot be too strongly fortified or too well supplied now with all the imperishable articles on the lists of outfits for shipping, with implements and instruments of war. They would be to the Gulf of Mexico and the West Indies what Gibraltar is to the Mediterranean and the Levant.
“ There our vessels might rendezvous and thence hold the enemy in check. ”

“ Betty is going to school, and growing apace. I wish I could give her physic to keep her as a child. The idea of my daughters ever getting married is so unpleasant, that I am sure I shall never like the man who marries one. ”

“ Maury urged, for the defense of the Great Lakes, the establishment of forts, arsenals, and a ship canal from the Illinois River to Lake Michigan, to connect with the Memphis navy yard (which had by this time become a fixed fact) , and transport ships to and fro in time of war:---
“Millions have been expended for the defence of the Atlantic seaboard. ”

“ Maury’s first five “scraps” from “The Lucky Bag” which were written on naval reform and other subjects of national interest, attracted so much attention, and were so generally approved by the Navy, that (although the author was, as yet, entirely incognito, and great curiosity was expressed as to who he could be) the officers, defraying the expense by subscription, had large numbers of these papers published and circulated. ”

“ Novel reading is, to the student, what mint juleps are to the tippler — most delightful and refreshing at the time, but serpents under the flowers in the end. I often deplore the general state of female education in this country.......
In 1847- 48 Congress failed to make any appropriation for the NATIONAL OBSERVATORY, and in consequence Maury’s pay was stopped for a time. ”

“ It will more than maintain itself — the money expended on it in peace or in war will not be idle for a moment, and the work will pay back its first cost every year in princely and magnificent sums.... Let this work be completed, and it will prove a dragon’s tooth, planted in the West, to bring forth for the defence of the country a harvest of steam clad warriors, ever brave, always ready .....The question of this ship canal is second only to that of the free navigation of the Mississippi River and the purchase of Louisiana. ”

“ They are quite as much admired on the other side as on this; and they do turn out exceedingly rich. Some new discovery, some new fact or law of nature is constantly starting up before us as we proceed with our investigations. ”

“ The additional exercise, which I have been obliged to take here, has proved of the utmost service to the leg. On one or two occasions, I have been on my feet from eight or nine in the morning till eleven at night. The leg strengthens under it all the time. I am on my feet standing or walking most of the day ”

“ Tell him to drive ahead, study well, and improve fast; I SHALL WANT HIM TO GO OUT AND SURVEY THE ROUTE FOR THE MEMPHIS AND CALIFORNIA RAILROAD...
The Boston merchants were so pleased with the WIND AND CURRENTS CHART, [4] that they offered to raise 50,000 dollars to buy a vessel and keep her at my orders — to try new routes. I said nay; and then they petitioned Congress to detail a man-of-war for the purpose, to which Uncle Sam gave a pie-crust promise. Four vessels that I know of have tried the new route to the equator. ”

“ Maury writes of this incidentally in the following letters to his cousins in New York:--
_________________
Observatory, April 10th, 1848
....No pay yet, and I am very tired of living on such slender means. Better times, I hope, are coming before long; this poverty is a terrible weight upon one’s mind and wants.
June 10th, 1848
....The pay has almost passed the House, and I begin to think of increasing expenditure in the way of education, &c., for the children, and church and social facilities, &c., for Nannie. ”