by Diane Fontaine Maury-Corbin

“ The Government of the United States having invited the cooperation of the maritime nations in this great work, a plan of mutual assistance has been adopted, embracing not less than nine-tenths of the shipping of the world; and we may reasonably anticipate the speedy solution of some of the most mysterious problems in the economy of nature from thus reticulating the entire surface of the great deep by systematic and multitudinous observations. ”

“ The Naval Observatory continues to pursue its appropriate labours with its usual good results, and is found to contribute the most important facilities to the improvement of navigation. I cannot better commend it to the regard of Congress than by a reference to the letter of Lieutenant Maury, which accompanies this report.’ (Annual Report of the Secretary of the Navy, December 4th, 1852; Hon. Jno. P. Kennedy.)
“The Naval Observatory, under the superintendence of Lt. M. F. Maury, is doing much for science and navigation, much for the benefit of mankind and the honour of our country. ”

“ In peace and in war the observations were to be carried on, and in case any of the vessels on board of which they were conducted should be captured, the abstract log was to be held sacred.
“Rarely,” said Maury, in his account of this Congress, “has there been such a sublime spectacle presented to the scientific world before: all nations agreeing to unite and co-operate in carrying out according to the same plan one system of philosophical research with regard to the sea. Though they may be enemies in all else, here they are friends. ”

“ The advantages of science in nautical affairs have rarely been more strikingly illustrated than in the fact stated in the report of the Navy Department, that by means of the Wind and Current Charts projected and prepared by Lieut. Maury, the Superintendent of the Naval Observatory, the passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific ports of our country has been shortened by about forty days.’ (Annual Message of President Fillmore, December 2nd, 1851.) ”

“ The observations of one whaleman must, necessarily, be limited by a few voyages and localities; but this arrangement of Mr. Maury’s enables him to profit by the experience of others.
“The most gratifying evidence as to the value and importance of these charts to the practical navigator continues daily to be received from all parts of the world. They lessen the dangers of navigation, and, by showing at a glance the prevailing winds and currents for each part of the ocean and for every month of the year, they enable the navigator to come and go with dispatch ”

“ Men of war are provided, and officers are paid to cruise against the enemy; yet the law provides not only pensions, but prize money for their efforts in the strict line of their duty.
“Your Committee, upon a full examination of the subject of the resolution referred to them, think that both justice and policy dictate that Congress should bestow upon the author of the Wind and Current Charts some substantial evidence of its appreciation of the benefits he has, by his labours, conferred upon his country. ”

“ Though he has given up his energies, both of body and mind, for certain things, he has not given them up for everything. He gives them up so far as they are necessary to the performance of the recognized duties of his office. It is difficult, as we approach the ground where the line of duty begins or ends, to separate all the rights of the individual from the obligations of the officer. ”

“ Maury, constituted the raw material from which the charts and sailing directions were to be constructed. Thus, without any expense beyond a copy of the work sent to every recording shipmaster, has been organized upon the sea a corps of systematic observers more extensive than has ever been engaged upon the investigation of any scientific subject. Every shipmaster engaging in the observations, receives from the Government a copy of Mr. Maury’s work, and thus all are interested in it. The observations of each tend to the benefit of all ”

“ We estimate the tonnage of the United States engaged in trade with these places at 1,000,000 tons per annum. With these data we see that there has been effected a saving for each of those tons of 13 cents a day for a period of 15 days, which will give an aggregate of $2,250,000 saved per annum. This is on the outward voyage alone; and the tonnage trading with all other parts of the world is also left out of the calculation. ”

“ His rank of Lieutenant entitles him to the pay of fifteen hundred dollars per annum; but for the performance of these various duties he receives three thousand dollars per annum and house rent; and while performing these duties, upon this pay, these charts have been, and are being, created by him, and published and distributed by the Government. Can Congress specially reward a valuable discovery or invention, achieved under such conditions, consistently with the public interests? ”

“ The Act of Congress of March 3rd, 1849, authorized the employment of three small vessels of the Navy in testing new routes on the ocean, pointed out by Superintendent M. F. Maury of the Observatory on his Wind and Current Charts, and collecting information to enable him to perfect these charts. ”

“ Will such rewards have a tendency to develop, encourage, and maintain the zeal, devotion, and abilities of public servants, or are they calculated to repress or weaken them?
“When a man enters the Naval service, he without a doubt surrenders certain rights of the citizen ”