by Diane Fontaine Maury-Corbin

“ But it is absurd to believe that 50 per cent of the Navy has been for years inefficient, immoral, and worthless. And if 15 officers of the Navy decide that one-half are unfit for active service, it is more than probable that the other half are no better. The papers have already spoken in loud tones against the proceedings of the Board, and will continue to issue their anathema amaranths until justice is done to these much injured officers. ”

“ THE CONDUCT PURSUED BY THAT BOARD in reference to Lieutenant Maury and the STORM OF INDIGNANT PUBLIC FEELING aroused by that action, has evidently reached the WHITE HOUSE, and called forth ‘special pleading’ towards the public. The Secretary of the Navy evidently feels that injustice has been done to one of the noblest spirits in the navy — to a man whose name will hereafter be looked upon as a legacy which the whole country will delight to protect, and to which Science will turn as to one of her special favourites.... ”

“ Suppose he and the President, consulting with the Senate, should satisfy Senators as to these twelve or fifteen cases; that Senators should agree to confirm the nominations, and that the President, then revoking twelve or fifteen commissions, should send in his black-balled nominations? My reply was, it was unlawful to promote black-balls, and that the President and Senate could not repeal a law. I told him that mere promotion would not satisfy me; that the Board has cast a professional stain, and that must be wiped out. ”

“ I hope the Government will keep you where you are while God spares your life and reason, and that the country will bestow upon you its highest honours, of which you are so justly deserving, whilst you advance in life and in the great work you have undertaken. ”

“ Having been to sea on active service a very large portion of my life, I presume I attach as much importance to the merits and claims of sea service as anyone, having, in fact, but little claim to consideration on any other score, and knowing little about anything else but ships of war and their uses ”

“ The Board was required by the Act of Congress to make a careful examination into the efficiency of every officer. Their whole working time was less than 140 hours, during which period they adjudicated upon the claims of 712 OFFICERS, so that the ‘careful examinations’ amounted to an average of about ten minutes for each, the result of which was to seal the fate of many a good fellow who had served his country long and faithfully. ”

“ THIS IS A HIGH BUT DESERVED COMPLIMENT TO LIEUTENANT MAURY, WHO HAS JUST BEEN RETIRED BY THE ACTION OF THE RETIRING BOARD. MAURY HAS MANY POWERFUL FRIENDS IN THE UNITED STATES AND ABROAD. THE PEOPLE OF FRANCE, ENGLAND, AND GERMANY KNOW MORE OF SUCH MEN AS LIEUTENANT MAURY, THAN THEY DO OF OUR MOST PROMINENT POLITICIANS, AND THROUGH SUCH AS MAURY OUR COUNTRY GAINS CREDIT ”

“ Mere bodily activity, in an officer of my rank, is comparatively of little value, when taken in connection with the mental activity. Officers are expected — at least, it is generally so in the upper grades — to work rather with the head than the hand, and, moreover, I am bodily as active as a majority of the Board, and if broken legs disqualify, at least one member of the Board should have borne me company, for his leg was broken twice over.... ”

“ No imperative demand for sea-service required your detachment from the Observatory, and on no duty either on shore or afloat could your services have been as valuable to the country or as distinguishing and honourable to your profession, as that to which you have been so assigned. ”

“ Matthew Fontaine Maury. The New York Journal of Commerce said: — ”Lord Nelson lost both an eye and an arm, yet his name was mighty in battle. Our officers have lost neither arms nor eyes, it is true; but they stand on the records of their country disgraced. Although Messrs. Mallory and Clayton deny that any action of the Senate can wipe this disgrace off, we must beg to differ. Let these officers be restored to their former positions, and then if any charges rest against them on the records of the Navy Department, let them be tried, and, if found guilty, condemned. ”

“ I am here in the midst of a large fleet of foreign vessels of war, of many different nations, in daily intercourse with their officers, many of them highly accomplished and superior men, and I find, without exception, that our sentiments and views are in common upon this subject, for it is often discussed. ”

“ WE LEARN THAT THE RUSSIAN MINISTER yesterday waited on Lieutenant Maury, at the National Observatory, to deliver, by command of his Government, the following autograph letter from the GRAND DUKE CONSTANTINE, Commander in Chief of the Russian Navy:--
LIEUTENANT MAURY
ST. PETERSBURG, DECEMBER 2ND, 1855
It is now a long time since the eminent scientific works, for which navigators of every nation are indebted to your zeal and your talents, attracted my attention. ”

“ The great benefits he has conferred upon our Naval and Mercantile Marine, upon commerce, navigation, and science generally, are too well known and admired at home and abroad to tolerate even the appearance of putting down, or aside, such an officer. ”