A Life of Matthew Fontaine Maury

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A Life of Matthew Fontaine Maury (1888)
by Diana Fontaine Maury Corbin
1350543A Life of Matthew Fontaine Maury1888Diana Fontaine Maury Corbin

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A LIFE


OF


MATTHEW FONTAINE MAURY,

U.S.N. AND C.S.N.


AUTHOR OF ' PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF THE SEA

AND ITS METEOROLOGY.'



COMPILED BY HIS DAUGHTER,

DIANA FONTAINE MAURY CORBIN.



LONDON:

SAMPSON LOW, MARSTON, SEARLE, & RIVINGTON,

LIMITED,

St. Dunstan's House,

Fetter Lane, Fleet Street, E.C.

1888.

[All rights reserved.]












LONDON:

PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED,
stamford street and charing cross.



TO


ANN HERNDON MAURY,



THE LOVING WIFE AND TENDER MOTHER,



THIS VOLUME


Is Affectionally Inscribed.


"The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her."
"Her children also shall rise up and call her blessed."




PREFACE.


My object in the preparation of this biography is to establish the claim of subject to a place; among the greatest benefactors of his race; and to demonstrate, especially to the youth of his beloved country, how a man may be both great and good, mighty in mind and pure in heart. I have endeavoured fitly to show how he persisted in the path of duty even when it led to poverty and exile; how he threw into any work he undertook his whole heart; and how, after a life of exceptional fidelity to earthly obligation, as a Christian philosopher he met and triumphed over death.

Much matter of value to such a memoir perished during the war, though more remained than I have as yet been able satisfactorily to use. From a mass of letters and other documents collected during several years by my sister, Mrs. James R. Werth, this volume has been mainly been made up; but the limits to which I felt obliged to confine myself have excluded not a little I wished it to embrace.

I desire gratefully to acknowledge the assistance of my cousin, Gen. Dabney H. Maury, who has furnished several graceful sketches included in the work; and of another kinsman, Col. Wm. W. Blackford, who has supplied help of a similar nature.

My sincere thanks are also due to Professor L. M. Blackford, of the Episcopal High School, near Alexander, and his talented wife, for their criticisms, alterations, and additions to this work.

This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.

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