able occupation for me here. There are many things here with which I may identify myself and do good, such as organizing the census, a land-survey for the Empire, a system of internal improvements; and though last, not least, the introduction of chinchona cultivation.
In October 1865, Maury's son Richard, with his wife and little boy, arrived at Mexico to assist his father in the work of his department, and to take his place when he should be on leave of absence. Colonel Richard Maury had been severely wounded in the war, but he was able to be a great help to his father. "He surprises me," writes Maury, "by his business habits, tact, and capacity."
Having obtained leave of absence from the Emperor to visit his family, Maury left Mexico on the 24th of February, 1866, arriving in London in the end of March. When he departed, emigrants were crowding to his "Carlotta Colony," at Cordova, and "everything looked as fair and smiling as possible for my day-dream." Mrs. Maury, with her young family, had arrived at Liverpool in November 1865, and had sent young "Brave" to school, employing masters for her daughters.
The following letters to his wife and children are interesting. They describe the Imperial Court, Maury's domestic arrangements in Mexico, and the country between the capital and Vera Cruz.
On Sept. 12th, 1865, Maury wrote from Mexico to his wife as follows:—
I never tire of writing to you and my children; it is my comfort, my happiness, and consolation. I hope this will find you all safe and sound in England. Yesterday I received a large batch of back-letters—one from "Brave," reporting his arrival in Virginia; one from Eliza, blowing me up for coming here; two from Dick, one from Betty, and three from you, with any amount of press copies from others, which
