CHAPTER XVII.
Description of Lexington—Maury settled in his last home—Virginia the best route to the North-West—Scheme for a map showing a cast of the atmosphere—Reaches his sixty-sixth birthday—Arrangement to deliver addresses—Meteorological survey of Virginia—Resumes his lectures on agricultural meteorology—His address delivered at Nashville, St Louis, and Richmond—In delivering his lectures on weather forecast for farmers Maury overtaxed his strength—Maury comes home to Lexington to die—His last illness—The last scene—His death—Sketch of his character—Particulars of his last days—Quotation of a notice in Temple Bar—His wishes respecting his obsequies—Lines by Mrs. Margaret Preston on his body passing the Goshen Pass on its way to Richmond.
Lexington is a small town, beautifully situated on the western side of the Blue Ridge, with picturesque views of valley and mountain-ranges on every side. The academical buildings are erected in a continuous line, facing a green expanse of grass, interspersed with clumps and lines of trees. Nearest the town are the edifices connected with the Washington and Lee University, including the house of the Hector, where General Lee passed the last years of his life, the library and class-rooms, and houses of professors. A little in advance is the memorial church containing the noble recumbent statue of General Lee by Valentine, the great Virginian sculptor. The grounds of the University are only divided from those of the Military Institute by a gate and iron railings. Here is the house occupied by Maury, with a bright and cheerful landscape in full view from its windows, the house of the Principal, General Smith, and the main
