Page:A Life of Matthew Fontaine Maury.pdf/136

122 To show Maury's deep feeling on the on the subject, some extracts of letters written at that time to his kinsman and friend, B. F. Minor, of Albemarle, Virginia, are here subjoined:—

I am forging ahead slowly. The law says—"And whenever said board shall believe that said incompetency has arisen from any cause implying sufficient blame to justify it, he shall be dismissed," &c. Now there is, who was tried for ignoble conduct, found guilty and sentenced to be cashiered; he has done nothing to retrieve himself since, and he too is on my list. I shall fight that point, and in the meantime ask leave to appeal, or state my case to the public and ask for a suspension of opinion till Congress can sit. . . . He had written a letter to each member of the Board requesting to "know the grounds on which they had acted, and their reasons for dropping him from the active list of the service and placing him in official disgrace." Most of the members wrote in reply; and he says, "The Board replies are coming in. I am waiting for them all. Last night I received two. M declines like a man, plump straightforward 'No!' Can't speak for the Board nor for myself,' yet volunteers to speak for the measure.' The Board had nothing to do with its effect upon me of their action." Their replies will enable us to "peep into" their hearts. S, P, and B are also in town. They will probably reply soon; we shall see. . ..

Last night I received the enclosed two answers. B 'likes me,' and meant what he says for civility. I 'should be satisfied' with any amount of disgrace for full leave of absence pay. Nay, I should 'be grateful to the Board in that it was graciously pleased to place' me, &c., &c.

I am curious to see the replies of D, B, and G. The former because I think they were moved by malice; the latter because I think better of him than his brother-officers generally do. Moreover, they are all away from town and have not a chance, or rather, so, a good chance, to get their cue from high places.