Page:A Life of Matthew Fontaine Maury.pdf/238

224

Maury' residence and occupation in England—Departure for the West Indies—Tidings of the fall of the Confederacy—He surrenders his sword—His son "Brave" returns home—Letter from Dr. Brodie Herndon on the condition of Virginia after the war—Maury resolves to go to Mexico—Reception by the Emperor Maximilian—Appointed Commissioner of Immigration—Explains his motives and course of action in a letter to Dr. Tremlett—The decree respecting immigration—Maury's explanatory memorandum—His scheme disapproved by friends—Letters from Commodore Jansen and General Lee—Maury's defence to his cousin Rutson Maury—Arrival of his son Richard at Mexico—Maury goes on leave to England—Mrs. Maury and her family at Liverpool—Letters from Mexico to his wife and children—An imperial dinner—Keeping house—Description of the journey from Mexico to the coast—Maury's reply to the Emperor's intimation that the immigration department was abolished—His introduction of the Cinchona cultivation into Mexico—Causes which led to the fall of the empire—Desertion of the French—Death of the Emperor—His tomb at Kenia—Melancholy note of the Empress—Her last letter to Maury.

residence in England was a period of great anxiety. It is true that his mind was much occupied with the perfecting of discoveries, and the conduct of experiments connected with torpedo warfare, in pursuance of the duties on which he was employed, and that the companionship of his youngest son gave him comfort, while the boy's education was a constant source of interest. But the news from the seat of war became less and less hopeful, while the separation from his wife and the rest of his family, at such a time, was hard to bear. At that time his wish was that his dear ones "should make their way into Canada, and tarry there till this vengeful strife