Page:Matthew Fontaine Maury 1806-1873.pdf/14

 reports is my thunder; if you see some one in Washington running away with it, then recollect where the lightning came from." As we eagerly read the daily "Weather Reports" we realize, truly, that the world has run away with his "thunder," while but few remember whence "the lightning came"!

The interest excited by the practical application of meteorology to navigation enabled Maury in 1853 to assemble at Brussels under the auspices of King Leopold a Congress of the chief commercial nations of the earth. At this Congress Maury represented the United States. Its object was the further development of meteorological research. In his report to Congress, Maury says of the Brussels Conference:

"Rarely has there been presented to the scientific world so sublime a spectacle, all nations agreeing to unite and co-operate in carrying out, according to the same plan, one system of philosophical research with regard to the sea. Every ship that navigates the high seas with these charts and abstract-logs may be regarded, henceforth, as a floating observatory—a temple of science!"

At the close of the Conference, Maury returned to his old post at Washington, laden with honors and rich in fame. The use of Maury's "Sailing Directions" and his "Wind and Current Charts" proved highly satisfactory to the large Steamship Companies, and this satisfaction the merchants and underwriters of New York expressed by presenting to Maury at a public dinner $5,000 in gold and a handsome silver service. This service is now owned by his granddaughter, Miss Ann Maury of Richmond, Virginia.

In Europe many learned societies elected him an honorary member of their bodies, orders of knighthood were offered him, and medals were struck in his honor. Though thus honored in business circles and by learned societies at home and abroad, sinister methods, born of ignoble motives, began to manifest themselves in national legislation. Congress, in 1855, passed a bill to Promote the Efficiency of the Navy. Under this Act, the Navy Retiring Board placed Maury on the retired list. This action aroused a storm of popular indignation, in consequence of which,