1855, having reported you as one of the officers who in their judgement should be placed on the retired List on leave-of-absence pay, and the finding of the Board having been approved by the President, it becomes my duty to inform you that from this date you are removed from the active Service List and placed on the Retired List on leave-of-absence pay.
You are, however, not detached from the Naval Observatory. I avail myself of the authority of the law to direct that you continue on your present duty.
I am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
"This Board", says Maury, "could only have given an average of ten minutes' 'careful examination' to the merits and demerits of each one of the 712 officers in our Naval Service. This Board met in secret, kept no record of proceedings, called no witnesses, and heard no arguments. They commenced their sessions on the 20th of June, and adjourned on the 26th of July. They lost several days by absence of members, and five days on account of Sundays.
Their sessions commenced at 10 a.m. and lasted until 3 p.m. The Board was required by the Act of Congress to make a careful examination into the efficiency of every officer. Their whole working time was less than 140 hours, during which period they adjudicated upon the claims of 712 officers, so that the 'careful examinations' amounted to an average of about ten minutes for each, the result of which was to seal the fate of many a good fellow who had served his country long and faithfully."
Loud complaint was also made of the action of the Board in declaring incompetent, unworthy of promotion, and an incumbrance upon the Navy, the very men who for many years past and up to the present time had done and were doing so much for the interest and reputation of our country. Reference was particularly made to the case of Lieutenant Maury:—"There
