"This is a high but deserved compliment to Lieutenant Maury, who has just been retired by the action of the Retiring Board of the Navy. Maury has many powerful friends in the United States and abroad. The people of France, England, and Germany know more of such men as Maury, than they do of our most prominent politicians, and through such as Maury our country gains credit; his being retired has occasioned surprise and displeasure throughout countries. There will be a great deal said about it."
The National Intelligencer said:—"The conduct pursued by that board in reference to Lieutenant Maury and the storm of indignant public feeling aroused by that action, has evidently reached the White House, and called forth 'special pleading' towards the public.The Secretary of the Navy evidently feels that injustice has been done to one of the noblest spirits in the navy—to a man whose name will hereafter be looked upon as a legacy which the whole country will delight to protect, and to which Science will turn as to one of her special favourites. . . . We commend the spirit in which the above sentiment is conceived, and we hope the assurance thus given to the public, of a willingness to rectify errors, will be carried out. In the case of Lieutenant Maury, all right-minded men, without respect to party, have spoken and unanimously said, Let his sword be restored to him with all the honour and reparation due to injured merit. Let this be done and done quickly!"
On March 25th, 1856, he addressed the following letter to each of the three Secretaries of the Navy, who were at that time within reach:—
| Sir, | Observatory, Washington, March 26th, 1856. |
Will you do me the favour to state why, when you were Secretary of the Navy, you did not order me to sea? Was it because I did not apply, or was it because you considered my services on shore of more value to the country
