| Paris, Feb. 24th 1860. |
| Sir, and highly honoured Colleague, |
Independently of the great gold medal which the Government of the Emperor has decreed you, as a mark of esteem for the eminent services which you have rendered to navigation. Admiral Hammelin, Minister of Marine, had determined to give you an especial mark of his gratitude for the communications so important and so numerous which you have addressed to the department. Admiral Hammelin has instructed me to send two complete collections, bound, of our Charts and Nautical Instructions, the one intended for the Observatory, and the other for yourself personally.
The copy which is destined for you bears on the inside of the binding the following words: "His Excellency, Admiral Hammelin, Minister of Marine, to Lieutenant Maury"; and they have just been sent through the Legation of the United States at Paris.
I pray you accept my sincere congratulations, and to be assured of the devoted affectionate sentiments and of the high consideration with which you will ever be regarded by your
| Very obedient servant, |
| A. Mathieu, |
| Rear-Admiral and Director-General. |
| To Lt. Maury, Director of the Observatory, |
| Washington. |
P.S. Our Meteorological Service, under the active and experienced Director of Engineers, De la Marche, is now organized. As soon as we shall have collected sufficient data, we will communicate them to you.
| Sir, | Milan, December 10th, 1857. |
I avail myself, with real pleasure, of the opportunity given me by your kind offer of the Sailing Directions, to express to you my warm and sincere thanks for it; to fell you how since years I observed, with intense interest and admiration, your noble and unequaled efforts, in order to forward the improvement of the scientific part of our profession.
I trust you will accept this little present as a token of my gratitude towards a man whom all seafaring nations are bound to look upon with respect and thankfulness.
| Believe me, sir. |
| Yours truly, |
| Ferdinand Maximilian. |
