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18

LIFE OF MATTHEW FONTAINE MAURY.

not only ready to stand his examination, but had prepared (and published soon after) a set of 'Lunar Tables.'

The Vincennes having been paid off, Midshipman Matthew Fontaine Maury was at once offered the position of master on another vessel, but he declined the appointment, and availed himself of this opportunity to stand his examinations. He passed twenty seventh in a class of forty!^[1]

The following letter was written to his old instructor at Harpeth Academy, afterwards Bishop Otey of Tennessee, while Maury was serving on board the U.S.S. 'Vincennes':—

My Dear Sir,

Callao, Port of Lima, 1827.

I had the pleasure, on my arrival at this place from Guayaquil, of finding your agreeable epistle of Feb. 17th, which is the latest date I have from any part of the United States. I do assure you that the reception of a letter from one of my old acquaintances affords me great pleasure, and particularly one from my old schoolmaster. I am highly flattered with the account you give me of my brother Charles' progress at school. I think that he will show to better advantage as a soldier than as a sailor. I have therefore made arrangements to make him a soldier;^[2] and should our application fail, any assistance which your influence can render him will be gratefully appreciated by me.

My cruising has been very interesting since I joined

↑ That a youth of such promise should have passed his examination so low on the list, is but another of the many instances of the kind on record in the history of distinguished men. It may be said, however, that at that period, the scope of such examinations was but faintly defined, and the questions propounded were such as happened to come into the heads of the examining officers. Entering the service at an early age and with but slender opportunities for academic studies afterwards, these sturdy old tars were not likely to question closely on subjects upon which Maury was far better posted than themselves. They attached, perhaps, greater value to details of technical seamanship than to the new problems of their profession, which were then finding birth in the brain of the young man before them.
↑ He procured a commission in the army for him; but Charles Maury, having set his heart upon the navy, positively refused to accept it, and became a carpenter.

[1] That a youth of such promise should have passed his examination so low on the list, is but another of the many instances of the kind on record in the history of distinguished men. It may be said, however, that at that period, the scope of such examinations was but faintly defined, and the questions propounded were such as happened to come into the heads of the examining officers. Entering the service at an early age and with but slender opportunities for academic studies afterwards, these sturdy old tars were not likely to question closely on subjects upon which Maury was far better posted than themselves. They attached, perhaps, greater value to details of technical seamanship than to the new problems of their profession, which were then finding birth in the brain of the young man before them.

[2] He procured a commission in the army for him; but Charles Maury, having set his heart upon the navy, positively refused to accept it, and became a carpenter.

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