Oldal 339 [339]
a eens een en eae nee ee ee
HistoORte: (GARDENS OF ' VIRGINIA
only bricks at intervals are left to tell their tale. But birds still
carol in the tall tree tops, and butterflies flit, and bees still buzz in
the sweet-scented clovers and honeysuckle!
The interest of the stranger is awakened and unsatisfied. He
inguires carefully and finds it was in the seclusion of that home with
the high brick wall—a shallow wire fence has now replaced the
wall—that Matthew Maury opened the eyes of the world of mari¬
time science and took his first step on the rung of the ladder which
carried him up to the heights of honor and fame.
It was here that he wrote that striking series of essays on
naval reform, published incognito in the Southern Literary Mes¬
senger. It was also here that he made his Survey of Southern
Harbors.
At the outbreak of hostilities in 1861, Lieutenant Maury was
one of the first to sacrifice his own interests and ambitions to further
the welfare of his own beloved State. He resigned his important
position at the Naval Observatory in Washington to accept the
position as chief of The River, Harbor and Coast Defences of
the South, with headquarters in Richmond.
In April, 1861, he writes from Richmond to his aftectionate
kinsman, John Minor, of Fredericksburg: “Dear John. Bless
The substantial brick structure which housed his family during
the unhappy days of 1861-2, and also himself, whenever circum¬
stances in those uncertain times made it possible, stands today, in
all its well-preserved beauty and simplicity,.on lower Main Street.
It is now owned and occupied by Mrs. L. L. Coghill and family.
Its every feature—the style of its construction, its hand-carved
wood work, its interesting brass door locks and knobs—all are
silent and accurate witnesses of earlier days.
An emerald lawn, which shows every evidence of loving care,
ornaments the north side of the handsome old house. From its
velvet surface a giant black walnut tree proudly spreads its protect¬
ing branches. What repose there was for Maury in its dappled
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