4 o 4 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



be used for predictions and warnings of what the weather was 



to be. 



As early as 1848 Maury had concluded, from his investigations 

 of the winds and currents, that a broad and level plateau — the 

 " telegraphic plateau " — existed at the bottom of the ocean between 

 Newfoundland and Ireland. His view was confirmed by the deep- 

 sea soundings that were taken at his instance between 1849 and 

 1853 ; and early in 1854 he reported to the Secretary of the Navy 

 that, so far as the bottom of the deep sea was concerned, a sub- 

 marine telegraph between Newfoundland and Ireland was prac- 

 ticable. A plateau seemed to have been placed there especially 

 for holding the wires and keeping them out of harm's way. His 

 views respecting the manner of constructing cables were con- 

 firmed, both in the behavior of the first cable, constructed differ- 

 ently from them, which failed, and the others, made more in har- 

 mony with them, which were successful. At the dinner given in 

 celebration of the arrival of the first message across the Atlantic, 

 Mr. Cyrus W. Field said, referring to the enterprise, "Maury 

 furnished the brains, England gave the money, and I did the 

 work." 



A painful surprise came to Lieutenant Maury when the Naval 

 Retiring Board, under the act of Congress of February 28, 1855, 

 placed him on the retired list on leave-of -absence pay, but with- 

 out detaching him from the Naval Observatory. He regarded 

 the act as an indignity. He wrote to three of the Secretaries of 

 the Navy under whom he had served for expressions concerning 

 his efficiency, particularly inquiring why he had been kept at the 

 observatory instead of being sent to sea. Ex-Secretary Graham 

 answered : " I considered your services at the National Observatory 

 of far more importance and value to the country and the navy 

 than any that could be rendered by an officer of your grade at sea 

 in the time of peace. Indeed, I doubt whether the triumphs of 

 navigation and of the knowledge of the sea achieved under your 

 superintendence of the observatory will not contribute as much to 

 an effective naval service and to the national fame as the brilliant 

 trophies of our arms." Mr. John P. Kennedy wrote, " From my 

 knowledge of the nature of your scientific pursuits, their useful- 

 ness to the country, and your devotion to them, I can say that 

 nothing but such an emergency as left me no alternative, would 

 have induced me to withdraw you from your labors at the observa- 

 tory by an order to go to sea." Mr. "William Ballard Preston wrote 

 to similar effect. In the following winter Maury was, by special 

 act of Congress, reinstated and promoted to the rank of com- 

 mander, with back pay from the date of his retirement. 



Other schemes discussed by Lieutenant Maury in general or 

 special papers, included the location of lighthouses on the Florida 



