28 MATTHEW FONTAINE MAURY 



that might be made as to why a young naval officer 

 should attempt the writing of a book. 



Of the reviews of Maury's work, one of the most in- 

 teresting appeared in the Southern Literary Messenger of 

 June, 1836. It was written by Edgar Allan Poe, who 

 was then editor of that magazine, and closed with the 

 following paragraph: 'The spirit of literary improve- 

 ment has been awakened among the officers of our gallant 

 navy. We are pleased to see that science also is gaining 

 votaries from its ranks. Hitherto how little have they 

 improved the golden opportunities of knowledge which 

 their distant voyages held forth, and how little have they 

 enjoyed the rich banquet which nature spreads for them 

 in every clime they visit ! But the time is coming when, 

 imbued with a taste for science and a spirit of research, 

 they will become ardent explorers of the regions in which 

 they sojourn. Freighted with the knowledge which 

 observation only can impart, and enriched with col- 

 lections of objects precious to the student of nature, their 

 return after the perils of a distant voyage will then be 

 doubly joyful. The enthusiast in science will anxiously 

 await their coming, and add his cordial welcome to the 

 warm greetings of relatives and friends". Poe, perhaps, 

 had no idea how soon his prophetic words were to be 

 fulfilled, — and by the very man whose book he had so 

 favorably reviewed. 



After making this successful entry into the field of 

 authorship, Maury lectured on scientific subjects in 

 Fredericksburg and set about the studying of mineralogy, 

 geology, and drawing. In these studies he made such 

 progress as to qualify himself to become superintendent 

 of the United States Gold Mine near Fredericksburg. 

 He spent the summer of 1836 with his family at this mine 



