HIS LAST YEARS IN VIRGINIA 227 



not recall to him thine image. This is the living monu- 

 ment which thou hast constructed for thyself". 



Maury had, by this time, become dissatisfied with his 

 situation at Lexington. '*I shall not", he wrote, "risk 

 another winter here for two reasons — one on the score 

 of health. The other — I have worked out Physical 

 Survey as far as it can be worked out without money. 

 And I feel that I am not earning my salt. Though the 

 Board of Visitors and Faculty are kind enough to express 

 quite a different opinion. So after the swallows come I 

 shall begin to inquire about lodgings in Fredericksburg 

 or Richmond. In all, except the salt-earning feature, 

 my situation here is as delightful as man can make it". 

 Somewhat later, he declared, 'They are sounding me 

 about the University of Tennessee. Remember Ala- 

 bama ; I shall look very closely — and not trust to verbal 

 statements — before I commit myself again. You know 

 I intend to cut out from here at the end of the term any- 

 how. My situation here is charming and delightful as 

 it can be. And though I may be rendering the state 

 service, the state butters me no parsnips. Virginia 

 Military Institute does that and though V. M. I. tries 

 very kindly to persuade me that it's all the same, I 

 can't see it. And so I am quite ready for Tennessee or 

 anywhere else that will offer inducements sufficient". 



He, accordingly, handed in his resignation in May to 

 take effect the following September; but there were so 

 many protests against his action, from the Governor of 

 the state all down the line, that he reconsidered the 

 matter and agreed, in July, to remain at V. M. I. for the 

 time being. After his resignation, he had been ap- 

 proached by a member of the Board of Trustees of the 

 Agricultural College near Blacksburg, Virginia, who 



