{"links":{"self":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Baccess_subjects%5D%5B%5D=Mexico%E2%80%94History\u0026f%5Bcollection%5D%5B%5D=Matthew+Fontaine+Maury+papers%2C+1833%2F1873\u0026view=compact","next":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Baccess_subjects%5D%5B%5D=Mexico%E2%80%94History\u0026f%5Bcollection%5D%5B%5D=Matthew+Fontaine+Maury+papers%2C+1833%2F1873\u0026page=2\u0026view=compact","last":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Baccess_subjects%5D%5B%5D=Mexico%E2%80%94History\u0026f%5Bcollection%5D%5B%5D=Matthew+Fontaine+Maury+papers%2C+1833%2F1873\u0026page=2\u0026view=compact"},"meta":{"pages":{"current_page":1,"next_page":2,"prev_page":null,"total_pages":2,"limit_value":10,"offset_value":0,"total_count":14,"first_page?":true,"last_page?":false}},"data":[{"id":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593_c01_c69","type":"Item","attributes":{"title":"Addendum to empirial decree, 1865","abstract_or_scope":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593_c01_c69#abstract_or_scope","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":"\u003cp\u003eCopy of an addendum to emperial decree, in which Matthew Fontaine Maury outlines the climate, economy and other features of Mexico for the information of prospective immigrants.\u003c/p\u003e","label":"Abstract Or Scope"}},"breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593_c01_c69#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593_c01_c69","ref_ssm":["vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593_c01_c69"],"id":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593_c01_c69","ead_ssi":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593","_root_":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593","_nest_parent_":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593_c01","parent_ssi":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593_c01","parent_ssim":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, 1833/1873","Correspondence, family, 1840/1872"],"parent_ids_ssim":["vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593","vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593_c01"],"title_filing_ssi":"Addendum to empirial decree","title_ssm":["Addendum to empirial decree"],"title_tesim":["Addendum to empirial decree"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Addendum to empirial decree, 1865"],"text":["Addendum to empirial decree, 1865","Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, 1833/1873","Correspondence, family, 1840/1872","Mexico—History","Correspondence","English.","The following Regulations and Instructions have also been approved by His Majesty the Emperor. [signed by M.F. Maury]\nSeptember 11th 1865.","1. The lands offered for Colonization are divided into three classes:","2. 1st those that are of the public domain and have never been reduced to\ncultivation:","3. 2nd Those that have been more or less improved as Haciendas, the right to\ndispose of which, the Government has acquired, either by purchase or otherwise:-","4. 3rd Private lands and Haciendas, the proprietors of which are disposed to offer them to immigrants on liberal terms for colonization. Many Haciendas that are, or have been, under cultivation, may be bought on easy terms, for less that $1 per acre.","5. These private Haciendas or plantations, sometimes embrace several hundred\nsquare miles; those of the smaller sizes often afford lands and room for a settlement of a dozen or more families.","6. Immigrants are advised to establish themselves, at first, in settlements or communities, as will for mutual protection and assistance, as for the benefit of churches and schools, and the convenience of mills, blacksmith shops, etc. etc.","7. It is the policy of the Government to encourage settlement upon private, as will as upon public lands; and the same rights, privileges and exemptions are offered to immigrants who may settle on the former, as are granted to those who settle upon the latter.","8. Lands of Class 1. are offered in alternate sections, as donations to actual settlers, and in quantities varying from 160 acres for single men, to 640 for the heads of families according to circumstances, to be explained presently.","Immigration\n9. The Government not only invites all well disposed persons to come and assist in the occupation of its vacant places; but His Majesty, the Emperor, touched by the spectacle of good men struggling with adversity in other lands, tenders hospitality and homes especially to these. Moved by the generous impulses of his nature, he offers them material assistance, to enable them to reach this bountiful and beautiful land. To those of them who wish to change their skies, make Mexico their homes, and identify themselves with the country, a free passage for their families and their effects by\nsea, is offered.","10. Immigrants are therefore divided into two classes: A. \u0026 B. - The former being of those first alluded to, who. by misfortune, have last all their substance; and the latter, those who are less straightened in their means.","11. Not only a free passage by sea is offered to Class A., but when they arrive in the country, a travelling allowance of a Real the league, there to their new homes, will be made for each member of their families, counting as members also, their apprentices.","12. Lands of Class 1. will be donated to these immigrants by alternate sections, viz: 160 acres to a single man, and 320 to a man with a family, with a pre-emption right to as much more in each case.","13. Immigrants of Class A. who, after arriving in the country, may prefer to settle upon Haciendas or other lands are a liberty to do so; but in that case, they will be required to refund, with interest, the money that may have been advanced in assisting them to reach their new domiciles.","14. Immigrants of Class B., who are those that can afford to pay their own\nexpenses, have the whole country before them. They may establish themselves\nwherever they can find suitable and available lands. If they prefer the unimproved lands of the public domain, they also can have them free in alternate sections, but only for actual settlement, at the rate of 320 acres for a single man, and 640 to a man with a family, with a pre-exemption right to as much more in each case.","15. These donations of land to persons whether of Class A. or B., are made on condition, and with the understanding, that the donee shall, in good faith, proceed forthwith to occupy, subdue and cultivate the land so donated.","16. The lands of the public Haciendas will be offered at government prices, and pro - rata, according to the actual cost of purchase by the Government.","17. As it regards private lands and Haciendas, the field of selections is much larger, Immigrants are free to make their own bargains with proprietors, the Government waiving its fees on such transactions, as per Art. of the Decree.","18 As it regards the public Haciendas, a reservation of improved lands will be made from each, to serve; during the first years, as a common for the free use of the colonists. The size of the Common will be determined by the number of families the lands of the Hacienda may be sufficient to accommodate. It will be large enough to give them breadstuffs and vegetables at once, and until they can bring their own lands into cultivation. It will be large enough also to afford space for a village in case the immigrants\nshould find it desirable, as probably at first they will, to establish themselves in villages. No rent will be charged for the first years for the use of this Common.","19. This Reserve or Common is ultimately intended for educational purposes;\nand, after the first years, a ground rent of ten per cent upon the value of the land, but not upon the improvements, will be required.","Agencies\n20. Agents for immigrations will be stationed at convenient points abroad, for the purpose of affording information to the immigrant there, as to this country, its lands, the best way of reaching them, and upon all other subjects pertaining thereto.","21. Persons wishing to emigrate, will first apply to the most convenient agent, The applicant must state his occupation: whether agricultural, mercantile, mechanical or professional. He must also give his age, with the name, sex and age of each member of his family, including apprentices. If he requires assistance for the journey, he must state his circumstances, and give satisfactory references as to his character and standing in the community.","Permits\n22. The permit of the Immigration Agent is necessary to entitle the immigrant to the privileges of the decree. Unless he brings with him such a permit into the country, he will neither be entitled to lands, to free entry at the customs-house, nor to any other privileges beyond those accorded to mere strangers.","Effects.\n23. Immigrants with such permits may bring in, duty free, all their personal and household effects; their live stock, their implements of husbandry, tools and instruments of all sorts, used by them in the pursuit of their trade, art, profession or calling. But they may not bring, without the payment of duty, any merchandize or thing for sale, exchange or barter.","24. Before embarking, if coming by sea, or leaving home, if coming by land, the immigrant should furnish the agent for Immigration a complete list of persons and effects thaty of Mexico, will be completed. A charter for another rail-way, from the Capital to the Pacific Ocean, has been granted to responsible parties.","25. Immigrants arriving in port, or crossing the line will find an agent there, whose duty it is to give them such assistance, and afford them such further information as they may require to speed them on their way.","Apprentices\n26. The agents for immigration will give no permits for Apprentices: unless the indentures shall conform to the terms of the decree, and be otherwise not inconsistent with the laws of the Empire; unless the indenture be attested by three respectable witnesses, certifying that the Apprentice was free, and that he, his parent or guardian, as the case may be, entered into the contract for apprenticeship, freely, and without threat, fear or intimidation; and unless the agent himself shall be satisfied that the \"patron\" is a humane man and a proper person, made so by his habit and education, for the care of such Apprentices.","27. In all cases, the \"patron\" must furnish a descriptive list of his Apprentices, taking the time and terms of their indentures, with their names, sexes, and ages. He must exhibit to the agent, the indentures in duplicate, or in duly certified copies, one of which the agent shall deliver to the Apprentice, and retaining another, shall return the third to the patron.","[verso] Regulations \u0026 Instructions to be published with the Decree.\nIn connection with the foregoing, I beg leave to add, for the information of those who are displaced to avail themselves of the very liberal terms offered by this Decree, a few remarks on the physical geography, the agricultural resources and industrious pursuits of this beautiful country:","The Empire of Mexico lies between the parallels of 15° and 32° of the North latitude.","The shores are bathed by the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea on one hand, and by those of the Pacific on the other.","It is celebrated for its mines of silver and gold; copper, iron and lead also abound; but though its mineral wealth has dazzled the world, its mineral wealth is, as a source of riches, by no means equal to its soil.","Its climates are genial and its harvest perpetual; under good husbandry, the yield is bountiful, being 50, 100, and sometimes 200 fold. On the way up from Vera Cruz to the Capital in May, I saw the cereals in all the ways of cultivation between the hands of the sower and the arms of the reaper.","The seasons in Mexico are not marked by the vicissitudes of heat and cold so distinctly as they are by their characteristics of wet and dry. The coolest time of the year in this City is about the end of the dry season in April and May. The rainy season throughout the country commences generally with June and ends with September; still, there are occasional showers both before and after.","In the tierra caliente- the rainy season is the sickly season.","Between the mountains and the sea there is, on both coasts, a flat country, varying in breadth from 10 to 60 miles or more. These lowlands reach back to the mountains which form the edge of the Table-land or great central plateau. This low country corresponds to that which, in Virginia and the Carolinas, lies between the Blue Ridge and the sea. It is the hot country of Mexico, the tierra caliente. Everything which delights in rich soils, bright\nskies, warmth and moisture, finds a genial habitat there.","Ascending the mountains, which are timbered all the way up, you reach the table-land, an immense plain from five to eight thousand feet above the level of the sea, and hundreds of mils in breadth. In length, it is commensurate with the Empire; and in the lap of its western declivities, lies the tierra caliente of the Pacific coast. This table-land is the tierra\ntemplada, or the temperate regions of the Empire. Its climates are delightful: a happy mean between hot and cold, where cloth clothes are not uncomfortable by day, nor a blanket or two too heavy by night. Nevertheless, fire is never to be required, even in the coldest weather, for the houses generally are built without chimneys or fireplaces. It is very healthy.","The surface of this table-land is diversified with hills and dales, with an occasional snow clad peak; so that one, by descending into the valleys, may find, at the difference in level of a few hundred yards, and in the distances of a few miles, the productions and staples of all climates and latitudes, from those of Virginia and Missouri down to the shore of the\nGulf of Mexico, and there through the West Indies to the Equator or Brazil.\nEmigrants for Mexico, come at what season they may, will always be in time to plant something; but the best season for crop planting is generally in the spring, and the best time for coming is in the dry season, from October to May, when the newcomer may live in tents, put his seed into the ground and till June to build and get his family comfortably housed, by the time the rains set in.","The staples of agriculture in Mexico are like its climates: according to height above the sea level, somewhat controlled also by latitude. They are: corn, wheat, barley and oats; cotton, sugar and coffee; hemp, rice, tobacco, cocoa, cochenille, pimento, indigo, oranges, fruits and vanilla. On the dry table-lands, where nothing else scarcely will grow, flourishes the lordly Maguey or Pulque plant, the glory and wonder of Mexican flora. A single plant of this marvelous production is worth from $4 to $12, according to age and size. It yields but for a single season, and then dies. Some of the wealthiest establishments in Mexico are these Pulque plantations.","There is no lack of range and pasture for herds of cattle: goats, sheep, cows, and horses do well. Nay, gentlemen who are from the grazing lands of the Western States, and who have travelled through the northern part of Mexico, assure me, that they have never seen so fine a stock country.","The forests abound in useful trees and ornamental woods, among them, the mahogany and the india-rubber tree. As for fruits and vegetables, they are of great variety and excellence. The immigrant can find climates and soils suitable to any cultivation that he may choose to adopt. From the sea to the top of the tablelands, he will find these soils and climates ranged in belts suitable for sugar, coffee, tobacco, and the like. These declivities are generally the best watershed lands, and are fit for cultivation all the way up.","The population of the Empire, counting in round numbers, is estimated at eight millions, about seven millions of which belong to what may be called the laboring classes.","Agricultural labor, however, is poorly paid: the average rate of wages being from 25 to 37 cents a day, the laborer finding himself. His skill is rude. I have seen him sawing with an ax, plowing with a stick, hoeing his corn with a shovel, and his wife grinding with a pebble. He yokes his oxen by the horns to the plow or cart; and fetches and carries cheaply on his own back, or on that of mule and donkeys.","Owing to the unsettled state and the constant revolutions in which the country has been for more than forty years, the people now find themselves with energies paralyzed, haciendas neglected and industry itself at a stand-still. There is no lack of evil-minded persons in all countries, and great political revolutions, as experience elsewhere shows, never fail to call forth such. Mexico has not escaped them; and bandits, or guerrillas as\nthey are called, go about the country in certain parts, levying blackmail and forced contributions upon peaceable and defenseless people. To avoid any molestation from these, immigrants, especially the first comers, should travel in company and establish themselves, for mutual protection and convenience, in settlements of not less than a dozen or two. They should bring with them their farming implements, and encourage in every settlement the establishment of blacksmith and other shops, the erection of mills,\netc.","The Emperor is governing mildly and wisely. Internal improvements are encouraged. Education is fostered; and all useful enterprises are sure to find in their Majesties earnest and active support. A railway is in the process of construction from Vera Cruz to the city of Mexico. Fifty miles of it, from Vera Cruz to the foot of the table-land are already in operation; next year another section, from Pueblo to the City of Mexico, will be completed. A charter for another railway, from the Capital to the Pacific Ocean, has been granted to responsible parties.","An able corps of civil engineers has recently been organized, and steps taken for the repair and construction of wagon roads in various parts of the Empire. Telegraphic lines are also encouraged, and several are already in operation.","The Mexican Times, a weekly paper printed in English and devoted to colonization, will, in a few days, make its appearance from the press of this city. Those who wish to come to Mexico, will find in it much useful information relating to the country.","It will, however, afford me much pleasure to give to those who may desire it, any special information that it may be in my power to give, and until the agencies alluded to in the Decree and Regulations, be filled. Their letters will receive prompt attention if directed to the care of Col. Talcott [Tolcott], Engineer in chief of the Imperial Mexican railway.","City of Mexico\n11 Sept. 1865\n(signed) M. F. Maury","Copy of an addendum to emperial decree, in which Matthew Fontaine Maury outlines the climate, economy and other features of Mexico for the information of prospective immigrants."],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, 1833/1873","Correspondence, family, 1840/1872"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, 1833/1873","Correspondence, family, 1840/1872"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1865"],"unitdate_other_ssim":["1865 September 11"],"level_ssm":["Item"],"level_ssim":["Item"],"component_level_isim":[2],"sort_isi":70,"repository_ssim":["Virginia Military Institute Archives"],"collection_ssim":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, 1833/1873"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"parent_access_restrict_tesm":["There are no restrictions"],"parent_access_terms_tesm":["Manuscript collections in the VMI Archives are made available for educational and research use. The VMI Archives should be cited as the source. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright holders. Materials from our collections may not be redistributed, published or reproduced without permission from the VMI Archives. Contact the VMI Archives for additional information"],"access_subjects_ssim":["Mexico—History","Correspondence"],"access_subjects_ssm":["Mexico—History","Correspondence"],"language_ssim":["English."],"date_range_isim":[1865],"odd_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe following Regulations and Instructions have also been approved by His Majesty the Emperor. [signed by M.F. Maury]\u003cbr\u003e\nSeptember 11th 1865.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e1. The lands offered for Colonization are divided into three classes:\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e2. 1st those that are of the public domain and have never been reduced to\ncultivation:\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e3. 2nd Those that have been more or less improved as Haciendas, the right to\ndispose of which, the Government has acquired, either by purchase or otherwise:-\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e4. 3rd Private lands and Haciendas, the proprietors of which are disposed to offer them to immigrants on liberal terms for colonization. Many Haciendas that are, or have been, under cultivation, may be bought on easy terms, for less that $1 per acre.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e5. These private Haciendas or plantations, sometimes embrace several hundred\nsquare miles; those of the smaller sizes often afford lands and room for a settlement of a dozen or more families.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e6. Immigrants are advised to establish themselves, at first, in settlements or communities, as will for mutual protection and assistance, as for the benefit of churches and schools, and the convenience of mills, blacksmith shops, etc. etc.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e7. It is the policy of the Government to encourage settlement upon private, as will as upon public lands; and the same rights, privileges and exemptions are offered to immigrants who may settle on the former, as are granted to those who settle upon the latter.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e8. Lands of Class 1. are offered in alternate sections, as donations to actual settlers, and in quantities varying from 160 acres for single men, to 640 for the heads of families according to circumstances, to be explained presently.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eImmigration\u003cbr\u003e\n9. The Government not only invites all well disposed persons to come and assist in the occupation of its vacant places; but His Majesty, the Emperor, touched by the spectacle of good men struggling with adversity in other lands, tenders hospitality and homes especially to these. Moved by the generous impulses of his nature, he offers them material assistance, to enable them to reach this bountiful and beautiful land. To those of them who wish to change their skies, make Mexico their homes, and identify themselves with the country, a free passage for their families and their effects by\nsea, is offered.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e10. Immigrants are therefore divided into two classes: A. \u0026amp; B. - The former being of those first alluded to, who. by misfortune, have last all their substance; and the latter, those who are less straightened in their means.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e11. Not only a free passage by sea is offered to Class A., but when they arrive in the country, a travelling allowance of a Real the league, there to their new homes, will be made for each member of their families, counting as members also, their apprentices.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e12. Lands of Class 1. will be donated to these immigrants by alternate sections, viz: 160 acres to a single man, and 320 to a man with a family, with a pre-emption right to as much more in each case.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e13. Immigrants of Class A. who, after arriving in the country, may prefer to settle upon Haciendas or other lands are a liberty to do so; but in that case, they will be required to refund, with interest, the money that may have been advanced in assisting them to reach their new domiciles.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e14. Immigrants of Class B., who are those that can afford to pay their own\nexpenses, have the whole country before them. They may establish themselves\nwherever they can find suitable and available lands. If they prefer the unimproved lands of the public domain, they also can have them free in alternate sections, but only for actual settlement, at the rate of 320 acres for a single man, and 640 to a man with a family, with a pre-exemption right to as much more in each case.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e15. These donations of land to persons whether of Class A. or B., are made on condition, and with the understanding, that the donee shall, in good faith, proceed forthwith to occupy, subdue and cultivate the land so donated.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e16. The lands of the public Haciendas will be offered at government prices, and pro - rata, according to the actual cost of purchase by the Government.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e17. As it regards private lands and Haciendas, the field of selections is much larger, Immigrants are free to make their own bargains with proprietors, the Government waiving its fees on such transactions, as per Art. of the Decree.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e18 As it regards the public Haciendas, a reservation of improved lands will be made from each, to serve; during the first years, as a common for the free use of the colonists. The size of the Common will be determined by the number of families the lands of the Hacienda may be sufficient to accommodate. It will be large enough to give them breadstuffs and vegetables at once, and until they can bring their own lands into cultivation. It will be large enough also to afford space for a village in case the immigrants\nshould find it desirable, as probably at first they will, to establish themselves in villages. No rent will be charged for the first years for the use of this Common.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e19. This Reserve or Common is ultimately intended for educational purposes;\nand, after the first years, a ground rent of ten per cent upon the value of the land, but not upon the improvements, will be required.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAgencies\u003cbr\u003e\n20. Agents for immigrations will be stationed at convenient points abroad, for the purpose of affording information to the immigrant there, as to this country, its lands, the best way of reaching them, and upon all other subjects pertaining thereto.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e21. Persons wishing to emigrate, will first apply to the most convenient agent, The applicant must state his occupation: whether agricultural, mercantile, mechanical or professional. He must also give his age, with the name, sex and age of each member of his family, including apprentices. If he requires assistance for the journey, he must state his circumstances, and give satisfactory references as to his character and standing in the community.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003ePermits\u003cbr\u003e\n22. The permit of the Immigration Agent is necessary to entitle the immigrant to the privileges of the decree. Unless he brings with him such a permit into the country, he will neither be entitled to lands, to free entry at the customs-house, nor to any other privileges beyond those accorded to mere strangers.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eEffects.\u003cbr\u003e\n23. Immigrants with such permits may bring in, duty free, all their personal and household effects; their live stock, their implements of husbandry, tools and instruments of all sorts, used by them in the pursuit of their trade, art, profession or calling. But they may not bring, without the payment of duty, any merchandize or thing for sale, exchange or barter.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e24. Before embarking, if coming by sea, or leaving home, if coming by land, the immigrant should furnish the agent for Immigration a complete list of persons and effects thaty of Mexico, will be completed. A charter for another rail-way, from the Capital to the Pacific Ocean, has been granted to responsible parties.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e25. Immigrants arriving in port, or crossing the line will find an agent there, whose duty it is to give them such assistance, and afford them such further information as they may require to speed them on their way.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eApprentices\u003cbr\u003e\n26. The agents for immigration will give no permits for Apprentices: unless the indentures shall conform to the terms of the decree, and be otherwise not inconsistent with the laws of the Empire; unless the indenture be attested by three respectable witnesses, certifying that the Apprentice was free, and that he, his parent or guardian, as the case may be, entered into the contract for apprenticeship, freely, and without threat, fear or intimidation; and unless the agent himself shall be satisfied that the \"patron\" is a humane man and a proper person, made so by his habit and education, for the care of such Apprentices.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e27. In all cases, the \"patron\" must furnish a descriptive list of his Apprentices, taking the time and terms of their indentures, with their names, sexes, and ages. He must exhibit to the agent, the indentures in duplicate, or in duly certified copies, one of which the agent shall deliver to the Apprentice, and retaining another, shall return the third to the patron.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e[verso] Regulations \u0026amp; Instructions to be published with the Decree.\nIn connection with the foregoing, I beg leave to add, for the information of those who are displaced to avail themselves of the very liberal terms offered by this Decree, a few remarks on the physical geography, the agricultural resources and industrious pursuits of this beautiful country:\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe Empire of Mexico lies between the parallels of 15° and 32° of the North latitude.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe shores are bathed by the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea on one hand, and by those of the Pacific on the other.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIt is celebrated for its mines of silver and gold; copper, iron and lead also abound; but though its mineral wealth has dazzled the world, its mineral wealth is, as a source of riches, by no means equal to its soil.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIts climates are genial and its harvest perpetual; under good husbandry, the yield is bountiful, being 50, 100, and sometimes 200 fold. On the way up from Vera Cruz to the Capital in May, I saw the cereals in all the ways of cultivation between the hands of the sower and the arms of the reaper.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe seasons in Mexico are not marked by the vicissitudes of heat and cold so distinctly as they are by their characteristics of wet and dry. The coolest time of the year in this City is about the end of the dry season in April and May. The rainy season throughout the country commences generally with June and ends with September; still, there are occasional showers both before and after.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIn the tierra caliente- the rainy season is the sickly season.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eBetween the mountains and the sea there is, on both coasts, a flat country, varying in breadth from 10 to 60 miles or more. These lowlands reach back to the mountains which form the edge of the Table-land or great central plateau. This low country corresponds to that which, in Virginia and the Carolinas, lies between the Blue Ridge and the sea. It is the hot country of Mexico, the tierra caliente. Everything which delights in rich soils, bright\nskies, warmth and moisture, finds a genial habitat there.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAscending the mountains, which are timbered all the way up, you reach the table-land, an immense plain from five to eight thousand feet above the level of the sea, and hundreds of mils in breadth. In length, it is commensurate with the Empire; and in the lap of its western declivities, lies the tierra caliente of the Pacific coast. This table-land is the tierra\ntemplada, or the temperate regions of the Empire. Its climates are delightful: a happy mean between hot and cold, where cloth clothes are not uncomfortable by day, nor a blanket or two too heavy by night. Nevertheless, fire is never to be required, even in the coldest weather, for the houses generally are built without chimneys or fireplaces. It is very healthy.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe surface of this table-land is diversified with hills and dales, with an occasional snow clad peak; so that one, by descending into the valleys, may find, at the difference in level of a few hundred yards, and in the distances of a few miles, the productions and staples of all climates and latitudes, from those of Virginia and Missouri down to the shore of the\nGulf of Mexico, and there through the West Indies to the Equator or Brazil.\nEmigrants for Mexico, come at what season they may, will always be in time to plant something; but the best season for crop planting is generally in the spring, and the best time for coming is in the dry season, from October to May, when the newcomer may live in tents, put his seed into the ground and till June to build and get his family comfortably housed, by the time the rains set in.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe staples of agriculture in Mexico are like its climates: according to height above the sea level, somewhat controlled also by latitude. They are: corn, wheat, barley and oats; cotton, sugar and coffee; hemp, rice, tobacco, cocoa, cochenille, pimento, indigo, oranges, fruits and vanilla. On the dry table-lands, where nothing else scarcely will grow, flourishes the lordly Maguey or Pulque plant, the glory and wonder of Mexican flora. A single plant of this marvelous production is worth from $4 to $12, according to age and size. It yields but for a single season, and then dies. Some of the wealthiest establishments in Mexico are these Pulque plantations.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThere is no lack of range and pasture for herds of cattle: goats, sheep, cows, and horses do well. Nay, gentlemen who are from the grazing lands of the Western States, and who have travelled through the northern part of Mexico, assure me, that they have never seen so fine a stock country.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe forests abound in useful trees and ornamental woods, among them, the mahogany and the india-rubber tree. As for fruits and vegetables, they are of great variety and excellence. The immigrant can find climates and soils suitable to any cultivation that he may choose to adopt. From the sea to the top of the tablelands, he will find these soils and climates ranged in belts suitable for sugar, coffee, tobacco, and the like. These declivities are generally the best watershed lands, and are fit for cultivation all the way up.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe population of the Empire, counting in round numbers, is estimated at eight millions, about seven millions of which belong to what may be called the laboring classes.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAgricultural labor, however, is poorly paid: the average rate of wages being from 25 to 37 cents a day, the laborer finding himself. His skill is rude. I have seen him sawing with an ax, plowing with a stick, hoeing his corn with a shovel, and his wife grinding with a pebble. He yokes his oxen by the horns to the plow or cart; and fetches and carries cheaply on his own back, or on that of mule and donkeys.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eOwing to the unsettled state and the constant revolutions in which the country has been for more than forty years, the people now find themselves with energies paralyzed, haciendas neglected and industry itself at a stand-still. There is no lack of evil-minded persons in all countries, and great political revolutions, as experience elsewhere shows, never fail to call forth such. Mexico has not escaped them; and bandits, or guerrillas as\nthey are called, go about the country in certain parts, levying blackmail and forced contributions upon peaceable and defenseless people. To avoid any molestation from these, immigrants, especially the first comers, should travel in company and establish themselves, for mutual protection and convenience, in settlements of not less than a dozen or two. They should bring with them their farming implements, and encourage in every settlement the establishment of blacksmith and other shops, the erection of mills,\netc. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe Emperor is governing mildly and wisely. Internal improvements are encouraged. Education is fostered; and all useful enterprises are sure to find in their Majesties earnest and active support. A railway is in the process of construction from Vera Cruz to the city of Mexico. Fifty miles of it, from Vera Cruz to the foot of the table-land are already in operation; next year another section, from Pueblo to the City of Mexico, will be completed. A charter for another railway, from the Capital to the Pacific Ocean, has been granted to responsible parties.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAn able corps of civil engineers has recently been organized, and steps taken for the repair and construction of wagon roads in various parts of the Empire. Telegraphic lines are also encouraged, and several are already in operation.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe Mexican Times, a weekly paper printed in English and devoted to colonization, will, in a few days, make its appearance from the press of this city. Those who wish to come to Mexico, will find in it much useful information relating to the country.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIt will, however, afford me much pleasure to give to those who may desire it, any special information that it may be in my power to give, and until the agencies alluded to in the Decree and Regulations, be filled. Their letters will receive prompt attention if directed to the care of Col. Talcott [Tolcott], Engineer in chief of the Imperial Mexican railway.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eCity of Mexico\u003cbr\u003e\n11 Sept. 1865\u003cbr\u003e\n(signed) M. F. Maury\u003c/p\u003e"],"odd_heading_ssm":["Transcription"],"odd_tesim":["The following Regulations and Instructions have also been approved by His Majesty the Emperor. [signed by M.F. Maury]\nSeptember 11th 1865.","1. The lands offered for Colonization are divided into three classes:","2. 1st those that are of the public domain and have never been reduced to\ncultivation:","3. 2nd Those that have been more or less improved as Haciendas, the right to\ndispose of which, the Government has acquired, either by purchase or otherwise:-","4. 3rd Private lands and Haciendas, the proprietors of which are disposed to offer them to immigrants on liberal terms for colonization. Many Haciendas that are, or have been, under cultivation, may be bought on easy terms, for less that $1 per acre.","5. These private Haciendas or plantations, sometimes embrace several hundred\nsquare miles; those of the smaller sizes often afford lands and room for a settlement of a dozen or more families.","6. Immigrants are advised to establish themselves, at first, in settlements or communities, as will for mutual protection and assistance, as for the benefit of churches and schools, and the convenience of mills, blacksmith shops, etc. etc.","7. It is the policy of the Government to encourage settlement upon private, as will as upon public lands; and the same rights, privileges and exemptions are offered to immigrants who may settle on the former, as are granted to those who settle upon the latter.","8. Lands of Class 1. are offered in alternate sections, as donations to actual settlers, and in quantities varying from 160 acres for single men, to 640 for the heads of families according to circumstances, to be explained presently.","Immigration\n9. The Government not only invites all well disposed persons to come and assist in the occupation of its vacant places; but His Majesty, the Emperor, touched by the spectacle of good men struggling with adversity in other lands, tenders hospitality and homes especially to these. Moved by the generous impulses of his nature, he offers them material assistance, to enable them to reach this bountiful and beautiful land. To those of them who wish to change their skies, make Mexico their homes, and identify themselves with the country, a free passage for their families and their effects by\nsea, is offered.","10. Immigrants are therefore divided into two classes: A. \u0026 B. - The former being of those first alluded to, who. by misfortune, have last all their substance; and the latter, those who are less straightened in their means.","11. Not only a free passage by sea is offered to Class A., but when they arrive in the country, a travelling allowance of a Real the league, there to their new homes, will be made for each member of their families, counting as members also, their apprentices.","12. Lands of Class 1. will be donated to these immigrants by alternate sections, viz: 160 acres to a single man, and 320 to a man with a family, with a pre-emption right to as much more in each case.","13. Immigrants of Class A. who, after arriving in the country, may prefer to settle upon Haciendas or other lands are a liberty to do so; but in that case, they will be required to refund, with interest, the money that may have been advanced in assisting them to reach their new domiciles.","14. Immigrants of Class B., who are those that can afford to pay their own\nexpenses, have the whole country before them. They may establish themselves\nwherever they can find suitable and available lands. If they prefer the unimproved lands of the public domain, they also can have them free in alternate sections, but only for actual settlement, at the rate of 320 acres for a single man, and 640 to a man with a family, with a pre-exemption right to as much more in each case.","15. These donations of land to persons whether of Class A. or B., are made on condition, and with the understanding, that the donee shall, in good faith, proceed forthwith to occupy, subdue and cultivate the land so donated.","16. The lands of the public Haciendas will be offered at government prices, and pro - rata, according to the actual cost of purchase by the Government.","17. As it regards private lands and Haciendas, the field of selections is much larger, Immigrants are free to make their own bargains with proprietors, the Government waiving its fees on such transactions, as per Art. of the Decree.","18 As it regards the public Haciendas, a reservation of improved lands will be made from each, to serve; during the first years, as a common for the free use of the colonists. The size of the Common will be determined by the number of families the lands of the Hacienda may be sufficient to accommodate. It will be large enough to give them breadstuffs and vegetables at once, and until they can bring their own lands into cultivation. It will be large enough also to afford space for a village in case the immigrants\nshould find it desirable, as probably at first they will, to establish themselves in villages. No rent will be charged for the first years for the use of this Common.","19. This Reserve or Common is ultimately intended for educational purposes;\nand, after the first years, a ground rent of ten per cent upon the value of the land, but not upon the improvements, will be required.","Agencies\n20. Agents for immigrations will be stationed at convenient points abroad, for the purpose of affording information to the immigrant there, as to this country, its lands, the best way of reaching them, and upon all other subjects pertaining thereto.","21. Persons wishing to emigrate, will first apply to the most convenient agent, The applicant must state his occupation: whether agricultural, mercantile, mechanical or professional. He must also give his age, with the name, sex and age of each member of his family, including apprentices. If he requires assistance for the journey, he must state his circumstances, and give satisfactory references as to his character and standing in the community.","Permits\n22. The permit of the Immigration Agent is necessary to entitle the immigrant to the privileges of the decree. Unless he brings with him such a permit into the country, he will neither be entitled to lands, to free entry at the customs-house, nor to any other privileges beyond those accorded to mere strangers.","Effects.\n23. Immigrants with such permits may bring in, duty free, all their personal and household effects; their live stock, their implements of husbandry, tools and instruments of all sorts, used by them in the pursuit of their trade, art, profession or calling. But they may not bring, without the payment of duty, any merchandize or thing for sale, exchange or barter.","24. Before embarking, if coming by sea, or leaving home, if coming by land, the immigrant should furnish the agent for Immigration a complete list of persons and effects thaty of Mexico, will be completed. A charter for another rail-way, from the Capital to the Pacific Ocean, has been granted to responsible parties.","25. Immigrants arriving in port, or crossing the line will find an agent there, whose duty it is to give them such assistance, and afford them such further information as they may require to speed them on their way.","Apprentices\n26. The agents for immigration will give no permits for Apprentices: unless the indentures shall conform to the terms of the decree, and be otherwise not inconsistent with the laws of the Empire; unless the indenture be attested by three respectable witnesses, certifying that the Apprentice was free, and that he, his parent or guardian, as the case may be, entered into the contract for apprenticeship, freely, and without threat, fear or intimidation; and unless the agent himself shall be satisfied that the \"patron\" is a humane man and a proper person, made so by his habit and education, for the care of such Apprentices.","27. In all cases, the \"patron\" must furnish a descriptive list of his Apprentices, taking the time and terms of their indentures, with their names, sexes, and ages. He must exhibit to the agent, the indentures in duplicate, or in duly certified copies, one of which the agent shall deliver to the Apprentice, and retaining another, shall return the third to the patron.","[verso] Regulations \u0026 Instructions to be published with the Decree.\nIn connection with the foregoing, I beg leave to add, for the information of those who are displaced to avail themselves of the very liberal terms offered by this Decree, a few remarks on the physical geography, the agricultural resources and industrious pursuits of this beautiful country:","The Empire of Mexico lies between the parallels of 15° and 32° of the North latitude.","The shores are bathed by the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea on one hand, and by those of the Pacific on the other.","It is celebrated for its mines of silver and gold; copper, iron and lead also abound; but though its mineral wealth has dazzled the world, its mineral wealth is, as a source of riches, by no means equal to its soil.","Its climates are genial and its harvest perpetual; under good husbandry, the yield is bountiful, being 50, 100, and sometimes 200 fold. On the way up from Vera Cruz to the Capital in May, I saw the cereals in all the ways of cultivation between the hands of the sower and the arms of the reaper.","The seasons in Mexico are not marked by the vicissitudes of heat and cold so distinctly as they are by their characteristics of wet and dry. The coolest time of the year in this City is about the end of the dry season in April and May. The rainy season throughout the country commences generally with June and ends with September; still, there are occasional showers both before and after.","In the tierra caliente- the rainy season is the sickly season.","Between the mountains and the sea there is, on both coasts, a flat country, varying in breadth from 10 to 60 miles or more. These lowlands reach back to the mountains which form the edge of the Table-land or great central plateau. This low country corresponds to that which, in Virginia and the Carolinas, lies between the Blue Ridge and the sea. It is the hot country of Mexico, the tierra caliente. Everything which delights in rich soils, bright\nskies, warmth and moisture, finds a genial habitat there.","Ascending the mountains, which are timbered all the way up, you reach the table-land, an immense plain from five to eight thousand feet above the level of the sea, and hundreds of mils in breadth. In length, it is commensurate with the Empire; and in the lap of its western declivities, lies the tierra caliente of the Pacific coast. This table-land is the tierra\ntemplada, or the temperate regions of the Empire. Its climates are delightful: a happy mean between hot and cold, where cloth clothes are not uncomfortable by day, nor a blanket or two too heavy by night. Nevertheless, fire is never to be required, even in the coldest weather, for the houses generally are built without chimneys or fireplaces. It is very healthy.","The surface of this table-land is diversified with hills and dales, with an occasional snow clad peak; so that one, by descending into the valleys, may find, at the difference in level of a few hundred yards, and in the distances of a few miles, the productions and staples of all climates and latitudes, from those of Virginia and Missouri down to the shore of the\nGulf of Mexico, and there through the West Indies to the Equator or Brazil.\nEmigrants for Mexico, come at what season they may, will always be in time to plant something; but the best season for crop planting is generally in the spring, and the best time for coming is in the dry season, from October to May, when the newcomer may live in tents, put his seed into the ground and till June to build and get his family comfortably housed, by the time the rains set in.","The staples of agriculture in Mexico are like its climates: according to height above the sea level, somewhat controlled also by latitude. They are: corn, wheat, barley and oats; cotton, sugar and coffee; hemp, rice, tobacco, cocoa, cochenille, pimento, indigo, oranges, fruits and vanilla. On the dry table-lands, where nothing else scarcely will grow, flourishes the lordly Maguey or Pulque plant, the glory and wonder of Mexican flora. A single plant of this marvelous production is worth from $4 to $12, according to age and size. It yields but for a single season, and then dies. Some of the wealthiest establishments in Mexico are these Pulque plantations.","There is no lack of range and pasture for herds of cattle: goats, sheep, cows, and horses do well. Nay, gentlemen who are from the grazing lands of the Western States, and who have travelled through the northern part of Mexico, assure me, that they have never seen so fine a stock country.","The forests abound in useful trees and ornamental woods, among them, the mahogany and the india-rubber tree. As for fruits and vegetables, they are of great variety and excellence. The immigrant can find climates and soils suitable to any cultivation that he may choose to adopt. From the sea to the top of the tablelands, he will find these soils and climates ranged in belts suitable for sugar, coffee, tobacco, and the like. These declivities are generally the best watershed lands, and are fit for cultivation all the way up.","The population of the Empire, counting in round numbers, is estimated at eight millions, about seven millions of which belong to what may be called the laboring classes.","Agricultural labor, however, is poorly paid: the average rate of wages being from 25 to 37 cents a day, the laborer finding himself. His skill is rude. I have seen him sawing with an ax, plowing with a stick, hoeing his corn with a shovel, and his wife grinding with a pebble. He yokes his oxen by the horns to the plow or cart; and fetches and carries cheaply on his own back, or on that of mule and donkeys.","Owing to the unsettled state and the constant revolutions in which the country has been for more than forty years, the people now find themselves with energies paralyzed, haciendas neglected and industry itself at a stand-still. There is no lack of evil-minded persons in all countries, and great political revolutions, as experience elsewhere shows, never fail to call forth such. Mexico has not escaped them; and bandits, or guerrillas as\nthey are called, go about the country in certain parts, levying blackmail and forced contributions upon peaceable and defenseless people. To avoid any molestation from these, immigrants, especially the first comers, should travel in company and establish themselves, for mutual protection and convenience, in settlements of not less than a dozen or two. They should bring with them their farming implements, and encourage in every settlement the establishment of blacksmith and other shops, the erection of mills,\netc.","The Emperor is governing mildly and wisely. Internal improvements are encouraged. Education is fostered; and all useful enterprises are sure to find in their Majesties earnest and active support. A railway is in the process of construction from Vera Cruz to the city of Mexico. Fifty miles of it, from Vera Cruz to the foot of the table-land are already in operation; next year another section, from Pueblo to the City of Mexico, will be completed. A charter for another railway, from the Capital to the Pacific Ocean, has been granted to responsible parties.","An able corps of civil engineers has recently been organized, and steps taken for the repair and construction of wagon roads in various parts of the Empire. Telegraphic lines are also encouraged, and several are already in operation.","The Mexican Times, a weekly paper printed in English and devoted to colonization, will, in a few days, make its appearance from the press of this city. Those who wish to come to Mexico, will find in it much useful information relating to the country.","It will, however, afford me much pleasure to give to those who may desire it, any special information that it may be in my power to give, and until the agencies alluded to in the Decree and Regulations, be filled. Their letters will receive prompt attention if directed to the care of Col. Talcott [Tolcott], Engineer in chief of the Imperial Mexican railway.","City of Mexico\n11 Sept. 1865\n(signed) M. F. Maury"],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eCopy of an addendum to emperial decree, in which Matthew Fontaine Maury outlines the climate, economy and other features of Mexico for the information of prospective immigrants.\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Copy of an addendum to emperial decree, in which Matthew Fontaine Maury outlines the climate, economy and other features of Mexico for the information of prospective immigrants."],"_nest_path_":"/components#0/components#68","timestamp":"2026-08-14T22:37:30.860Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593","ead_ssi":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593","_root_":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593","_nest_parent_":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/oai/VMI/repositories_3_resources_593.xml","aspace_url_ssi":"http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vmi/vilxv00010.xml","title_ssm":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers"],"title_tesim":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers"],"unitdate_ssm":["1833-1873"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["1833-1873"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1833/1873"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, 1833/1873"],"text":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, 1833/1873","MS.0103","/repositories/3/resources/593","Confederate States of America—International relations","Confederate States of America. Navy—Officers—Correspondence","Virginia Military Institute—Faculty—19th century","Virginia Military Institute—Faculty—Biography","American Confederate voluntary exiles","Mexico—History","Correspondence","There are no restrictions","The Matthew Fontaine Maury papers are avaliable online.","Matthew Fontaine Maury (1806-1873) was a naval officer and oceanographer known as the \"Pathfinder of the Seas.\" He was notable for his pioneering scientific work in the fields of navigation, hydrography, and meteorology.","Maury joined the United States Navy at age 19, and in 1842 was named head of the Navy's Hydrographical Office and of the United State Naval Observatory.","Beginning in the 1830s, he published a number of significant works on the Gulf Stream, ocean currents, and navigation. He was also involved in research concerning deep-sea sounding and transoceanic cables.","A native of Virginia, Maury resigned his commission as a Commander in the United States Navy at the outbreak of Civil War in April 1861. He entered the Confederate Navy and undertook research into the new technology of torpedo warfare. He was subsequently ordered to England as a special agent with instructions to purchase ships for the Confederate government.","At War's end, he was enroute to the United States with a cargo of torpedo equipment when, upon arriving in port at Havana, Cuba, he learned that the War had ended. Maury then went to Mexico, where he served Emperor Maximilian and later returned to England where he worked until 1868.","The last five years of Maury's life were spent as a Professor of Physics at VMI in Lexington, Virginia. At VMI, Maury did not have regular classroom duties, but instead gave occasional lectures to the cadets and was primarily involved in overseeing an extensive physical survey of Virginia. He died in 1873.","The Matthew Fontaine Maury papers consist primarily of letters written by Maury to various members of his family, including daughter Diana Fontaine Corbin (Maury) (1837-1900), son-in-law Spotswood Wellford Corbin (1835-1897), and wife Ann Hull Maury (Herndon) (1811-1901). Other correspondents include Maximilian (1832-1867), Emperor of Mexico, and Empress Carlotta.","In addition to personal and domestic matters, topics include:\n\nLecture series\nCareer at the National Observatory in Washington, D.C.\nConfederate service in Richmond, Virginia\nActivities in England\nColonization efforts in Mexico\nProfessorship at VMI\n   \nThe papers also include related correspondence and printed material.","Manuscript collections in the VMI Archives are made available for educational and research use. The VMI Archives should be cited as the source. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright holders. Materials from our collections may not be redistributed, published or reproduced without permission from the VMI Archives. Contact the VMI Archives for additional information","Manuscripts Stacks","Virginia Military Institute Archives","Maury, Matthew Fontaine, 1806-1873","Maury, Ann Hull (Herndon), 1811-1901","Corbin, Diana Fontaine (Maury), 1837-1900","Corbin, Spotswood Wellford, 1835-1897","Maximilian, Emperor of Mexico, 1832-1867","Smith, Francis H. (Francis Henney), 1812-1890","English\n."],"collection_title_tesim":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, 1833/1873"],"collection_ssim":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, 1833/1873"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["MS.0103","/repositories/3/resources/593"],"unitid_tesim":["MS.0103","/repositories/3/resources/593"],"repository_ssm":["Virginia Military Institute Archives"],"repository_ssim":["Virginia Military Institute Archives"],"creator_ssm":["Maury, Matthew Fontaine, 1806-1873"],"creator_ssim":["Maury, Matthew Fontaine, 1806-1873"],"creator_persname_ssim":["Maury, Matthew Fontaine, 1806-1873","Maury, Ann Hull (Herndon), 1811-1901","Corbin, Diana Fontaine (Maury), 1837-1900","Corbin, Spotswood Wellford, 1835-1897","Maximilian, Emperor of Mexico, 1832-1867","Smith, Francis H. (Francis Henney), 1812-1890"],"creator_corpname_ssim":["Virginia Military Institute Archives"],"creators_ssim":["Maury, Matthew Fontaine, 1806-1873","Maury, Ann Hull (Herndon), 1811-1901","Corbin, Diana Fontaine (Maury), 1837-1900","Corbin, Spotswood Wellford, 1835-1897","Maximilian, Emperor of Mexico, 1832-1867","Smith, Francis H. (Francis Henney), 1812-1890","Virginia Military Institute Archives"],"access_terms_ssm":["Manuscript collections in the VMI Archives are made available for educational and research use. The VMI Archives should be cited as the source. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright holders. Materials from our collections may not be redistributed, published or reproduced without permission from the VMI Archives. Contact the VMI Archives for additional information"],"access_subjects_ssim":["Confederate States of America—International relations","Confederate States of America. Navy—Officers—Correspondence","Virginia Military Institute—Faculty—19th century","Virginia Military Institute—Faculty—Biography","American Confederate voluntary exiles","Mexico—History","Correspondence"],"access_subjects_ssm":["Confederate States of America—International relations","Confederate States of America. Navy—Officers—Correspondence","Virginia Military Institute—Faculty—19th century","Virginia Military Institute—Faculty—Biography","American Confederate voluntary exiles","Mexico—History","Correspondence"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"extent_ssm":["175 items"],"extent_tesim":["175 items"],"genreform_ssim":["Correspondence"],"date_range_isim":[1833,1834,1835,1836,1837,1838,1839,1840,1841,1842,1843,1844,1845,1846,1847,1848,1849,1850,1851,1852,1853,1854,1855,1856,1857,1858,1859,1860,1861,1862,1863,1864,1865,1866,1867,1868,1869,1870,1871,1872,1873],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions\u003c/p\u003e  "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Access"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions"],"altformavail_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Matthew Fontaine Maury papers are avaliable \u003ca href=\"http://digitalcollections.vmi.edu/cdm/landingpage/collection/p15821coll6\"\u003eonline\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"altformavail_heading_ssm":["Online Access"],"altformavail_tesim":["The Matthew Fontaine Maury papers are avaliable online."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eMatthew Fontaine Maury (1806-1873) was a naval officer and oceanographer known as the \"Pathfinder of the Seas.\" He was notable for his pioneering scientific work in the fields of navigation, hydrography, and meteorology. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMaury joined the United States Navy at age 19, and in 1842 was named head of the Navy's Hydrographical Office and of the United State Naval Observatory. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eBeginning in the 1830s, he published a number of significant works on the Gulf Stream, ocean currents, and navigation. He was also involved in research concerning deep-sea sounding and transoceanic cables.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eA native of Virginia, Maury resigned his commission as a Commander in the United States Navy at the outbreak of Civil War in April 1861. He entered the Confederate Navy and undertook research into the new technology of torpedo warfare. He was subsequently ordered to England as a special agent with instructions to purchase ships for the Confederate government.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAt War's end, he was enroute to the United States with a cargo of torpedo equipment when, upon arriving in port at Havana, Cuba, he learned that the War had ended. Maury then went to Mexico, where he served Emperor Maximilian and later returned to England where he worked until 1868.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe last five years of Maury's life were spent as a Professor of Physics at VMI in Lexington, Virginia. At VMI, Maury did not have regular classroom duties, but instead gave occasional lectures to the cadets and was primarily involved in overseeing an extensive physical survey of Virginia. He died in 1873.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical / Historical"],"bioghist_tesim":["Matthew Fontaine Maury (1806-1873) was a naval officer and oceanographer known as the \"Pathfinder of the Seas.\" He was notable for his pioneering scientific work in the fields of navigation, hydrography, and meteorology.","Maury joined the United States Navy at age 19, and in 1842 was named head of the Navy's Hydrographical Office and of the United State Naval Observatory.","Beginning in the 1830s, he published a number of significant works on the Gulf Stream, ocean currents, and navigation. He was also involved in research concerning deep-sea sounding and transoceanic cables.","A native of Virginia, Maury resigned his commission as a Commander in the United States Navy at the outbreak of Civil War in April 1861. He entered the Confederate Navy and undertook research into the new technology of torpedo warfare. He was subsequently ordered to England as a special agent with instructions to purchase ships for the Confederate government.","At War's end, he was enroute to the United States with a cargo of torpedo equipment when, upon arriving in port at Havana, Cuba, he learned that the War had ended. Maury then went to Mexico, where he served Emperor Maximilian and later returned to England where he worked until 1868.","The last five years of Maury's life were spent as a Professor of Physics at VMI in Lexington, Virginia. At VMI, Maury did not have regular classroom duties, but instead gave occasional lectures to the cadets and was primarily involved in overseeing an extensive physical survey of Virginia. He died in 1873."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eMatthew Fontaine Maury papers, MS 0103, Virginia Military Institute Archives, Lexington, Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"prefercite_tesim":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, MS 0103, Virginia Military Institute Archives, Lexington, Virginia."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Matthew Fontaine Maury papers consist primarily of letters written by Maury to various members of his family, including daughter Diana Fontaine Corbin (Maury) (1837-1900), son-in-law Spotswood Wellford Corbin (1835-1897), and wife Ann Hull Maury (Herndon) (1811-1901). Other correspondents include Maximilian (1832-1867), Emperor of Mexico, and Empress Carlotta.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIn addition to personal and domestic matters, topics include:\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLecture series\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCareer at the National Observatory in Washington, D.C.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConfederate service in Richmond, Virginia\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eActivities in England\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eColonization efforts in Mexico\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProfessorship at VMI\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e   \nThe papers also include related correspondence and printed material.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents"],"scopecontent_tesim":["The Matthew Fontaine Maury papers consist primarily of letters written by Maury to various members of his family, including daughter Diana Fontaine Corbin (Maury) (1837-1900), son-in-law Spotswood Wellford Corbin (1835-1897), and wife Ann Hull Maury (Herndon) (1811-1901). Other correspondents include Maximilian (1832-1867), Emperor of Mexico, and Empress Carlotta.","In addition to personal and domestic matters, topics include:\n\nLecture series\nCareer at the National Observatory in Washington, D.C.\nConfederate service in Richmond, Virginia\nActivities in England\nColonization efforts in Mexico\nProfessorship at VMI\n   \nThe papers also include related correspondence and printed material."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eManuscript collections in the VMI Archives are made available for educational and research use. The VMI Archives should be cited as the source. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright holders. Materials from our collections may not be redistributed, published or reproduced without permission from the VMI Archives. Contact the VMI Archives for additional information\u003c/p\u003e  "],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Use"],"userestrict_tesim":["Manuscript collections in the VMI Archives are made available for educational and research use. The VMI Archives should be cited as the source. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright holders. Materials from our collections may not be redistributed, published or reproduced without permission from the VMI Archives. 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Corbin, 1865","abstract_or_scope":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593_c01_c71#abstract_or_scope","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":"\u003cp\u003eCopy by Rutson Maury, with notations.\u003c/p\u003e","label":"Abstract Or Scope"}},"breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593_c01_c71#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593_c01_c71","ref_ssm":["vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593_c01_c71"],"id":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593_c01_c71","ead_ssi":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593","_root_":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593","_nest_parent_":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593_c01","parent_ssi":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593_c01","parent_ssim":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, 1833/1873","Correspondence, family, 1840/1872"],"parent_ids_ssim":["vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593","vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593_c01"],"title_filing_ssi":"Copy of letter to Spotswood W. 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He was also involved in research concerning deep-sea sounding and transoceanic cables.","A native of Virginia, Maury resigned his commission as a Commander in the United States Navy at the outbreak of Civil War in April 1861. He entered the Confederate Navy and undertook research into the new technology of torpedo warfare. He was subsequently ordered to England as a special agent with instructions to purchase ships for the Confederate government.","At War's end, he was enroute to the United States with a cargo of torpedo equipment when, upon arriving in port at Havana, Cuba, he learned that the War had ended. Maury then went to Mexico, where he served Emperor Maximilian and later returned to England where he worked until 1868.","The last five years of Maury's life were spent as a Professor of Physics at VMI in Lexington, Virginia. At VMI, Maury did not have regular classroom duties, but instead gave occasional lectures to the cadets and was primarily involved in overseeing an extensive physical survey of Virginia. He died in 1873.","The Matthew Fontaine Maury papers consist primarily of letters written by Maury to various members of his family, including daughter Diana Fontaine Corbin (Maury) (1837-1900), son-in-law Spotswood Wellford Corbin (1835-1897), and wife Ann Hull Maury (Herndon) (1811-1901). 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Contact the VMI Archives for additional information","Manuscripts Stacks","Virginia Military Institute Archives","Maury, Matthew Fontaine, 1806-1873","Maury, Ann Hull (Herndon), 1811-1901","Corbin, Diana Fontaine (Maury), 1837-1900","Corbin, Spotswood Wellford, 1835-1897","Maximilian, Emperor of Mexico, 1832-1867","Smith, Francis H. 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At VMI, Maury did not have regular classroom duties, but instead gave occasional lectures to the cadets and was primarily involved in overseeing an extensive physical survey of Virginia. He died in 1873."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eMatthew Fontaine Maury papers, MS 0103, Virginia Military Institute Archives, Lexington, Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"prefercite_tesim":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, MS 0103, Virginia Military Institute Archives, Lexington, Virginia."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Matthew Fontaine Maury papers consist primarily of letters written by Maury to various members of his family, including daughter Diana Fontaine Corbin (Maury) (1837-1900), son-in-law Spotswood Wellford Corbin (1835-1897), and wife Ann Hull Maury (Herndon) (1811-1901). 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Other correspondents include Maximilian (1832-1867), Emperor of Mexico, and Empress Carlotta.","In addition to personal and domestic matters, topics include:\n\nLecture series\nCareer at the National Observatory in Washington, D.C.\nConfederate service in Richmond, Virginia\nActivities in England\nColonization efforts in Mexico\nProfessorship at VMI\n   \nThe papers also include related correspondence and printed material."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eManuscript collections in the VMI Archives are made available for educational and research use. The VMI Archives should be cited as the source. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright holders. Materials from our collections may not be redistributed, published or reproduced without permission from the VMI Archives. 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Mexico is opened to immigration from all nations.","Article 2. Immigration agents shall be appointed, who will be paid by the government, and whose duty it will be to protect the arrival of the immigrants, install them on the lands assigned them and assist them in every possible way in establishing themselves. These agents will receive the orders of an Imperial Commissioner if Immigration, specially appointed by us, and to whom, through our Minister of Improvement (Fomento) all communications relating to immigration shall be addressed.","Article 3. Each immigrant shall receive a duly executed title incommutable, of landed estate, and a certificate that it is free of mortgages.","Article 4. Such property shall be free from taxes for the first year, and also from duties on transfers of property, but only on the first sale.","Article 5. The immigrants may be naturalized as soon as they shall have established themselves as settlers.","Article 6. Immigrants who may desire to bring labourers with them, or induce them to come, in considerable numbers, of any race whatever, are authorized to do so; but those laborers will be subject to special protective regulations.","Article 7. The effects of immigrants, their working and broad animals, seeds, agricultural implements, machines and working tools, will enter free of custom house and transit duties.","Article 8. Immigrants are exempted from military service for five years. But they will form a stationary militia, for the purpose of protecting their property and neighbourhoods.","Article 9. Liberty in the exercise of their respective forms of religious worship is secured to immigrants, by the Organic Law of the Empire.","Article 10. Each of our Ministers is charged with carrying out such parts of this decree as relate to his department.","Given at Chapultepec on the 5th of September 1865.\nMaximilian","To the Minister of Improvement.\nBy the Emperor,\nManuel Orozco y Berra,\nSub-secretary, in the absence of the Minister of Improvement","Regulations\nUnder article 6, of the foregoing decree, we ordain as follows:","1. Under the laws of the Empire, all persons of colour are free by the mere act of their touching Mexican territory.","2. They shall make contracts with the employer who has engaged, or may engage them, by which such employer shall bind himself to feed, clothe and lodge them, and give them medical attendance, and also pay them a sum of money, according to whatever agreements they may enter into with him, and more over he shall deposit in the savings bank hereinafter mentioned, for the benefit of the labourer, a sum equivalent to one fourth of his wages, the laborer shall on his part obligate himself to his employer to perform the labour for which he is employed, for a term of not less than five nor more that ten years.","3. The employer shall bind himself to support the children of his labourers. In the event of the father's death, the employer will be regarded as the guardian of the children, and they will remain in his service until they become of age, on the same terms as those agreed on with their father.","4. Each labourer shall receive a book certified by the local authority, in which book his description, the statement of his place of labour, and a certificate of his life and habits, will be entered. In the case of a change of employer, the consent of the former employer shall be entered in this book.","5. In case of the death of the employer, his heirs or whoever may acquire his estate, shall be bound to the labourer in the same manner in which such employer was and labourer in his part shall be bound towards such new proprietor, on the same terms as in his former contract.","6. In case of desertion, the labourer when arrested, shall be placed, without pay, on public works, until his employe presents himself to claim him.","7. In case of any injustice of the employer towards the labourers, he shall be brought before a magistrate.","8. Special police commissioners will watch over the execution of these regulations, and officially prosecute all violators thereof.","9. A savings bank will be established by the government for the following objects.","10. The employers shall deposit in said bank, every month, for the benefit of the labourers, a sum equivalent to one fourth of the wages which each is entitled to, under his contract of employment.","11. The labourers can deposit, in addition, in the savings bank, in money, such sum as they may desire.","12. These deposits shall bear interest at the rate of 5 percent per annum.","13. At the end of his engagement, and on presentation of his book, the labourer shall receive the entire amount of his savings.","14. If at the end of his engagement the labourer wishes to leave his money in the savings bank, he can then receive the interest accrues, or if he wishes to leave this also, it will be added to his capital, and also draw interest.","15. In case a labourer should die intestate or without heirs, his property shall pass to the treasury of the government.","Given at Chapultepec, on the 5th of September 1865.\nMaximilian\nTo the Minister of Improvement\nBy the Emperor:\nManuel Orozco y Berra\nSubsecretary, in the absence of the Minister of Improvement.","Contemporary copy of the decree by Emperor Maximilian that regards immigration and benefits granted to immigrants, and regulations regarding use of laborers."],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, 1833/1873","Correspondence, family, 1840/1872"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, 1833/1873","Correspondence, family, 1840/1872"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1865"],"unitdate_other_ssim":["1865 September 5"],"level_ssm":["Item"],"level_ssim":["Item"],"component_level_isim":[2],"sort_isi":69,"repository_ssim":["Virginia Military Institute Archives"],"collection_ssim":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, 1833/1873"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"parent_access_restrict_tesm":["There are no restrictions"],"parent_access_terms_tesm":["Manuscript collections in the VMI Archives are made available for educational and research use. The VMI Archives should be cited as the source. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright holders. Materials from our collections may not be redistributed, published or reproduced without permission from the VMI Archives. Contact the VMI Archives for additional information"],"access_subjects_ssim":["Mexico—History","Correspondence"],"access_subjects_ssm":["Mexico—History","Correspondence"],"language_ssim":["English."],"date_range_isim":[1865],"odd_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eImportant from Mexico\u003cbr\u003e\nWe, Maximilian, Emperor of Mexico in consideration of the sparseness of the population in the Mexican territory, in proportion to its extent; desiring to give to immigrants all possible security for property and liberty, in order that they may become good Mexicans, sincerely attached to their new country; and having heard the opinion of our Board of Colonization, do decree, as follows:\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eArticle 1. Mexico is opened to immigration from all nations.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eArticle 2. Immigration agents shall be appointed, who will be paid by the government, and whose duty it will be to protect the arrival of the immigrants, install them on the lands assigned them and assist them in every possible way in establishing themselves. These agents will receive the orders of an Imperial Commissioner if Immigration, specially appointed by us, and to whom, through our Minister of Improvement (Fomento) all communications relating to immigration shall be addressed.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eArticle 3. Each immigrant shall receive a duly executed title incommutable, of landed estate, and a certificate that it is free of mortgages.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eArticle 4. Such property shall be free from taxes for the first year, and also from duties on transfers of property, but only on the first sale.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eArticle 5. The immigrants may be naturalized as soon as they shall have established themselves as settlers.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eArticle 6. Immigrants who may desire to bring labourers with them, or induce them to come, in considerable numbers, of any race whatever, are authorized to do so; but those laborers will be subject to special protective regulations.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eArticle 7. The effects of immigrants, their working and broad animals, seeds, agricultural implements, machines and working tools, will enter free of custom house and transit duties.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eArticle 8. Immigrants are exempted from military service for five years. But they will form a stationary militia, for the purpose of protecting their property and neighbourhoods.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eArticle 9. Liberty in the exercise of their respective forms of religious worship is secured to immigrants, by the Organic Law of the Empire.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eArticle 10. Each of our Ministers is charged with carrying out such parts of this decree as relate to his department.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eGiven at Chapultepec on the 5th of September 1865.\u003cbr\u003e\nMaximilian\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eTo the Minister of Improvement.\u003cbr\u003e\nBy the Emperor,\u003cbr\u003e\nManuel Orozco y Berra,\u003cbr\u003e\nSub-secretary, in the absence of the Minister of Improvement\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eRegulations\u003cbr\u003e\nUnder article 6, of the foregoing decree, we ordain as follows:\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e1. Under the laws of the Empire, all persons of colour are free by the mere act of their touching Mexican territory.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e2. They shall make contracts with the employer who has engaged, or may engage them, by which such employer shall bind himself to feed, clothe and lodge them, and give them medical attendance, and also pay them a sum of money, according to whatever agreements they may enter into with him, and more over he shall deposit in the savings bank hereinafter mentioned, for the benefit of the labourer, a sum equivalent to one fourth of his wages, the laborer shall on his part obligate himself to his employer to perform the labour for which he is employed, for a term of not less than five nor more that ten years.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e3. The employer shall bind himself to support the children of his labourers. In the event of the father's death, the employer will be regarded as the guardian of the children, and they will remain in his service until they become of age, on the same terms as those agreed on with their father.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e4. Each labourer shall receive a book certified by the local authority, in which book his description, the statement of his place of labour, and a certificate of his life and habits, will be entered. In the case of a change of employer, the consent of the former employer shall be entered in this book.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e5. In case of the death of the employer, his heirs or whoever may acquire his estate, shall be bound to the labourer in the same manner in which such employer was and labourer in his part shall be bound towards such new proprietor, on the same terms as in his former contract.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e6. In case of desertion, the labourer when arrested, shall be placed, without pay, on public works, until his employe presents himself to claim him.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e7. In case of any injustice of the employer towards the labourers, he shall be brought before a magistrate.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e8. Special police commissioners will watch over the execution of these regulations, and officially prosecute all violators thereof.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e9. A savings bank will be established by the government for the following objects.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e10. The employers shall deposit in said bank, every month, for the benefit of the labourers, a sum equivalent to one fourth of the wages which each is entitled to, under his contract of employment.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e11. The labourers can deposit, in addition, in the savings bank, in money, such sum as they may desire.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e12. These deposits shall bear interest at the rate of 5 percent per annum.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e13. At the end of his engagement, and on presentation of his book, the labourer shall receive the entire amount of his savings.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e14. If at the end of his engagement the labourer wishes to leave his money in the savings bank, he can then receive the interest accrues, or if he wishes to leave this also, it will be added to his capital, and also draw interest.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e15. In case a labourer should die intestate or without heirs, his property shall pass to the treasury of the government.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eGiven at Chapultepec, on the 5th of September 1865.\u003cbr\u003e\nMaximilian\u003cbr\u003e\nTo the Minister of Improvement\u003cbr\u003e\nBy the Emperor:\u003cbr\u003e\nManuel Orozco y Berra\u003cbr\u003e\nSubsecretary, in the absence of the Minister of Improvement.\u003c/p\u003e"],"odd_heading_ssm":["Transcription"],"odd_tesim":["Important from Mexico\nWe, Maximilian, Emperor of Mexico in consideration of the sparseness of the population in the Mexican territory, in proportion to its extent; desiring to give to immigrants all possible security for property and liberty, in order that they may become good Mexicans, sincerely attached to their new country; and having heard the opinion of our Board of Colonization, do decree, as follows:","Article 1. Mexico is opened to immigration from all nations.","Article 2. Immigration agents shall be appointed, who will be paid by the government, and whose duty it will be to protect the arrival of the immigrants, install them on the lands assigned them and assist them in every possible way in establishing themselves. These agents will receive the orders of an Imperial Commissioner if Immigration, specially appointed by us, and to whom, through our Minister of Improvement (Fomento) all communications relating to immigration shall be addressed.","Article 3. Each immigrant shall receive a duly executed title incommutable, of landed estate, and a certificate that it is free of mortgages.","Article 4. Such property shall be free from taxes for the first year, and also from duties on transfers of property, but only on the first sale.","Article 5. The immigrants may be naturalized as soon as they shall have established themselves as settlers.","Article 6. Immigrants who may desire to bring labourers with them, or induce them to come, in considerable numbers, of any race whatever, are authorized to do so; but those laborers will be subject to special protective regulations.","Article 7. The effects of immigrants, their working and broad animals, seeds, agricultural implements, machines and working tools, will enter free of custom house and transit duties.","Article 8. Immigrants are exempted from military service for five years. But they will form a stationary militia, for the purpose of protecting their property and neighbourhoods.","Article 9. Liberty in the exercise of their respective forms of religious worship is secured to immigrants, by the Organic Law of the Empire.","Article 10. Each of our Ministers is charged with carrying out such parts of this decree as relate to his department.","Given at Chapultepec on the 5th of September 1865.\nMaximilian","To the Minister of Improvement.\nBy the Emperor,\nManuel Orozco y Berra,\nSub-secretary, in the absence of the Minister of Improvement","Regulations\nUnder article 6, of the foregoing decree, we ordain as follows:","1. Under the laws of the Empire, all persons of colour are free by the mere act of their touching Mexican territory.","2. They shall make contracts with the employer who has engaged, or may engage them, by which such employer shall bind himself to feed, clothe and lodge them, and give them medical attendance, and also pay them a sum of money, according to whatever agreements they may enter into with him, and more over he shall deposit in the savings bank hereinafter mentioned, for the benefit of the labourer, a sum equivalent to one fourth of his wages, the laborer shall on his part obligate himself to his employer to perform the labour for which he is employed, for a term of not less than five nor more that ten years.","3. The employer shall bind himself to support the children of his labourers. In the event of the father's death, the employer will be regarded as the guardian of the children, and they will remain in his service until they become of age, on the same terms as those agreed on with their father.","4. Each labourer shall receive a book certified by the local authority, in which book his description, the statement of his place of labour, and a certificate of his life and habits, will be entered. In the case of a change of employer, the consent of the former employer shall be entered in this book.","5. In case of the death of the employer, his heirs or whoever may acquire his estate, shall be bound to the labourer in the same manner in which such employer was and labourer in his part shall be bound towards such new proprietor, on the same terms as in his former contract.","6. In case of desertion, the labourer when arrested, shall be placed, without pay, on public works, until his employe presents himself to claim him.","7. In case of any injustice of the employer towards the labourers, he shall be brought before a magistrate.","8. Special police commissioners will watch over the execution of these regulations, and officially prosecute all violators thereof.","9. A savings bank will be established by the government for the following objects.","10. The employers shall deposit in said bank, every month, for the benefit of the labourers, a sum equivalent to one fourth of the wages which each is entitled to, under his contract of employment.","11. The labourers can deposit, in addition, in the savings bank, in money, such sum as they may desire.","12. These deposits shall bear interest at the rate of 5 percent per annum.","13. At the end of his engagement, and on presentation of his book, the labourer shall receive the entire amount of his savings.","14. If at the end of his engagement the labourer wishes to leave his money in the savings bank, he can then receive the interest accrues, or if he wishes to leave this also, it will be added to his capital, and also draw interest.","15. In case a labourer should die intestate or without heirs, his property shall pass to the treasury of the government.","Given at Chapultepec, on the 5th of September 1865.\nMaximilian\nTo the Minister of Improvement\nBy the Emperor:\nManuel Orozco y Berra\nSubsecretary, in the absence of the Minister of Improvement."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eContemporary copy of the decree by Emperor Maximilian that regards immigration and benefits granted to immigrants, and regulations regarding use of laborers.\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Contemporary copy of the decree by Emperor Maximilian that regards immigration and benefits granted to immigrants, and regulations regarding use of laborers."],"_nest_path_":"/components#0/components#67","timestamp":"2026-08-14T22:37:30.860Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593","ead_ssi":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593","_root_":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593","_nest_parent_":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/oai/VMI/repositories_3_resources_593.xml","aspace_url_ssi":"http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vmi/vilxv00010.xml","title_ssm":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers"],"title_tesim":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers"],"unitdate_ssm":["1833-1873"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["1833-1873"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1833/1873"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, 1833/1873"],"text":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, 1833/1873","MS.0103","/repositories/3/resources/593","Confederate States of America—International relations","Confederate States of America. Navy—Officers—Correspondence","Virginia Military Institute—Faculty—19th century","Virginia Military Institute—Faculty—Biography","American Confederate voluntary exiles","Mexico—History","Correspondence","There are no restrictions","The Matthew Fontaine Maury papers are avaliable online.","Matthew Fontaine Maury (1806-1873) was a naval officer and oceanographer known as the \"Pathfinder of the Seas.\" He was notable for his pioneering scientific work in the fields of navigation, hydrography, and meteorology.","Maury joined the United States Navy at age 19, and in 1842 was named head of the Navy's Hydrographical Office and of the United State Naval Observatory.","Beginning in the 1830s, he published a number of significant works on the Gulf Stream, ocean currents, and navigation. He was also involved in research concerning deep-sea sounding and transoceanic cables.","A native of Virginia, Maury resigned his commission as a Commander in the United States Navy at the outbreak of Civil War in April 1861. He entered the Confederate Navy and undertook research into the new technology of torpedo warfare. He was subsequently ordered to England as a special agent with instructions to purchase ships for the Confederate government.","At War's end, he was enroute to the United States with a cargo of torpedo equipment when, upon arriving in port at Havana, Cuba, he learned that the War had ended. Maury then went to Mexico, where he served Emperor Maximilian and later returned to England where he worked until 1868.","The last five years of Maury's life were spent as a Professor of Physics at VMI in Lexington, Virginia. At VMI, Maury did not have regular classroom duties, but instead gave occasional lectures to the cadets and was primarily involved in overseeing an extensive physical survey of Virginia. He died in 1873.","The Matthew Fontaine Maury papers consist primarily of letters written by Maury to various members of his family, including daughter Diana Fontaine Corbin (Maury) (1837-1900), son-in-law Spotswood Wellford Corbin (1835-1897), and wife Ann Hull Maury (Herndon) (1811-1901). Other correspondents include Maximilian (1832-1867), Emperor of Mexico, and Empress Carlotta.","In addition to personal and domestic matters, topics include:\n\nLecture series\nCareer at the National Observatory in Washington, D.C.\nConfederate service in Richmond, Virginia\nActivities in England\nColonization efforts in Mexico\nProfessorship at VMI\n   \nThe papers also include related correspondence and printed material.","Manuscript collections in the VMI Archives are made available for educational and research use. The VMI Archives should be cited as the source. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright holders. Materials from our collections may not be redistributed, published or reproduced without permission from the VMI Archives. Contact the VMI Archives for additional information","Manuscripts Stacks","Virginia Military Institute Archives","Maury, Matthew Fontaine, 1806-1873","Maury, Ann Hull (Herndon), 1811-1901","Corbin, Diana Fontaine (Maury), 1837-1900","Corbin, Spotswood Wellford, 1835-1897","Maximilian, Emperor of Mexico, 1832-1867","Smith, Francis H. (Francis Henney), 1812-1890","English\n."],"collection_title_tesim":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, 1833/1873"],"collection_ssim":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, 1833/1873"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["MS.0103","/repositories/3/resources/593"],"unitid_tesim":["MS.0103","/repositories/3/resources/593"],"repository_ssm":["Virginia Military Institute Archives"],"repository_ssim":["Virginia Military Institute Archives"],"creator_ssm":["Maury, Matthew Fontaine, 1806-1873"],"creator_ssim":["Maury, Matthew Fontaine, 1806-1873"],"creator_persname_ssim":["Maury, Matthew Fontaine, 1806-1873","Maury, Ann Hull (Herndon), 1811-1901","Corbin, Diana Fontaine (Maury), 1837-1900","Corbin, Spotswood Wellford, 1835-1897","Maximilian, Emperor of Mexico, 1832-1867","Smith, Francis H. (Francis Henney), 1812-1890"],"creator_corpname_ssim":["Virginia Military Institute Archives"],"creators_ssim":["Maury, Matthew Fontaine, 1806-1873","Maury, Ann Hull (Herndon), 1811-1901","Corbin, Diana Fontaine (Maury), 1837-1900","Corbin, Spotswood Wellford, 1835-1897","Maximilian, Emperor of Mexico, 1832-1867","Smith, Francis H. (Francis Henney), 1812-1890","Virginia Military Institute Archives"],"access_terms_ssm":["Manuscript collections in the VMI Archives are made available for educational and research use. The VMI Archives should be cited as the source. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright holders. Materials from our collections may not be redistributed, published or reproduced without permission from the VMI Archives. Contact the VMI Archives for additional information"],"access_subjects_ssim":["Confederate States of America—International relations","Confederate States of America. Navy—Officers—Correspondence","Virginia Military Institute—Faculty—19th century","Virginia Military Institute—Faculty—Biography","American Confederate voluntary exiles","Mexico—History","Correspondence"],"access_subjects_ssm":["Confederate States of America—International relations","Confederate States of America. Navy—Officers—Correspondence","Virginia Military Institute—Faculty—19th century","Virginia Military Institute—Faculty—Biography","American Confederate voluntary exiles","Mexico—History","Correspondence"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"extent_ssm":["175 items"],"extent_tesim":["175 items"],"genreform_ssim":["Correspondence"],"date_range_isim":[1833,1834,1835,1836,1837,1838,1839,1840,1841,1842,1843,1844,1845,1846,1847,1848,1849,1850,1851,1852,1853,1854,1855,1856,1857,1858,1859,1860,1861,1862,1863,1864,1865,1866,1867,1868,1869,1870,1871,1872,1873],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions\u003c/p\u003e  "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Access"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions"],"altformavail_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Matthew Fontaine Maury papers are avaliable \u003ca href=\"http://digitalcollections.vmi.edu/cdm/landingpage/collection/p15821coll6\"\u003eonline\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"altformavail_heading_ssm":["Online Access"],"altformavail_tesim":["The Matthew Fontaine Maury papers are avaliable online."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eMatthew Fontaine Maury (1806-1873) was a naval officer and oceanographer known as the \"Pathfinder of the Seas.\" He was notable for his pioneering scientific work in the fields of navigation, hydrography, and meteorology. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMaury joined the United States Navy at age 19, and in 1842 was named head of the Navy's Hydrographical Office and of the United State Naval Observatory. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eBeginning in the 1830s, he published a number of significant works on the Gulf Stream, ocean currents, and navigation. He was also involved in research concerning deep-sea sounding and transoceanic cables.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eA native of Virginia, Maury resigned his commission as a Commander in the United States Navy at the outbreak of Civil War in April 1861. He entered the Confederate Navy and undertook research into the new technology of torpedo warfare. He was subsequently ordered to England as a special agent with instructions to purchase ships for the Confederate government.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAt War's end, he was enroute to the United States with a cargo of torpedo equipment when, upon arriving in port at Havana, Cuba, he learned that the War had ended. Maury then went to Mexico, where he served Emperor Maximilian and later returned to England where he worked until 1868.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe last five years of Maury's life were spent as a Professor of Physics at VMI in Lexington, Virginia. At VMI, Maury did not have regular classroom duties, but instead gave occasional lectures to the cadets and was primarily involved in overseeing an extensive physical survey of Virginia. He died in 1873.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical / Historical"],"bioghist_tesim":["Matthew Fontaine Maury (1806-1873) was a naval officer and oceanographer known as the \"Pathfinder of the Seas.\" He was notable for his pioneering scientific work in the fields of navigation, hydrography, and meteorology.","Maury joined the United States Navy at age 19, and in 1842 was named head of the Navy's Hydrographical Office and of the United State Naval Observatory.","Beginning in the 1830s, he published a number of significant works on the Gulf Stream, ocean currents, and navigation. He was also involved in research concerning deep-sea sounding and transoceanic cables.","A native of Virginia, Maury resigned his commission as a Commander in the United States Navy at the outbreak of Civil War in April 1861. He entered the Confederate Navy and undertook research into the new technology of torpedo warfare. He was subsequently ordered to England as a special agent with instructions to purchase ships for the Confederate government.","At War's end, he was enroute to the United States with a cargo of torpedo equipment when, upon arriving in port at Havana, Cuba, he learned that the War had ended. Maury then went to Mexico, where he served Emperor Maximilian and later returned to England where he worked until 1868.","The last five years of Maury's life were spent as a Professor of Physics at VMI in Lexington, Virginia. At VMI, Maury did not have regular classroom duties, but instead gave occasional lectures to the cadets and was primarily involved in overseeing an extensive physical survey of Virginia. He died in 1873."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eMatthew Fontaine Maury papers, MS 0103, Virginia Military Institute Archives, Lexington, Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"prefercite_tesim":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, MS 0103, Virginia Military Institute Archives, Lexington, Virginia."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Matthew Fontaine Maury papers consist primarily of letters written by Maury to various members of his family, including daughter Diana Fontaine Corbin (Maury) (1837-1900), son-in-law Spotswood Wellford Corbin (1835-1897), and wife Ann Hull Maury (Herndon) (1811-1901). Other correspondents include Maximilian (1832-1867), Emperor of Mexico, and Empress Carlotta.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIn addition to personal and domestic matters, topics include:\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLecture series\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCareer at the National Observatory in Washington, D.C.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConfederate service in Richmond, Virginia\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eActivities in England\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eColonization efforts in Mexico\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProfessorship at VMI\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e   \nThe papers also include related correspondence and printed material.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents"],"scopecontent_tesim":["The Matthew Fontaine Maury papers consist primarily of letters written by Maury to various members of his family, including daughter Diana Fontaine Corbin (Maury) (1837-1900), son-in-law Spotswood Wellford Corbin (1835-1897), and wife Ann Hull Maury (Herndon) (1811-1901). Other correspondents include Maximilian (1832-1867), Emperor of Mexico, and Empress Carlotta.","In addition to personal and domestic matters, topics include:\n\nLecture series\nCareer at the National Observatory in Washington, D.C.\nConfederate service in Richmond, Virginia\nActivities in England\nColonization efforts in Mexico\nProfessorship at VMI\n   \nThe papers also include related correspondence and printed material."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eManuscript collections in the VMI Archives are made available for educational and research use. The VMI Archives should be cited as the source. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright holders. Materials from our collections may not be redistributed, published or reproduced without permission from the VMI Archives. 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Document announces an offer to Confederate settlers to purchase the estate of Santa Anna.\u003c/p\u003e","label":"Abstract Or Scope"}},"breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593_c01_c77#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593_c01_c77","ref_ssm":["vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593_c01_c77"],"id":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593_c01_c77","ead_ssi":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593","_root_":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593","_nest_parent_":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593_c01","parent_ssi":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593_c01","parent_ssim":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, 1833/1873","Correspondence, family, 1840/1872"],"parent_ids_ssim":["vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593","vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593_c01"],"title_filing_ssi":"Document","title_ssm":["Document"],"title_tesim":["Document"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Document, 1865"],"text":["Document, 1865","Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, 1833/1873","Correspondence, family, 1840/1872","Mexico—History","Correspondence","English.","An offer of 350,00 acres of land is made to Confederate settlers who wish to establish themselves in Mexico.","These lands the most fertile of the Empire, are crossed by three rivers. They are situated on the line of rail-road from Vera Cruz to the Capital, and are near the road from V Cruz to Jalapa. They are in the healthy part of Sierra Caliente, and produce equally well coffee, cocoa, indigo, cotton and sugar cane, as well as all the tropical fruits and vegetables.","The proprietor will sell them to settlers as soon as the letter shall have filled with the Agents of Colonization in the United States or Mexico subscriptions for 200,000 acres at the following rate:\nThe first 50,000 acres chosen at ---- $1.75\n\" second \" \" \" \" ---- 1.50\n\" third \" \" \" \" ---- 1.25\n\" fourth \" \" \" \" ---- 1.00","The first subscribers will have the right to choose at the above rates with the understanding that not less than 320 acres shall be sold to any of them.","When the 200,00 acres shall have been subscribed for, and chosen the rest shall be sold at a price to be agreed upon between the seller and the purchaser.","The payments shall be made in the following manner:\nThe third part of the value shall be paid in cash at Mexico, Ver Cruz or New Orleans. The rest thereof shall be paid in four years time causing the payments thereof to be effected in equal parts and yearly, that is to say one sixth of the value of the property adding thereto the interest at the rate of six percent.","As villages and towns will be formed on these lands, a lot will be given gratis to each settler in said villages or towns. Said lots shall be chosen and allotted by Mr. Maury the Imperial Commissioner of Colonization.","The surveying and the cost of the title of the property will be at the expense of the settlers.","City of Mexico\nDec 9th 1865-","Written from Mexico. 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Materials from our collections may not be redistributed, published or reproduced without permission from the VMI Archives. Contact the VMI Archives for additional information"],"access_subjects_ssim":["Mexico—History","Correspondence"],"access_subjects_ssm":["Mexico—History","Correspondence"],"language_ssim":["English."],"date_range_isim":[1865],"odd_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAn offer of 350,00 acres of land is made to Confederate settlers who wish to establish themselves in Mexico.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThese lands the most fertile of the Empire, are crossed by three rivers. They are situated on the line of rail-road from Vera Cruz to the Capital, and are near the road from V Cruz to Jalapa. They are in the healthy part of Sierra Caliente, and produce equally well coffee, cocoa, indigo, cotton and sugar cane, as well as all the tropical fruits and vegetables.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe proprietor will sell them to settlers as soon as the letter shall have filled with the Agents of Colonization in the United States or Mexico subscriptions for 200,000 acres at the following rate:\u003cbr\u003e\nThe first 50,000 acres chosen at ---- $1.75\u003cbr\u003e\n\" second \" \" \" \" ---- 1.50\u003cbr\u003e\n\" third \" \" \" \" ---- 1.25\u003cbr\u003e\n\" fourth \" \" \" \" ---- 1.00\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe first subscribers will have the right to choose at the above rates with the understanding that not less than 320 acres shall be sold to any of them.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWhen the 200,00 acres shall have been subscribed for, and chosen the rest shall be sold at a price to be agreed upon between the seller and the purchaser.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe payments shall be made in the following manner:\u003cbr\u003e\nThe third part of the value shall be paid in cash at Mexico, Ver Cruz or New Orleans. The rest thereof shall be paid in four years time causing the payments thereof to be effected in equal parts and yearly, that is to say one sixth of the value of the property adding thereto the interest at the rate of six percent.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAs villages and towns will be formed on these lands, a lot will be given gratis to each settler in said villages or towns. Said lots shall be chosen and allotted by Mr. Maury the Imperial Commissioner of Colonization.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe surveying and the cost of the title of the property will be at the expense of the settlers.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eCity of Mexico\u003cbr\u003e\nDec 9th 1865-\u003c/p\u003e"],"odd_heading_ssm":["Transcription"],"odd_tesim":["An offer of 350,00 acres of land is made to Confederate settlers who wish to establish themselves in Mexico.","These lands the most fertile of the Empire, are crossed by three rivers. They are situated on the line of rail-road from Vera Cruz to the Capital, and are near the road from V Cruz to Jalapa. They are in the healthy part of Sierra Caliente, and produce equally well coffee, cocoa, indigo, cotton and sugar cane, as well as all the tropical fruits and vegetables.","The proprietor will sell them to settlers as soon as the letter shall have filled with the Agents of Colonization in the United States or Mexico subscriptions for 200,000 acres at the following rate:\nThe first 50,000 acres chosen at ---- $1.75\n\" second \" \" \" \" ---- 1.50\n\" third \" \" \" \" ---- 1.25\n\" fourth \" \" \" \" ---- 1.00","The first subscribers will have the right to choose at the above rates with the understanding that not less than 320 acres shall be sold to any of them.","When the 200,00 acres shall have been subscribed for, and chosen the rest shall be sold at a price to be agreed upon between the seller and the purchaser.","The payments shall be made in the following manner:\nThe third part of the value shall be paid in cash at Mexico, Ver Cruz or New Orleans. The rest thereof shall be paid in four years time causing the payments thereof to be effected in equal parts and yearly, that is to say one sixth of the value of the property adding thereto the interest at the rate of six percent.","As villages and towns will be formed on these lands, a lot will be given gratis to each settler in said villages or towns. Said lots shall be chosen and allotted by Mr. Maury the Imperial Commissioner of Colonization.","The surveying and the cost of the title of the property will be at the expense of the settlers.","City of Mexico\nDec 9th 1865-"],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eWritten from Mexico. Document announces an offer to Confederate settlers to purchase the estate of Santa Anna.\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Written from Mexico. Document announces an offer to Confederate settlers to purchase the estate of Santa Anna."],"_nest_path_":"/components#0/components#76","timestamp":"2026-08-14T22:37:30.860Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593","ead_ssi":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593","_root_":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593","_nest_parent_":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/oai/VMI/repositories_3_resources_593.xml","aspace_url_ssi":"http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vmi/vilxv00010.xml","title_ssm":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers"],"title_tesim":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers"],"unitdate_ssm":["1833-1873"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["1833-1873"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1833/1873"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, 1833/1873"],"text":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, 1833/1873","MS.0103","/repositories/3/resources/593","Confederate States of America—International relations","Confederate States of America. Navy—Officers—Correspondence","Virginia Military Institute—Faculty—19th century","Virginia Military Institute—Faculty—Biography","American Confederate voluntary exiles","Mexico—History","Correspondence","There are no restrictions","The Matthew Fontaine Maury papers are avaliable online.","Matthew Fontaine Maury (1806-1873) was a naval officer and oceanographer known as the \"Pathfinder of the Seas.\" He was notable for his pioneering scientific work in the fields of navigation, hydrography, and meteorology.","Maury joined the United States Navy at age 19, and in 1842 was named head of the Navy's Hydrographical Office and of the United State Naval Observatory.","Beginning in the 1830s, he published a number of significant works on the Gulf Stream, ocean currents, and navigation. He was also involved in research concerning deep-sea sounding and transoceanic cables.","A native of Virginia, Maury resigned his commission as a Commander in the United States Navy at the outbreak of Civil War in April 1861. He entered the Confederate Navy and undertook research into the new technology of torpedo warfare. He was subsequently ordered to England as a special agent with instructions to purchase ships for the Confederate government.","At War's end, he was enroute to the United States with a cargo of torpedo equipment when, upon arriving in port at Havana, Cuba, he learned that the War had ended. Maury then went to Mexico, where he served Emperor Maximilian and later returned to England where he worked until 1868.","The last five years of Maury's life were spent as a Professor of Physics at VMI in Lexington, Virginia. At VMI, Maury did not have regular classroom duties, but instead gave occasional lectures to the cadets and was primarily involved in overseeing an extensive physical survey of Virginia. He died in 1873.","The Matthew Fontaine Maury papers consist primarily of letters written by Maury to various members of his family, including daughter Diana Fontaine Corbin (Maury) (1837-1900), son-in-law Spotswood Wellford Corbin (1835-1897), and wife Ann Hull Maury (Herndon) (1811-1901). Other correspondents include Maximilian (1832-1867), Emperor of Mexico, and Empress Carlotta.","In addition to personal and domestic matters, topics include:\n\nLecture series\nCareer at the National Observatory in Washington, D.C.\nConfederate service in Richmond, Virginia\nActivities in England\nColonization efforts in Mexico\nProfessorship at VMI\n   \nThe papers also include related correspondence and printed material.","Manuscript collections in the VMI Archives are made available for educational and research use. The VMI Archives should be cited as the source. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright holders. Materials from our collections may not be redistributed, published or reproduced without permission from the VMI Archives. 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He was also involved in research concerning deep-sea sounding and transoceanic cables.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eA native of Virginia, Maury resigned his commission as a Commander in the United States Navy at the outbreak of Civil War in April 1861. He entered the Confederate Navy and undertook research into the new technology of torpedo warfare. He was subsequently ordered to England as a special agent with instructions to purchase ships for the Confederate government.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAt War's end, he was enroute to the United States with a cargo of torpedo equipment when, upon arriving in port at Havana, Cuba, he learned that the War had ended. Maury then went to Mexico, where he served Emperor Maximilian and later returned to England where he worked until 1868.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe last five years of Maury's life were spent as a Professor of Physics at VMI in Lexington, Virginia. At VMI, Maury did not have regular classroom duties, but instead gave occasional lectures to the cadets and was primarily involved in overseeing an extensive physical survey of Virginia. He died in 1873.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical / Historical"],"bioghist_tesim":["Matthew Fontaine Maury (1806-1873) was a naval officer and oceanographer known as the \"Pathfinder of the Seas.\" He was notable for his pioneering scientific work in the fields of navigation, hydrography, and meteorology.","Maury joined the United States Navy at age 19, and in 1842 was named head of the Navy's Hydrographical Office and of the United State Naval Observatory.","Beginning in the 1830s, he published a number of significant works on the Gulf Stream, ocean currents, and navigation. 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At VMI, Maury did not have regular classroom duties, but instead gave occasional lectures to the cadets and was primarily involved in overseeing an extensive physical survey of Virginia. He died in 1873."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eMatthew Fontaine Maury papers, MS 0103, Virginia Military Institute Archives, Lexington, Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"prefercite_tesim":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, MS 0103, Virginia Military Institute Archives, Lexington, Virginia."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Matthew Fontaine Maury papers consist primarily of letters written by Maury to various members of his family, including daughter Diana Fontaine Corbin (Maury) (1837-1900), son-in-law Spotswood Wellford Corbin (1835-1897), and wife Ann Hull Maury (Herndon) (1811-1901). Other correspondents include Maximilian (1832-1867), Emperor of Mexico, and Empress Carlotta.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIn addition to personal and domestic matters, topics include:\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLecture series\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCareer at the National Observatory in Washington, D.C.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConfederate service in Richmond, Virginia\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eActivities in England\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eColonization efforts in Mexico\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProfessorship at VMI\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e   \nThe papers also include related correspondence and printed material.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents"],"scopecontent_tesim":["The Matthew Fontaine Maury papers consist primarily of letters written by Maury to various members of his family, including daughter Diana Fontaine Corbin (Maury) (1837-1900), son-in-law Spotswood Wellford Corbin (1835-1897), and wife Ann Hull Maury (Herndon) (1811-1901). Other correspondents include Maximilian (1832-1867), Emperor of Mexico, and Empress Carlotta.","In addition to personal and domestic matters, topics include:\n\nLecture series\nCareer at the National Observatory in Washington, D.C.\nConfederate service in Richmond, Virginia\nActivities in England\nColonization efforts in Mexico\nProfessorship at VMI\n   \nThe papers also include related correspondence and printed material."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eManuscript collections in the VMI Archives are made available for educational and research use. The VMI Archives should be cited as the source. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright holders. Materials from our collections may not be redistributed, published or reproduced without permission from the VMI Archives. 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Contact the VMI Archives for additional information"],"physloc_html_tesm":["\u003cphysloc id=\"aspace_fd2a03b38d0537639ba5d5a285e66e93\"\u003eManuscripts Stacks\u003c/physloc\u003e\n    "],"physloc_tesim":["Manuscripts Stacks"],"corpname_ssim":["Virginia Military Institute Archives"],"persname_ssim":["Maury, Matthew Fontaine, 1806-1873","Maury, Ann Hull (Herndon), 1811-1901","Corbin, Diana Fontaine (Maury), 1837-1900","Corbin, Spotswood Wellford, 1835-1897","Maximilian, Emperor of Mexico, 1832-1867","Smith, Francis H. 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Those who are disposed to visit the country for the purpose of colonizing it under the Imperial Decree to promote immigration will receive every encouragement from this Office. The offer is made by respectable\nparties, and persons wishing to treat, will be put in communication by addressing the Commissioner","Apprentices as per Imperial Decree of September 5th 1865 would do well here, though there is no lack of native labour.","M.F. Maury\nImperial Commissioner","Written from theColonization Office, Mexico. 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The offer is made by respectable\nparties, and persons wishing to treat, will be put in communication by addressing the Commissioner","Apprentices as per Imperial Decree of September 5th 1865 would do well here, though there is no lack of native labour.","M.F. Maury\nImperial Commissioner"],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eWritten from theColonization Office, Mexico. Document concerns an offer to Confederate settlers to purchase the estate of Santa Anna.\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Written from theColonization Office, Mexico. 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Navy—Officers—Correspondence","Virginia Military Institute—Faculty—19th century","Virginia Military Institute—Faculty—Biography","American Confederate voluntary exiles","Mexico—History","Correspondence","There are no restrictions","The Matthew Fontaine Maury papers are avaliable online.","Matthew Fontaine Maury (1806-1873) was a naval officer and oceanographer known as the \"Pathfinder of the Seas.\" He was notable for his pioneering scientific work in the fields of navigation, hydrography, and meteorology.","Maury joined the United States Navy at age 19, and in 1842 was named head of the Navy's Hydrographical Office and of the United State Naval Observatory.","Beginning in the 1830s, he published a number of significant works on the Gulf Stream, ocean currents, and navigation. He was also involved in research concerning deep-sea sounding and transoceanic cables.","A native of Virginia, Maury resigned his commission as a Commander in the United States Navy at the outbreak of Civil War in April 1861. He entered the Confederate Navy and undertook research into the new technology of torpedo warfare. He was subsequently ordered to England as a special agent with instructions to purchase ships for the Confederate government.","At War's end, he was enroute to the United States with a cargo of torpedo equipment when, upon arriving in port at Havana, Cuba, he learned that the War had ended. Maury then went to Mexico, where he served Emperor Maximilian and later returned to England where he worked until 1868.","The last five years of Maury's life were spent as a Professor of Physics at VMI in Lexington, Virginia. 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Other correspondents include Maximilian (1832-1867), Emperor of Mexico, and Empress Carlotta.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIn addition to personal and domestic matters, topics include:\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLecture series\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCareer at the National Observatory in Washington, D.C.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConfederate service in Richmond, Virginia\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eActivities in England\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eColonization efforts in Mexico\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProfessorship at VMI\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e   \nThe papers also include related correspondence and printed material.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents"],"scopecontent_tesim":["The Matthew Fontaine Maury papers consist primarily of letters written by Maury to various members of his family, including daughter Diana Fontaine Corbin (Maury) (1837-1900), son-in-law Spotswood Wellford Corbin (1835-1897), and wife Ann Hull Maury (Herndon) (1811-1901). 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(Francis Henney), 1812-1890"],"creator_corpname_ssim":["Virginia Military Institute Archives"],"creators_ssim":["Maury, Matthew Fontaine, 1806-1873","Maury, Ann Hull (Herndon), 1811-1901","Corbin, Diana Fontaine (Maury), 1837-1900","Corbin, Spotswood Wellford, 1835-1897","Maximilian, Emperor of Mexico, 1832-1867","Smith, Francis H. (Francis Henney), 1812-1890","Virginia Military Institute Archives"],"access_terms_ssm":["Manuscript collections in the VMI Archives are made available for educational and research use. The VMI Archives should be cited as the source. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright holders. Materials from our collections may not be redistributed, published or reproduced without permission from the VMI Archives. Contact the VMI Archives for additional information"],"access_subjects_ssim":["Confederate States of America—International relations","Confederate States of America. Navy—Officers—Correspondence","Virginia Military Institute—Faculty—19th century","Virginia Military Institute—Faculty—Biography","American Confederate voluntary exiles","Mexico—History","Correspondence"],"access_subjects_ssm":["Confederate States of America—International relations","Confederate States of America. 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He was also involved in research concerning deep-sea sounding and transoceanic cables.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eA native of Virginia, Maury resigned his commission as a Commander in the United States Navy at the outbreak of Civil War in April 1861. He entered the Confederate Navy and undertook research into the new technology of torpedo warfare. He was subsequently ordered to England as a special agent with instructions to purchase ships for the Confederate government.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAt War's end, he was enroute to the United States with a cargo of torpedo equipment when, upon arriving in port at Havana, Cuba, he learned that the War had ended. Maury then went to Mexico, where he served Emperor Maximilian and later returned to England where he worked until 1868.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe last five years of Maury's life were spent as a Professor of Physics at VMI in Lexington, Virginia. 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He was also involved in research concerning deep-sea sounding and transoceanic cables.","A native of Virginia, Maury resigned his commission as a Commander in the United States Navy at the outbreak of Civil War in April 1861. He entered the Confederate Navy and undertook research into the new technology of torpedo warfare. He was subsequently ordered to England as a special agent with instructions to purchase ships for the Confederate government.","At War's end, he was enroute to the United States with a cargo of torpedo equipment when, upon arriving in port at Havana, Cuba, he learned that the War had ended. Maury then went to Mexico, where he served Emperor Maximilian and later returned to England where he worked until 1868.","The last five years of Maury's life were spent as a Professor of Physics at VMI in Lexington, Virginia. At VMI, Maury did not have regular classroom duties, but instead gave occasional lectures to the cadets and was primarily involved in overseeing an extensive physical survey of Virginia. He died in 1873."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eMatthew Fontaine Maury papers, MS 0103, Virginia Military Institute Archives, Lexington, Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"prefercite_tesim":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, MS 0103, Virginia Military Institute Archives, Lexington, Virginia."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Matthew Fontaine Maury papers consist primarily of letters written by Maury to various members of his family, including daughter Diana Fontaine Corbin (Maury) (1837-1900), son-in-law Spotswood Wellford Corbin (1835-1897), and wife Ann Hull Maury (Herndon) (1811-1901). Other correspondents include Maximilian (1832-1867), Emperor of Mexico, and Empress Carlotta.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIn addition to personal and domestic matters, topics include:\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLecture series\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCareer at the National Observatory in Washington, D.C.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConfederate service in Richmond, Virginia\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eActivities in England\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eColonization efforts in Mexico\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProfessorship at VMI\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e   \nThe papers also include related correspondence and printed material.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents"],"scopecontent_tesim":["The Matthew Fontaine Maury papers consist primarily of letters written by Maury to various members of his family, including daughter Diana Fontaine Corbin (Maury) (1837-1900), son-in-law Spotswood Wellford Corbin (1835-1897), and wife Ann Hull Maury (Herndon) (1811-1901). Other correspondents include Maximilian (1832-1867), Emperor of Mexico, and Empress Carlotta.","In addition to personal and domestic matters, topics include:\n\nLecture series\nCareer at the National Observatory in Washington, D.C.\nConfederate service in Richmond, Virginia\nActivities in England\nColonization efforts in Mexico\nProfessorship at VMI\n   \nThe papers also include related correspondence and printed material."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eManuscript collections in the VMI Archives are made available for educational and research use. The VMI Archives should be cited as the source. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright holders. Materials from our collections may not be redistributed, published or reproduced without permission from the VMI Archives. 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Va is not a fit place to live in now. All must come to Mexico. If they stay in Va they will have to free their nigs, will have to pay taxes heavier than in Mexico will very likely have a nig tax collector coming around, will be always haunted by the Yankees, will have to pay the Yankee war debt, will have to help pay pensions to the widows and orphans of the men that have been fighting against us and do nothing for ours and will perhaps have our lands confiscated. The Spartans of the war who remain in Va will be in the category of a conquered race.","2. All must come to Mex. Pa is going to Max and get form him grants of land in different part of Mex for the best blood of Va. and the South to go to. He will get Max to allow them to come to Mex and bring all their effects with them free of duty, get them exempted from taxes and conscription in the army for a term of years. Besides these he will get such other privileges as my be practicable including those of religion.","3. Brother Wellford must come right off the reel to pick the lands for us to settle on. Some steady young men who are not afraid to work must be sent to get ready for the rest to come. Must set all the nigs free and then bring them along as persons owing passage money to be paid in labour. Then they can be held as peons till the debt is discharged. That is you pay them but can compel them to work for you as long as they owe you money or labour. Must get mechanics of all sorts to come with their tools and uncle John or Uncle Charlie or Brother Will or someone else must stay behind to wind up the affairs of all.","Those persons that intend to leave the Confed anyhow had better send someone to him at once; but he wants no one to come simply on his representation. Indeed the idea is that those people that wish to settle together and intend to leave the country any how should appoint a certain on and send him to Pa who can offer him better privileges that he could get by himself. Then if Max don't suit him he can go back and report to the people that sent him and they will be just where they started from.","Letter fragment regards colonization in Mexico."],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, 1833/1873","Correspondence, family, 1840/1872"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, 1833/1873","Correspondence, family, 1840/1872"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1865"],"unitdate_other_ssim":["1865 December"],"level_ssm":["Item"],"level_ssim":["Item"],"component_level_isim":[2],"sort_isi":76,"repository_ssim":["Virginia Military Institute Archives"],"collection_ssim":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, 1833/1873"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"parent_access_restrict_tesm":["There are no restrictions"],"parent_access_terms_tesm":["Manuscript collections in the VMI Archives are made available for educational and research use. The VMI Archives should be cited as the source. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright holders. Materials from our collections may not be redistributed, published or reproduced without permission from the VMI Archives. Contact the VMI Archives for additional information"],"access_subjects_ssim":["Mexico—History","Correspondence"],"access_subjects_ssm":["Mexico—History","Correspondence"],"language_ssim":["English."],"date_range_isim":[1865],"odd_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eReasons for establishing colonies in Mexico.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e1. Va is not a fit place to live in now. All must come to Mexico. If they stay in Va they will have to free their nigs, will have to pay taxes heavier than in Mexico will very likely have a nig tax collector coming around, will be always haunted by the Yankees, will have to pay the Yankee war debt, will have to help pay pensions to the widows and orphans of the men that have been fighting against us and do nothing for ours and will perhaps have our lands confiscated. The Spartans of the war who remain in Va will be in the category of a conquered race.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e2. All must come to Mex. Pa is going to Max and get form him grants of land in different part of Mex for the best blood of Va. and the South to go to. He will get Max to allow them to come to Mex and bring all their effects with them free of duty, get them exempted from taxes and conscription in the army for a term of years. Besides these he will get such other privileges as my be practicable including those of religion.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e3. Brother Wellford must come right off the reel to pick the lands for us to settle on. Some steady young men who are not afraid to work must be sent to get ready for the rest to come. Must set all the nigs free and then bring them along as persons owing passage money to be paid in labour. Then they can be held as peons till the debt is discharged. That is you pay them but can compel them to work for you as long as they owe you money or labour. Must get mechanics of all sorts to come with their tools and uncle John or Uncle Charlie or Brother Will or someone else must stay behind to wind up the affairs of all.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThose persons that intend to leave the Confed anyhow had better send someone to him at once; but he wants no one to come simply on his representation. Indeed the idea is that those people that wish to settle together and intend to leave the country any how should appoint a certain on and send him to Pa who can offer him better privileges that he could get by himself. Then if Max don't suit him he can go back and report to the people that sent him and they will be just where they started from.\u003c/p\u003e"],"odd_heading_ssm":["Transcription"],"odd_tesim":["Reasons for establishing colonies in Mexico.","1. Va is not a fit place to live in now. All must come to Mexico. If they stay in Va they will have to free their nigs, will have to pay taxes heavier than in Mexico will very likely have a nig tax collector coming around, will be always haunted by the Yankees, will have to pay the Yankee war debt, will have to help pay pensions to the widows and orphans of the men that have been fighting against us and do nothing for ours and will perhaps have our lands confiscated. The Spartans of the war who remain in Va will be in the category of a conquered race.","2. All must come to Mex. Pa is going to Max and get form him grants of land in different part of Mex for the best blood of Va. and the South to go to. He will get Max to allow them to come to Mex and bring all their effects with them free of duty, get them exempted from taxes and conscription in the army for a term of years. Besides these he will get such other privileges as my be practicable including those of religion.","3. Brother Wellford must come right off the reel to pick the lands for us to settle on. Some steady young men who are not afraid to work must be sent to get ready for the rest to come. Must set all the nigs free and then bring them along as persons owing passage money to be paid in labour. Then they can be held as peons till the debt is discharged. That is you pay them but can compel them to work for you as long as they owe you money or labour. Must get mechanics of all sorts to come with their tools and uncle John or Uncle Charlie or Brother Will or someone else must stay behind to wind up the affairs of all.","Those persons that intend to leave the Confed anyhow had better send someone to him at once; but he wants no one to come simply on his representation. Indeed the idea is that those people that wish to settle together and intend to leave the country any how should appoint a certain on and send him to Pa who can offer him better privileges that he could get by himself. Then if Max don't suit him he can go back and report to the people that sent him and they will be just where they started from."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eLetter fragment regards colonization in Mexico.\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Letter fragment regards colonization in Mexico."],"_nest_path_":"/components#0/components#74","timestamp":"2026-08-14T22:37:30.860Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593","ead_ssi":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593","_root_":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593","_nest_parent_":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/oai/VMI/repositories_3_resources_593.xml","aspace_url_ssi":"http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vmi/vilxv00010.xml","title_ssm":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers"],"title_tesim":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers"],"unitdate_ssm":["1833-1873"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["1833-1873"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1833/1873"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, 1833/1873"],"text":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, 1833/1873","MS.0103","/repositories/3/resources/593","Confederate States of America—International relations","Confederate States of America. Navy—Officers—Correspondence","Virginia Military Institute—Faculty—19th century","Virginia Military Institute—Faculty—Biography","American Confederate voluntary exiles","Mexico—History","Correspondence","There are no restrictions","The Matthew Fontaine Maury papers are avaliable online.","Matthew Fontaine Maury (1806-1873) was a naval officer and oceanographer known as the \"Pathfinder of the Seas.\" He was notable for his pioneering scientific work in the fields of navigation, hydrography, and meteorology.","Maury joined the United States Navy at age 19, and in 1842 was named head of the Navy's Hydrographical Office and of the United State Naval Observatory.","Beginning in the 1830s, he published a number of significant works on the Gulf Stream, ocean currents, and navigation. He was also involved in research concerning deep-sea sounding and transoceanic cables.","A native of Virginia, Maury resigned his commission as a Commander in the United States Navy at the outbreak of Civil War in April 1861. He entered the Confederate Navy and undertook research into the new technology of torpedo warfare. He was subsequently ordered to England as a special agent with instructions to purchase ships for the Confederate government.","At War's end, he was enroute to the United States with a cargo of torpedo equipment when, upon arriving in port at Havana, Cuba, he learned that the War had ended. Maury then went to Mexico, where he served Emperor Maximilian and later returned to England where he worked until 1868.","The last five years of Maury's life were spent as a Professor of Physics at VMI in Lexington, Virginia. At VMI, Maury did not have regular classroom duties, but instead gave occasional lectures to the cadets and was primarily involved in overseeing an extensive physical survey of Virginia. He died in 1873.","The Matthew Fontaine Maury papers consist primarily of letters written by Maury to various members of his family, including daughter Diana Fontaine Corbin (Maury) (1837-1900), son-in-law Spotswood Wellford Corbin (1835-1897), and wife Ann Hull Maury (Herndon) (1811-1901). Other correspondents include Maximilian (1832-1867), Emperor of Mexico, and Empress Carlotta.","In addition to personal and domestic matters, topics include:\n\nLecture series\nCareer at the National Observatory in Washington, D.C.\nConfederate service in Richmond, Virginia\nActivities in England\nColonization efforts in Mexico\nProfessorship at VMI\n   \nThe papers also include related correspondence and printed material.","Manuscript collections in the VMI Archives are made available for educational and research use. The VMI Archives should be cited as the source. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright holders. Materials from our collections may not be redistributed, published or reproduced without permission from the VMI Archives. 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He was also involved in research concerning deep-sea sounding and transoceanic cables.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eA native of Virginia, Maury resigned his commission as a Commander in the United States Navy at the outbreak of Civil War in April 1861. He entered the Confederate Navy and undertook research into the new technology of torpedo warfare. He was subsequently ordered to England as a special agent with instructions to purchase ships for the Confederate government.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAt War's end, he was enroute to the United States with a cargo of torpedo equipment when, upon arriving in port at Havana, Cuba, he learned that the War had ended. Maury then went to Mexico, where he served Emperor Maximilian and later returned to England where he worked until 1868.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe last five years of Maury's life were spent as a Professor of Physics at VMI in Lexington, Virginia. At VMI, Maury did not have regular classroom duties, but instead gave occasional lectures to the cadets and was primarily involved in overseeing an extensive physical survey of Virginia. He died in 1873.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical / Historical"],"bioghist_tesim":["Matthew Fontaine Maury (1806-1873) was a naval officer and oceanographer known as the \"Pathfinder of the Seas.\" He was notable for his pioneering scientific work in the fields of navigation, hydrography, and meteorology.","Maury joined the United States Navy at age 19, and in 1842 was named head of the Navy's Hydrographical Office and of the United State Naval Observatory.","Beginning in the 1830s, he published a number of significant works on the Gulf Stream, ocean currents, and navigation. He was also involved in research concerning deep-sea sounding and transoceanic cables.","A native of Virginia, Maury resigned his commission as a Commander in the United States Navy at the outbreak of Civil War in April 1861. He entered the Confederate Navy and undertook research into the new technology of torpedo warfare. He was subsequently ordered to England as a special agent with instructions to purchase ships for the Confederate government.","At War's end, he was enroute to the United States with a cargo of torpedo equipment when, upon arriving in port at Havana, Cuba, he learned that the War had ended. Maury then went to Mexico, where he served Emperor Maximilian and later returned to England where he worked until 1868.","The last five years of Maury's life were spent as a Professor of Physics at VMI in Lexington, Virginia. At VMI, Maury did not have regular classroom duties, but instead gave occasional lectures to the cadets and was primarily involved in overseeing an extensive physical survey of Virginia. He died in 1873."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eMatthew Fontaine Maury papers, MS 0103, Virginia Military Institute Archives, Lexington, Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"prefercite_tesim":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, MS 0103, Virginia Military Institute Archives, Lexington, Virginia."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Matthew Fontaine Maury papers consist primarily of letters written by Maury to various members of his family, including daughter Diana Fontaine Corbin (Maury) (1837-1900), son-in-law Spotswood Wellford Corbin (1835-1897), and wife Ann Hull Maury (Herndon) (1811-1901). Other correspondents include Maximilian (1832-1867), Emperor of Mexico, and Empress Carlotta.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIn addition to personal and domestic matters, topics include:\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLecture series\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCareer at the National Observatory in Washington, D.C.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConfederate service in Richmond, Virginia\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eActivities in England\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eColonization efforts in Mexico\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProfessorship at VMI\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e   \nThe papers also include related correspondence and printed material.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents"],"scopecontent_tesim":["The Matthew Fontaine Maury papers consist primarily of letters written by Maury to various members of his family, including daughter Diana Fontaine Corbin (Maury) (1837-1900), son-in-law Spotswood Wellford Corbin (1835-1897), and wife Ann Hull Maury (Herndon) (1811-1901). Other correspondents include Maximilian (1832-1867), Emperor of Mexico, and Empress Carlotta.","In addition to personal and domestic matters, topics include:\n\nLecture series\nCareer at the National Observatory in Washington, D.C.\nConfederate service in Richmond, Virginia\nActivities in England\nColonization efforts in Mexico\nProfessorship at VMI\n   \nThe papers also include related correspondence and printed material."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eManuscript collections in the VMI Archives are made available for educational and research use. The VMI Archives should be cited as the source. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright holders. Materials from our collections may not be redistributed, published or reproduced without permission from the VMI Archives. Contact the VMI Archives for additional information\u003c/p\u003e  "],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Use"],"userestrict_tesim":["Manuscript collections in the VMI Archives are made available for educational and research use. The VMI Archives should be cited as the source. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright holders. Materials from our collections may not be redistributed, published or reproduced without permission from the VMI Archives. Contact the VMI Archives for additional information"],"physloc_html_tesm":["\u003cphysloc id=\"aspace_fd2a03b38d0537639ba5d5a285e66e93\"\u003eManuscripts Stacks\u003c/physloc\u003e\n    "],"physloc_tesim":["Manuscripts Stacks"],"corpname_ssim":["Virginia Military Institute Archives"],"persname_ssim":["Maury, Matthew Fontaine, 1806-1873","Maury, Ann Hull (Herndon), 1811-1901","Corbin, Diana Fontaine (Maury), 1837-1900","Corbin, Spotswood Wellford, 1835-1897","Maximilian, Emperor of Mexico, 1832-1867","Smith, Francis H. (Francis Henney), 1812-1890"],"names_coll_ssim":["Maury, Ann Hull (Herndon), 1811-1901","Corbin, Diana Fontaine (Maury), 1837-1900","Corbin, Spotswood Wellford, 1835-1897","Maximilian, Emperor of Mexico, 1832-1867"],"names_ssim":["Virginia Military Institute Archives","Maury, Matthew Fontaine, 1806-1873","Maury, Ann Hull (Herndon), 1811-1901","Corbin, Diana Fontaine (Maury), 1837-1900","Corbin, Spotswood Wellford, 1835-1897","Maximilian, Emperor of Mexico, 1832-1867","Smith, Francis H. (Francis Henney), 1812-1890"],"language_ssim":["English\n."],"total_component_count_is":149,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-08-14T22:37:30.860Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593_c01_c75"}},{"id":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593_c01_c72","type":"Item","attributes":{"title":"Letter to Ann Hull Maury (Herndon), 1865","abstract_or_scope":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593_c01_c72#abstract_or_scope","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":"\u003cp\u003eWritten from the Office of Colonization, Mexico. Letter regards a potential trip to England, the situation in Virginia, and colonization.\u003c/p\u003e","label":"Abstract Or Scope"}},"breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593_c01_c72#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593_c01_c72","ref_ssm":["vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593_c01_c72"],"id":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593_c01_c72","ead_ssi":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593","_root_":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593","_nest_parent_":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593_c01","parent_ssi":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593_c01","parent_ssim":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, 1833/1873","Correspondence, family, 1840/1872"],"parent_ids_ssim":["vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593","vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593_c01"],"title_filing_ssi":"Letter to Ann Hull Maury (Herndon)","title_ssm":["Letter to Ann Hull Maury (Herndon)"],"title_tesim":["Letter to Ann Hull Maury (Herndon)"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Letter to Ann Hull Maury (Herndon), 1865"],"text":["Letter to Ann Hull Maury (Herndon), 1865","Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, 1833/1873","Correspondence, family, 1840/1872","Mexico—History","Correspondence","English.","Office of Colonization\nMexico\nNov. 27th 1865","My dear wife:\nThe last steamer from New York brought us three days ago from the indefatigable Rutson copies of your dear letters to Bettie and Cousin Ann, and Tom Bold's letter to Rutson, reporting you as his guest till Xmas and all well. Also letters from Nannie and Cousin Ann, press copies of which even also sent to you.","I reckon, maybe I have \"gone [clean] daft,\" that my children and friends should think it necessary to write me such letters and make me such appeals. But it looks to me mightily like I have done, and am doing the thing that is right, wisest and best - Surely it was worth some sacrifice of feeling on your part as well as mine, and the endurance of a little longer separation to get Dick so snugly established as he is likely to be here-","My own; no, our own mutual interests require that I should be in England at no distant day, and not being a prophet I could not foresee the turn that things would take, which would compel me to be here now, instead of half way across the sea towards your sweet embraces and my children's arms-","The rainy season sets in the last of May and continues till Oct. Nov- this too is the sickly season, Yellow Fever both in Vera Cruz and West Indies - This is the time of year when immigration must stop and when therefore I can best be spared from my duties here - Now, between these months of May and October, I should be afraid to risk a voyage from here to England or the reverse.","I was afraid to leave you in Virginia because I was afraid and am afraid of troubles there. See what is going on in South Carolina and La. now. From the accounts I received from you and the children as to the difficulties on the score of servants, and other matters, I could not bear the idea of your encountering this winter in Virginia, surrounded as I fancied you would be, with such material discomfort - You remember my continued anxiety upon this subject during the war; and how last Spring I urged you to go North, surround yourself with material comforts and await events.","Therefore having to go to England at the earliest moment practicable (and that will be in the Spring on account of the sickly season and official duty here and I can't venture back, until the dangers of Yellow Fever are over) I thought England the best place for you to wait; and I thought they to join you in Dec.","In this sketch I make no allusion to the other reasons which we have so freely discussed before, and for which it was also wisest and best for you and the children to go to England - Bless my little Lucy's heart, I did not know before that she stammered—","Now then:- suppose I were to heed Bettie and Nannie, Cousin Ann and Rutson and write for you to come. You might be able to leave by the Str. of 1st Jan - but more probably not before February - That would bring you here about 4th March - And then, by the last of April at furthest I should have to leave for England - where on account of Yellow Fever by the way back, I should have to stay till Oct. You would then be left here with a people\nspeaking an unknown tongue for six or seven months and these six or seven months we had better spend together in \"merrie old England\" I think, that in dodging each other behind \"Albion's chalky cliffs\" and the sierras of Mexico - Don't you? –","Another thing: - and this is among my muttered thoughts, and if, and if and if all these ifs should conjoin, I may not come back - This though is way down deep among the remote contingencies of the future - It is not to be mentioned, except with injunctions, even to the most reticent, for still more reticence, for there is not enough of consistency about it, even for you to hang a hope upon - I can only contemplate it so far as to let the possibility of it enter into my calculations, so that should that possibility turn out a reality, I should not be taken by surprise.","Hey Ho! This thing of being so opposed by friends, when one \"feels it in his bones,\" that he is doing what is right, wisest and best; this having to defend and explain and excuse oneself, and all in vain: - the feeling added to and piled up above this, that I am prejudged and condemned by children and friends who don't know - makes me feel, - oh! so flinty! I am right - and I must keep so. I sink myself I live for the reflected pleasure which the happiness and approving smiles of my wife and children alone can give - And the hope of this sustains, cheers and comforts me. And if they will but have patience with me, and God will spare me, this I will do yet - I hope—","Dick is a great help and comfort to me - Bless his heart, he wins upon me every day - so crippled! yet so patient, so devoted to his new duties and so hardworking - He surprises and delights me with his business tact and capacity. He is so handsome too and in his nice new clothes looks the gentleman every whit-","Here, my dear, precious darling wife, is a great reward to you and consolation too, for this vexations separation;- and a proud, nay a glorious vindication too of the wisdom so far, of the course pursued by your husband in coming here - Suppose, instead of coming here last Spring, I had remained in England, or gone to Halifax to bide my time - Perhaps we should have been together now in England, - But what would have become of him? You know I became very uneasy about the tendency of his habits in consequence of the taste engendered by those immense doses of medicine which when wounded he was compelled to take. With those habits upon him, I trembled at the idea of seeing him risk alone and unaided, as he must have done, the battle of life there in Va. - Under such ordeals, there was no telling what might have become of him - Suffice it to say, the apprehensions and the fear that he would give way, haunted me - Now I find he is safe from that at any rate. He has position, with head and hands full of honorable and useful employment - with emoluments all things considered such as you and I, even in the balmy days of our \"munificent provision' never enjoyed - He was consulting me today about buying some Cordova lands- I had it in my mind to bring Corbin here and induce him to settle upon them. And tho I believe he and Nannie would have come, if I had but urged them, yet in the face of so much opposition, I did not have the heart to do it - In the olden times Cordova was the garden spot of New Spain.","Price, Perkins, Shelby, Harris and all our people who have been there say it has the most delightful climate and the finest soil they ever saw. There stands on one side of it and but a little way off, the Peak of Orizaba with its cap of everlasting snow, and on the other the sea in full view-","When slavery was abolished suddenly fifty years ago- as with us- down it went - and its splendid Haciendas and baronial old mansions are now in ruins. They were heavily in debt to the church and as the church property has been confiscated, not by the Emperor, he took possession of these estates for colonization- The railway hence to Vera Cruz passes right through there and I am now selling them to immigrants as fast as they can\nbe surveyed, at $1 the acre, on five years credit. There are about 40 of our people already there. Perkins has bought him a house and has sent for his wife - so has Shelby, and so has a number of others - Mr. Holdman and Episcopal clergyman with his family - nice people, has been engaged by the settlement as pastor, teacher etc and I am going to reserve land for a church, school house, cemetery etc.","Thus you see my dear, sweet wife, colonization is not a chimera- By the time these lands are paid for they will be worth even if no more come to the Empire, $10, $20, $30 aye $100 the acre - for they produce everything under the sun, and yield perpetual harvests. What do you think of coffee growing wild, of fig trees 100 feet high, and 3 feet in circumference - and the most luscious pine apples at a cent apiece? Yet they tell me all these things are there. Now if I could have gotten Corbin here on one of these stately old\nHaciendas - he would with his skillful husbandry have made it bud and blossom again, and thus we should have found us a nest again. There is a great rush for this settlement, and it is here that Dick wanted to go, but as he was my son, I advised him against it, because there are not lands enough for them all. However I am going to extend the settlement and then Corbin and Nannie can come.","Lafayette Caldwell who used to be draftsman at the Observatory has sent for his family, Magruder for his, and there is a number of families already here. Some of them established in this city, but they are going to break up, and go down to this \"new\" dear old Spottsylvania.","Now if I can only get lands surveyed in time and there is a probability of this, -\"Here is your New Virginia\"- There are other settlements forming in other parts of the Empire. Colonization is a success if we can only find instruments and get surveyors to bring the lands into market. The people of the South are restrained from prudential considerations from speaking of their intentions. But we have letters. Thousands are dying to come. And I hope to have a decree this week which will put them in motion. Hurrah! -----30th The decree has come with an appropriation of $2,000,000.","[Verso]\nN York [ ] [ ]\nThis was sent to my sister for her and for my perusal (exclusively) and with the same injunction of reticence as to the \"-if, if \u0026 if\" matter - to apply to you and to Nannie we were requested to send this for you and for her perusal.","Written from the Office of Colonization, Mexico. Letter regards a potential trip to England, the situation in Virginia, and colonization."],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, 1833/1873","Correspondence, family, 1840/1872"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, 1833/1873","Correspondence, family, 1840/1872"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1865"],"unitdate_other_ssim":["1865 November 27"],"level_ssm":["Item"],"level_ssim":["Item"],"component_level_isim":[2],"sort_isi":73,"repository_ssim":["Virginia Military Institute Archives"],"collection_ssim":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, 1833/1873"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"parent_access_restrict_tesm":["There are no restrictions"],"parent_access_terms_tesm":["Manuscript collections in the VMI Archives are made available for educational and research use. The VMI Archives should be cited as the source. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright holders. Materials from our collections may not be redistributed, published or reproduced without permission from the VMI Archives. Contact the VMI Archives for additional information"],"access_subjects_ssim":["Mexico—History","Correspondence"],"access_subjects_ssm":["Mexico—History","Correspondence"],"language_ssim":["English."],"date_range_isim":[1865],"odd_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eOffice of Colonization\u003cbr\u003e\nMexico\u003cbr\u003e\nNov. 27th 1865\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMy dear wife:\u003cbr\u003e\nThe last steamer from New York brought us three days ago from the indefatigable Rutson copies of your dear letters to Bettie and Cousin Ann, and Tom Bold's letter to Rutson, reporting you as his guest till Xmas and all well. Also letters from Nannie and Cousin Ann, press copies of which even also sent to you.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eI reckon, maybe I have \"gone [clean] daft,\" that my children and friends should think it necessary to write me such letters and make me such appeals. But it looks to me mightily like I have done, and am doing the thing that is right, wisest and best - Surely it was worth some sacrifice of feeling on your part as well as mine, and the endurance of a little longer separation to get Dick so snugly established as he is likely to be here-\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMy own; no, our own mutual interests require that I should be in England at no distant day, and not being a prophet I could not foresee the turn that things would take, which would compel me to be here now, instead of half way across the sea towards your sweet embraces and my children's arms-\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe rainy season sets in the last of May and continues till Oct. Nov- this too is the sickly season, Yellow Fever both in Vera Cruz and West Indies - This is the time of year when immigration must stop and when therefore I can best be spared from my duties here - Now, between these months of May and October, I should be afraid to risk a voyage from here to England or the reverse.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eI was afraid to leave you in Virginia because I was afraid and am afraid of troubles there. See what is going on in South Carolina and La. now. From the accounts I received from you and the children as to the difficulties on the score of servants, and other matters, I could not bear the idea of your encountering this winter in Virginia, surrounded as I fancied you would be, with such material discomfort - You remember my continued anxiety upon this subject during the war; and how last Spring I urged you to go North, surround yourself with material comforts and await events.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eTherefore having to go to England at the earliest moment practicable (and that will be in the Spring on account of the sickly season and official duty here and I can't venture back, until the dangers of Yellow Fever are over) I thought England the best place for you to wait; and I thought they to join you in Dec.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIn this sketch I make no allusion to the other reasons which we have so freely discussed before, and for which it was also wisest and best for you and the children to go to England - Bless my little Lucy's heart, I did not know before that she stammered—\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eNow then:- suppose I were to heed Bettie and Nannie, Cousin Ann and Rutson and write for you to come. You might be able to leave by the Str. of 1st Jan - but more probably not before February - That would bring you here about 4th March - And then, by the last of April at furthest I should have to leave for England - where on account of Yellow Fever by the way back, I should have to stay till Oct. You would then be left here with a people\nspeaking an unknown tongue for six or seven months and these six or seven months we had better spend together in \"merrie old England\" I think, that in dodging each other behind \"Albion's chalky cliffs\" and the sierras of Mexico - Don't you? –\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAnother thing: - and this is among my muttered thoughts, and if, and if and if all these ifs should conjoin, I may not come back - This though is way down deep among the remote contingencies of the future - It is not to be mentioned, except with injunctions, even to the most reticent, for still more reticence, for there is not enough of consistency about it, even for you to hang a hope upon - I can only contemplate it so far as to let the possibility of it enter into my calculations, so that should that possibility turn out a reality, I should not be taken by surprise.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eHey Ho! This thing of being so opposed by friends, when one \"feels it in his bones,\" that he is doing what is right, wisest and best; this having to defend and explain and excuse oneself, and all in vain: - the feeling added to and piled up above this, that I am prejudged and condemned by children and friends who don't know - makes me feel, - oh! so flinty! I am right - and I must keep so. I sink myself I live for the reflected pleasure which the happiness and approving smiles of my wife and children alone can give - And the hope of this sustains, cheers and comforts me. And if they will but have patience with me, and God will spare me, this I will do yet - I hope—\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eDick is a great help and comfort to me - Bless his heart, he wins upon me every day - so crippled! yet so patient, so devoted to his new duties and so hardworking - He surprises and delights me with his business tact and capacity. He is so handsome too and in his nice new clothes looks the gentleman every whit-\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eHere, my dear, precious darling wife, is a great reward to you and consolation too, for this vexations separation;- and a proud, nay a glorious vindication too of the wisdom so far, of the course pursued by your husband in coming here - Suppose, instead of coming here last Spring, I had remained in England, or gone to Halifax to bide my time - Perhaps we should have been together now in England, - But what would have become of him? You know I became very uneasy about the tendency of his habits in consequence of the taste engendered by those immense doses of medicine which when wounded he was compelled to take. With those habits upon him, I trembled at the idea of seeing him risk alone and unaided, as he must have done, the battle of life there in Va. - Under such ordeals, there was no telling what might have become of him - Suffice it to say, the apprehensions and the fear that he would give way, haunted me - Now I find he is safe from that at any rate. He has position, with head and hands full of honorable and useful employment - with emoluments all things considered such as you and I, even in the balmy days of our \"munificent provision' never enjoyed - He was consulting me today about buying some Cordova lands- I had it in my mind to bring Corbin here and induce him to settle upon them. And tho I believe he and Nannie would have come, if I had but urged them, yet in the face of so much opposition, I did not have the heart to do it - In the olden times Cordova was the garden spot of New Spain. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003ePrice, Perkins, Shelby, Harris and all our people who have been there say it has the most delightful climate and the finest soil they ever saw. There stands on one side of it and but a little way off, the Peak of Orizaba with its cap of everlasting snow, and on the other the sea in full view-\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWhen slavery was abolished suddenly fifty years ago- as with us- down it went - and its splendid Haciendas and baronial old mansions are now in ruins. They were heavily in debt to the church and as the church property has been confiscated, not by the Emperor, he took possession of these estates for colonization- The railway hence to Vera Cruz passes right through there and I am now selling them to immigrants as fast as they can\nbe surveyed, at $1 the acre, on five years credit. There are about 40 of our people already there. Perkins has bought him a house and has sent for his wife - so has Shelby, and so has a number of others - Mr. Holdman and Episcopal clergyman with his family - nice people, has been engaged by the settlement as pastor, teacher etc and I am going to reserve land for a church, school house, cemetery etc.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThus you see my dear, sweet wife, colonization is not a chimera- By the time these lands are paid for they will be worth even if no more come to the Empire, $10, $20, $30 aye $100 the acre - for they produce everything under the sun, and yield perpetual harvests. What do you think of coffee growing wild, of fig trees 100 feet high, and 3 feet in circumference - and the most luscious pine apples at a cent apiece? Yet they tell me all these things are there. Now if I could have gotten Corbin here on one of these stately old\nHaciendas - he would with his skillful husbandry have made it bud and blossom again, and thus we should have found us a nest again. There is a great rush for this settlement, and it is here that Dick wanted to go, but as he was my son, I advised him against it, because there are not lands enough for them all. However I am going to extend the settlement and then Corbin and Nannie can come.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eLafayette Caldwell who used to be draftsman at the Observatory has sent for his family, Magruder for his, and there is a number of families already here. Some of them established in this city, but they are going to break up, and go down to this \"new\" dear old Spottsylvania.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eNow if I can only get lands surveyed in time and there is a probability of this, -\"Here is your New Virginia\"- There are other settlements forming in other parts of the Empire. Colonization is a success if we can only find instruments and get surveyors to bring the lands into market. The people of the South are restrained from prudential considerations from speaking of their intentions. But we have letters. Thousands are dying to come. And I hope to have a decree this week which will put them in motion. Hurrah! -----30th The decree has come with an appropriation of $2,000,000.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e[Verso]\nN York [ ] [ ]\u003cbr\u003e\nThis was sent to my sister for her and for my perusal (exclusively) and with the same injunction of reticence as to the \"-if, if \u0026amp; if\" matter - to apply to you and to Nannie we were requested to send this for you and for her perusal.\u003c/p\u003e"],"odd_heading_ssm":["Transcription"],"odd_tesim":["Office of Colonization\nMexico\nNov. 27th 1865","My dear wife:\nThe last steamer from New York brought us three days ago from the indefatigable Rutson copies of your dear letters to Bettie and Cousin Ann, and Tom Bold's letter to Rutson, reporting you as his guest till Xmas and all well. Also letters from Nannie and Cousin Ann, press copies of which even also sent to you.","I reckon, maybe I have \"gone [clean] daft,\" that my children and friends should think it necessary to write me such letters and make me such appeals. But it looks to me mightily like I have done, and am doing the thing that is right, wisest and best - Surely it was worth some sacrifice of feeling on your part as well as mine, and the endurance of a little longer separation to get Dick so snugly established as he is likely to be here-","My own; no, our own mutual interests require that I should be in England at no distant day, and not being a prophet I could not foresee the turn that things would take, which would compel me to be here now, instead of half way across the sea towards your sweet embraces and my children's arms-","The rainy season sets in the last of May and continues till Oct. Nov- this too is the sickly season, Yellow Fever both in Vera Cruz and West Indies - This is the time of year when immigration must stop and when therefore I can best be spared from my duties here - Now, between these months of May and October, I should be afraid to risk a voyage from here to England or the reverse.","I was afraid to leave you in Virginia because I was afraid and am afraid of troubles there. See what is going on in South Carolina and La. now. From the accounts I received from you and the children as to the difficulties on the score of servants, and other matters, I could not bear the idea of your encountering this winter in Virginia, surrounded as I fancied you would be, with such material discomfort - You remember my continued anxiety upon this subject during the war; and how last Spring I urged you to go North, surround yourself with material comforts and await events.","Therefore having to go to England at the earliest moment practicable (and that will be in the Spring on account of the sickly season and official duty here and I can't venture back, until the dangers of Yellow Fever are over) I thought England the best place for you to wait; and I thought they to join you in Dec.","In this sketch I make no allusion to the other reasons which we have so freely discussed before, and for which it was also wisest and best for you and the children to go to England - Bless my little Lucy's heart, I did not know before that she stammered—","Now then:- suppose I were to heed Bettie and Nannie, Cousin Ann and Rutson and write for you to come. You might be able to leave by the Str. of 1st Jan - but more probably not before February - That would bring you here about 4th March - And then, by the last of April at furthest I should have to leave for England - where on account of Yellow Fever by the way back, I should have to stay till Oct. You would then be left here with a people\nspeaking an unknown tongue for six or seven months and these six or seven months we had better spend together in \"merrie old England\" I think, that in dodging each other behind \"Albion's chalky cliffs\" and the sierras of Mexico - Don't you? –","Another thing: - and this is among my muttered thoughts, and if, and if and if all these ifs should conjoin, I may not come back - This though is way down deep among the remote contingencies of the future - It is not to be mentioned, except with injunctions, even to the most reticent, for still more reticence, for there is not enough of consistency about it, even for you to hang a hope upon - I can only contemplate it so far as to let the possibility of it enter into my calculations, so that should that possibility turn out a reality, I should not be taken by surprise.","Hey Ho! This thing of being so opposed by friends, when one \"feels it in his bones,\" that he is doing what is right, wisest and best; this having to defend and explain and excuse oneself, and all in vain: - the feeling added to and piled up above this, that I am prejudged and condemned by children and friends who don't know - makes me feel, - oh! so flinty! I am right - and I must keep so. I sink myself I live for the reflected pleasure which the happiness and approving smiles of my wife and children alone can give - And the hope of this sustains, cheers and comforts me. And if they will but have patience with me, and God will spare me, this I will do yet - I hope—","Dick is a great help and comfort to me - Bless his heart, he wins upon me every day - so crippled! yet so patient, so devoted to his new duties and so hardworking - He surprises and delights me with his business tact and capacity. He is so handsome too and in his nice new clothes looks the gentleman every whit-","Here, my dear, precious darling wife, is a great reward to you and consolation too, for this vexations separation;- and a proud, nay a glorious vindication too of the wisdom so far, of the course pursued by your husband in coming here - Suppose, instead of coming here last Spring, I had remained in England, or gone to Halifax to bide my time - Perhaps we should have been together now in England, - But what would have become of him? You know I became very uneasy about the tendency of his habits in consequence of the taste engendered by those immense doses of medicine which when wounded he was compelled to take. With those habits upon him, I trembled at the idea of seeing him risk alone and unaided, as he must have done, the battle of life there in Va. - Under such ordeals, there was no telling what might have become of him - Suffice it to say, the apprehensions and the fear that he would give way, haunted me - Now I find he is safe from that at any rate. He has position, with head and hands full of honorable and useful employment - with emoluments all things considered such as you and I, even in the balmy days of our \"munificent provision' never enjoyed - He was consulting me today about buying some Cordova lands- I had it in my mind to bring Corbin here and induce him to settle upon them. And tho I believe he and Nannie would have come, if I had but urged them, yet in the face of so much opposition, I did not have the heart to do it - In the olden times Cordova was the garden spot of New Spain.","Price, Perkins, Shelby, Harris and all our people who have been there say it has the most delightful climate and the finest soil they ever saw. There stands on one side of it and but a little way off, the Peak of Orizaba with its cap of everlasting snow, and on the other the sea in full view-","When slavery was abolished suddenly fifty years ago- as with us- down it went - and its splendid Haciendas and baronial old mansions are now in ruins. They were heavily in debt to the church and as the church property has been confiscated, not by the Emperor, he took possession of these estates for colonization- The railway hence to Vera Cruz passes right through there and I am now selling them to immigrants as fast as they can\nbe surveyed, at $1 the acre, on five years credit. There are about 40 of our people already there. Perkins has bought him a house and has sent for his wife - so has Shelby, and so has a number of others - Mr. Holdman and Episcopal clergyman with his family - nice people, has been engaged by the settlement as pastor, teacher etc and I am going to reserve land for a church, school house, cemetery etc.","Thus you see my dear, sweet wife, colonization is not a chimera- By the time these lands are paid for they will be worth even if no more come to the Empire, $10, $20, $30 aye $100 the acre - for they produce everything under the sun, and yield perpetual harvests. What do you think of coffee growing wild, of fig trees 100 feet high, and 3 feet in circumference - and the most luscious pine apples at a cent apiece? Yet they tell me all these things are there. Now if I could have gotten Corbin here on one of these stately old\nHaciendas - he would with his skillful husbandry have made it bud and blossom again, and thus we should have found us a nest again. There is a great rush for this settlement, and it is here that Dick wanted to go, but as he was my son, I advised him against it, because there are not lands enough for them all. However I am going to extend the settlement and then Corbin and Nannie can come.","Lafayette Caldwell who used to be draftsman at the Observatory has sent for his family, Magruder for his, and there is a number of families already here. Some of them established in this city, but they are going to break up, and go down to this \"new\" dear old Spottsylvania.","Now if I can only get lands surveyed in time and there is a probability of this, -\"Here is your New Virginia\"- There are other settlements forming in other parts of the Empire. Colonization is a success if we can only find instruments and get surveyors to bring the lands into market. The people of the South are restrained from prudential considerations from speaking of their intentions. But we have letters. Thousands are dying to come. And I hope to have a decree this week which will put them in motion. Hurrah! -----30th The decree has come with an appropriation of $2,000,000.","[Verso]\nN York [ ] [ ]\nThis was sent to my sister for her and for my perusal (exclusively) and with the same injunction of reticence as to the \"-if, if \u0026 if\" matter - to apply to you and to Nannie we were requested to send this for you and for her perusal."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eWritten from the Office of Colonization, Mexico. Letter regards a potential trip to England, the situation in Virginia, and colonization.\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Written from the Office of Colonization, Mexico. Letter regards a potential trip to England, the situation in Virginia, and colonization."],"_nest_path_":"/components#0/components#71","timestamp":"2026-08-14T22:37:30.860Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593","ead_ssi":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593","_root_":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593","_nest_parent_":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/oai/VMI/repositories_3_resources_593.xml","aspace_url_ssi":"http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vmi/vilxv00010.xml","title_ssm":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers"],"title_tesim":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers"],"unitdate_ssm":["1833-1873"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["1833-1873"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1833/1873"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, 1833/1873"],"text":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, 1833/1873","MS.0103","/repositories/3/resources/593","Confederate States of America—International relations","Confederate States of America. Navy—Officers—Correspondence","Virginia Military Institute—Faculty—19th century","Virginia Military Institute—Faculty—Biography","American Confederate voluntary exiles","Mexico—History","Correspondence","There are no restrictions","The Matthew Fontaine Maury papers are avaliable online.","Matthew Fontaine Maury (1806-1873) was a naval officer and oceanographer known as the \"Pathfinder of the Seas.\" He was notable for his pioneering scientific work in the fields of navigation, hydrography, and meteorology.","Maury joined the United States Navy at age 19, and in 1842 was named head of the Navy's Hydrographical Office and of the United State Naval Observatory.","Beginning in the 1830s, he published a number of significant works on the Gulf Stream, ocean currents, and navigation. He was also involved in research concerning deep-sea sounding and transoceanic cables.","A native of Virginia, Maury resigned his commission as a Commander in the United States Navy at the outbreak of Civil War in April 1861. He entered the Confederate Navy and undertook research into the new technology of torpedo warfare. He was subsequently ordered to England as a special agent with instructions to purchase ships for the Confederate government.","At War's end, he was enroute to the United States with a cargo of torpedo equipment when, upon arriving in port at Havana, Cuba, he learned that the War had ended. Maury then went to Mexico, where he served Emperor Maximilian and later returned to England where he worked until 1868.","The last five years of Maury's life were spent as a Professor of Physics at VMI in Lexington, Virginia. At VMI, Maury did not have regular classroom duties, but instead gave occasional lectures to the cadets and was primarily involved in overseeing an extensive physical survey of Virginia. He died in 1873.","The Matthew Fontaine Maury papers consist primarily of letters written by Maury to various members of his family, including daughter Diana Fontaine Corbin (Maury) (1837-1900), son-in-law Spotswood Wellford Corbin (1835-1897), and wife Ann Hull Maury (Herndon) (1811-1901). Other correspondents include Maximilian (1832-1867), Emperor of Mexico, and Empress Carlotta.","In addition to personal and domestic matters, topics include:\n\nLecture series\nCareer at the National Observatory in Washington, D.C.\nConfederate service in Richmond, Virginia\nActivities in England\nColonization efforts in Mexico\nProfessorship at VMI\n   \nThe papers also include related correspondence and printed material.","Manuscript collections in the VMI Archives are made available for educational and research use. The VMI Archives should be cited as the source. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright holders. Materials from our collections may not be redistributed, published or reproduced without permission from the VMI Archives. Contact the VMI Archives for additional information","Manuscripts Stacks","Virginia Military Institute Archives","Maury, Matthew Fontaine, 1806-1873","Maury, Ann Hull (Herndon), 1811-1901","Corbin, Diana Fontaine (Maury), 1837-1900","Corbin, Spotswood Wellford, 1835-1897","Maximilian, Emperor of Mexico, 1832-1867","Smith, Francis H. (Francis Henney), 1812-1890","English\n."],"collection_title_tesim":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, 1833/1873"],"collection_ssim":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, 1833/1873"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["MS.0103","/repositories/3/resources/593"],"unitid_tesim":["MS.0103","/repositories/3/resources/593"],"repository_ssm":["Virginia Military Institute Archives"],"repository_ssim":["Virginia Military Institute Archives"],"creator_ssm":["Maury, Matthew Fontaine, 1806-1873"],"creator_ssim":["Maury, Matthew Fontaine, 1806-1873"],"creator_persname_ssim":["Maury, Matthew Fontaine, 1806-1873","Maury, Ann Hull (Herndon), 1811-1901","Corbin, Diana Fontaine (Maury), 1837-1900","Corbin, Spotswood Wellford, 1835-1897","Maximilian, Emperor of Mexico, 1832-1867","Smith, Francis H. (Francis Henney), 1812-1890"],"creator_corpname_ssim":["Virginia Military Institute Archives"],"creators_ssim":["Maury, Matthew Fontaine, 1806-1873","Maury, Ann Hull (Herndon), 1811-1901","Corbin, Diana Fontaine (Maury), 1837-1900","Corbin, Spotswood Wellford, 1835-1897","Maximilian, Emperor of Mexico, 1832-1867","Smith, Francis H. (Francis Henney), 1812-1890","Virginia Military Institute Archives"],"access_terms_ssm":["Manuscript collections in the VMI Archives are made available for educational and research use. The VMI Archives should be cited as the source. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright holders. Materials from our collections may not be redistributed, published or reproduced without permission from the VMI Archives. Contact the VMI Archives for additional information"],"access_subjects_ssim":["Confederate States of America—International relations","Confederate States of America. Navy—Officers—Correspondence","Virginia Military Institute—Faculty—19th century","Virginia Military Institute—Faculty—Biography","American Confederate voluntary exiles","Mexico—History","Correspondence"],"access_subjects_ssm":["Confederate States of America—International relations","Confederate States of America. Navy—Officers—Correspondence","Virginia Military Institute—Faculty—19th century","Virginia Military Institute—Faculty—Biography","American Confederate voluntary exiles","Mexico—History","Correspondence"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"extent_ssm":["175 items"],"extent_tesim":["175 items"],"genreform_ssim":["Correspondence"],"date_range_isim":[1833,1834,1835,1836,1837,1838,1839,1840,1841,1842,1843,1844,1845,1846,1847,1848,1849,1850,1851,1852,1853,1854,1855,1856,1857,1858,1859,1860,1861,1862,1863,1864,1865,1866,1867,1868,1869,1870,1871,1872,1873],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions\u003c/p\u003e  "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Access"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions"],"altformavail_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Matthew Fontaine Maury papers are avaliable \u003ca href=\"http://digitalcollections.vmi.edu/cdm/landingpage/collection/p15821coll6\"\u003eonline\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"altformavail_heading_ssm":["Online Access"],"altformavail_tesim":["The Matthew Fontaine Maury papers are avaliable online."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eMatthew Fontaine Maury (1806-1873) was a naval officer and oceanographer known as the \"Pathfinder of the Seas.\" He was notable for his pioneering scientific work in the fields of navigation, hydrography, and meteorology. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMaury joined the United States Navy at age 19, and in 1842 was named head of the Navy's Hydrographical Office and of the United State Naval Observatory. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eBeginning in the 1830s, he published a number of significant works on the Gulf Stream, ocean currents, and navigation. He was also involved in research concerning deep-sea sounding and transoceanic cables.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eA native of Virginia, Maury resigned his commission as a Commander in the United States Navy at the outbreak of Civil War in April 1861. He entered the Confederate Navy and undertook research into the new technology of torpedo warfare. He was subsequently ordered to England as a special agent with instructions to purchase ships for the Confederate government.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAt War's end, he was enroute to the United States with a cargo of torpedo equipment when, upon arriving in port at Havana, Cuba, he learned that the War had ended. Maury then went to Mexico, where he served Emperor Maximilian and later returned to England where he worked until 1868.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe last five years of Maury's life were spent as a Professor of Physics at VMI in Lexington, Virginia. At VMI, Maury did not have regular classroom duties, but instead gave occasional lectures to the cadets and was primarily involved in overseeing an extensive physical survey of Virginia. He died in 1873.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical / Historical"],"bioghist_tesim":["Matthew Fontaine Maury (1806-1873) was a naval officer and oceanographer known as the \"Pathfinder of the Seas.\" He was notable for his pioneering scientific work in the fields of navigation, hydrography, and meteorology.","Maury joined the United States Navy at age 19, and in 1842 was named head of the Navy's Hydrographical Office and of the United State Naval Observatory.","Beginning in the 1830s, he published a number of significant works on the Gulf Stream, ocean currents, and navigation. He was also involved in research concerning deep-sea sounding and transoceanic cables.","A native of Virginia, Maury resigned his commission as a Commander in the United States Navy at the outbreak of Civil War in April 1861. He entered the Confederate Navy and undertook research into the new technology of torpedo warfare. He was subsequently ordered to England as a special agent with instructions to purchase ships for the Confederate government.","At War's end, he was enroute to the United States with a cargo of torpedo equipment when, upon arriving in port at Havana, Cuba, he learned that the War had ended. Maury then went to Mexico, where he served Emperor Maximilian and later returned to England where he worked until 1868.","The last five years of Maury's life were spent as a Professor of Physics at VMI in Lexington, Virginia. At VMI, Maury did not have regular classroom duties, but instead gave occasional lectures to the cadets and was primarily involved in overseeing an extensive physical survey of Virginia. He died in 1873."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eMatthew Fontaine Maury papers, MS 0103, Virginia Military Institute Archives, Lexington, Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"prefercite_tesim":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, MS 0103, Virginia Military Institute Archives, Lexington, Virginia."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Matthew Fontaine Maury papers consist primarily of letters written by Maury to various members of his family, including daughter Diana Fontaine Corbin (Maury) (1837-1900), son-in-law Spotswood Wellford Corbin (1835-1897), and wife Ann Hull Maury (Herndon) (1811-1901). Other correspondents include Maximilian (1832-1867), Emperor of Mexico, and Empress Carlotta.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIn addition to personal and domestic matters, topics include:\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLecture series\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCareer at the National Observatory in Washington, D.C.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConfederate service in Richmond, Virginia\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eActivities in England\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eColonization efforts in Mexico\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProfessorship at VMI\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e   \nThe papers also include related correspondence and printed material.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents"],"scopecontent_tesim":["The Matthew Fontaine Maury papers consist primarily of letters written by Maury to various members of his family, including daughter Diana Fontaine Corbin (Maury) (1837-1900), son-in-law Spotswood Wellford Corbin (1835-1897), and wife Ann Hull Maury (Herndon) (1811-1901). Other correspondents include Maximilian (1832-1867), Emperor of Mexico, and Empress Carlotta.","In addition to personal and domestic matters, topics include:\n\nLecture series\nCareer at the National Observatory in Washington, D.C.\nConfederate service in Richmond, Virginia\nActivities in England\nColonization efforts in Mexico\nProfessorship at VMI\n   \nThe papers also include related correspondence and printed material."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eManuscript collections in the VMI Archives are made available for educational and research use. The VMI Archives should be cited as the source. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright holders. Materials from our collections may not be redistributed, published or reproduced without permission from the VMI Archives. Contact the VMI Archives for additional information\u003c/p\u003e  "],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Use"],"userestrict_tesim":["Manuscript collections in the VMI Archives are made available for educational and research use. The VMI Archives should be cited as the source. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright holders. Materials from our collections may not be redistributed, published or reproduced without permission from the VMI Archives. Contact the VMI Archives for additional information"],"physloc_html_tesm":["\u003cphysloc id=\"aspace_fd2a03b38d0537639ba5d5a285e66e93\"\u003eManuscripts Stacks\u003c/physloc\u003e\n    "],"physloc_tesim":["Manuscripts Stacks"],"corpname_ssim":["Virginia Military Institute Archives"],"persname_ssim":["Maury, Matthew Fontaine, 1806-1873","Maury, Ann Hull (Herndon), 1811-1901","Corbin, Diana Fontaine (Maury), 1837-1900","Corbin, Spotswood Wellford, 1835-1897","Maximilian, Emperor of Mexico, 1832-1867","Smith, Francis H. 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Letter regards trip to England and colonization in Mexico.\u003c/p\u003e","label":"Abstract Or Scope"}},"breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593_c01_c84#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593_c01_c84","ref_ssm":["vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593_c01_c84"],"id":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593_c01_c84","ead_ssi":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593","_root_":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593","_nest_parent_":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593_c01","parent_ssi":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593_c01","parent_ssim":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, 1833/1873","Correspondence, family, 1840/1872"],"parent_ids_ssim":["vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593","vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593_c01"],"title_filing_ssi":"Letter to children","title_ssm":["Letter to children"],"title_tesim":["Letter to children"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Letter to children, 1866"],"text":["Letter to children, 1866","Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, 1833/1873","Correspondence, family, 1840/1872","Mexico—History","Correspondence","English.","Mexico\n2 Feb. 1866","My dear children:\nI have taken my seat in the coach of the 8th expecting to sail from Vera Cruz in the F'r Str. of 13 and to arrive at [San Nazaire] about 10 March to lie about till the fall say the last of Oct. I want send you Max and my Carlota's princely letters. I expect to bring all hands with me when I return and so to Corbin at that Corbin and Nannie may join us in Havana on the way.","I leave Dick in charge of affairs. He is writing a book for the information of those who wish to come to Mexico. He has his heart very much in it. Dick is a fine character and I admire its beauty more and more every day. He is very full just now of buying some of these beautiful islands that dot the lake with acre spots, and go into the market gardening business.","You see by the letter of the Empress that I am aspiring to the glory of planting a [tribe].","Colonization is going on is spite of the want of public lands; our projects are dotting the Empire with settlements here and there. My own Carlotta Colony at Cordoba is flourishing. The settlers there are now being joined by their families from your country. 'Old Jubal' is here and I have offered him a place as agent. He is writing a history which your masters will not allow to be read or believed.","I have various inexpensive irons in the fire still. Some of them may come to a welding heat some of these days. If they do, we'll all be glad; and if they don't we will be none the worse.","I think the best thing for Corbin to do is to come down next fall and watch events. I take it that the South will be all at sea at least until after the next President takes his seat. Love to Sr. E, Mary, Brodie, Jno, Bob and all hands. God bless you all,\nYr. affectionate M.F.","Written from Mexico. Letter regards trip to England and  colonization in Mexico."],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, 1833/1873","Correspondence, family, 1840/1872"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, 1833/1873","Correspondence, family, 1840/1872"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1866"],"unitdate_other_ssim":["1866 February 2"],"level_ssm":["Item"],"level_ssim":["Item"],"component_level_isim":[2],"sort_isi":85,"repository_ssim":["Virginia Military Institute Archives"],"collection_ssim":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, 1833/1873"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"parent_access_restrict_tesm":["There are no restrictions"],"parent_access_terms_tesm":["Manuscript collections in the VMI Archives are made available for educational and research use. The VMI Archives should be cited as the source. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright holders. Materials from our collections may not be redistributed, published or reproduced without permission from the VMI Archives. Contact the VMI Archives for additional information"],"access_subjects_ssim":["Mexico—History","Correspondence"],"access_subjects_ssm":["Mexico—History","Correspondence"],"language_ssim":["English."],"date_range_isim":[1866],"odd_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eMexico\u003cbr\u003e\n2 Feb. 1866\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMy dear children:\u003cbr\u003e\nI have taken my seat in the coach of the 8th expecting to sail from Vera Cruz in the F'r Str. of 13 and to arrive at [San Nazaire] about 10 March to lie about till the fall say the last of Oct. I want send you Max and my Carlota's princely letters. I expect to bring all hands with me when I return and so to Corbin at that Corbin and Nannie may join us in Havana on the way.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eI leave Dick in charge of affairs. He is writing a book for the information of those who wish to come to Mexico. He has his heart very much in it. Dick is a fine character and I admire its beauty more and more every day. He is very full just now of buying some of these beautiful islands that dot the lake with acre spots, and go into the market gardening business.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eYou see by the letter of the Empress that I am aspiring to the glory of planting a [tribe].\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eColonization is going on is spite of the want of public lands; our projects are dotting the Empire with settlements here and there. My own Carlotta Colony at Cordoba is flourishing. The settlers there are now being joined by their families from your country. 'Old Jubal' is here and I have offered him a place as agent. He is writing a history which your masters will not allow to be read or believed.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eI have various inexpensive irons in the fire still. Some of them may come to a welding heat some of these days. If they do, we'll all be glad; and if they don't we will be none the worse.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eI think the best thing for Corbin to do is to come down next fall and watch events. I take it that the South will be all at sea at least until after the next President takes his seat. Love to Sr. E, Mary, Brodie, Jno, Bob and all hands. God bless you all,\u003cbr\u003e\nYr. affectionate M.F.\u003c/p\u003e"],"odd_heading_ssm":["Transcription"],"odd_tesim":["Mexico\n2 Feb. 1866","My dear children:\nI have taken my seat in the coach of the 8th expecting to sail from Vera Cruz in the F'r Str. of 13 and to arrive at [San Nazaire] about 10 March to lie about till the fall say the last of Oct. I want send you Max and my Carlota's princely letters. I expect to bring all hands with me when I return and so to Corbin at that Corbin and Nannie may join us in Havana on the way.","I leave Dick in charge of affairs. He is writing a book for the information of those who wish to come to Mexico. He has his heart very much in it. Dick is a fine character and I admire its beauty more and more every day. He is very full just now of buying some of these beautiful islands that dot the lake with acre spots, and go into the market gardening business.","You see by the letter of the Empress that I am aspiring to the glory of planting a [tribe].","Colonization is going on is spite of the want of public lands; our projects are dotting the Empire with settlements here and there. My own Carlotta Colony at Cordoba is flourishing. The settlers there are now being joined by their families from your country. 'Old Jubal' is here and I have offered him a place as agent. He is writing a history which your masters will not allow to be read or believed.","I have various inexpensive irons in the fire still. Some of them may come to a welding heat some of these days. If they do, we'll all be glad; and if they don't we will be none the worse.","I think the best thing for Corbin to do is to come down next fall and watch events. I take it that the South will be all at sea at least until after the next President takes his seat. Love to Sr. E, Mary, Brodie, Jno, Bob and all hands. God bless you all,\nYr. affectionate M.F."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eWritten from Mexico. Letter regards trip to England and  colonization in Mexico.\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Written from Mexico. Letter regards trip to England and  colonization in Mexico."],"_nest_path_":"/components#0/components#83","timestamp":"2026-08-14T22:37:30.860Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593","ead_ssi":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593","_root_":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593","_nest_parent_":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/oai/VMI/repositories_3_resources_593.xml","aspace_url_ssi":"http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vmi/vilxv00010.xml","title_ssm":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers"],"title_tesim":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers"],"unitdate_ssm":["1833-1873"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["1833-1873"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1833/1873"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, 1833/1873"],"text":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, 1833/1873","MS.0103","/repositories/3/resources/593","Confederate States of America—International relations","Confederate States of America. Navy—Officers—Correspondence","Virginia Military Institute—Faculty—19th century","Virginia Military Institute—Faculty—Biography","American Confederate voluntary exiles","Mexico—History","Correspondence","There are no restrictions","The Matthew Fontaine Maury papers are avaliable online.","Matthew Fontaine Maury (1806-1873) was a naval officer and oceanographer known as the \"Pathfinder of the Seas.\" He was notable for his pioneering scientific work in the fields of navigation, hydrography, and meteorology.","Maury joined the United States Navy at age 19, and in 1842 was named head of the Navy's Hydrographical Office and of the United State Naval Observatory.","Beginning in the 1830s, he published a number of significant works on the Gulf Stream, ocean currents, and navigation. He was also involved in research concerning deep-sea sounding and transoceanic cables.","A native of Virginia, Maury resigned his commission as a Commander in the United States Navy at the outbreak of Civil War in April 1861. He entered the Confederate Navy and undertook research into the new technology of torpedo warfare. He was subsequently ordered to England as a special agent with instructions to purchase ships for the Confederate government.","At War's end, he was enroute to the United States with a cargo of torpedo equipment when, upon arriving in port at Havana, Cuba, he learned that the War had ended. Maury then went to Mexico, where he served Emperor Maximilian and later returned to England where he worked until 1868.","The last five years of Maury's life were spent as a Professor of Physics at VMI in Lexington, Virginia. At VMI, Maury did not have regular classroom duties, but instead gave occasional lectures to the cadets and was primarily involved in overseeing an extensive physical survey of Virginia. He died in 1873.","The Matthew Fontaine Maury papers consist primarily of letters written by Maury to various members of his family, including daughter Diana Fontaine Corbin (Maury) (1837-1900), son-in-law Spotswood Wellford Corbin (1835-1897), and wife Ann Hull Maury (Herndon) (1811-1901). Other correspondents include Maximilian (1832-1867), Emperor of Mexico, and Empress Carlotta.","In addition to personal and domestic matters, topics include:\n\nLecture series\nCareer at the National Observatory in Washington, D.C.\nConfederate service in Richmond, Virginia\nActivities in England\nColonization efforts in Mexico\nProfessorship at VMI\n   \nThe papers also include related correspondence and printed material.","Manuscript collections in the VMI Archives are made available for educational and research use. The VMI Archives should be cited as the source. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright holders. Materials from our collections may not be redistributed, published or reproduced without permission from the VMI Archives. 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Navy—Officers—Correspondence","Virginia Military Institute—Faculty—19th century","Virginia Military Institute—Faculty—Biography","American Confederate voluntary exiles","Mexico—History","Correspondence"],"access_subjects_ssm":["Confederate States of America—International relations","Confederate States of America. Navy—Officers—Correspondence","Virginia Military Institute—Faculty—19th century","Virginia Military Institute—Faculty—Biography","American Confederate voluntary exiles","Mexico—History","Correspondence"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"extent_ssm":["175 items"],"extent_tesim":["175 items"],"genreform_ssim":["Correspondence"],"date_range_isim":[1833,1834,1835,1836,1837,1838,1839,1840,1841,1842,1843,1844,1845,1846,1847,1848,1849,1850,1851,1852,1853,1854,1855,1856,1857,1858,1859,1860,1861,1862,1863,1864,1865,1866,1867,1868,1869,1870,1871,1872,1873],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions\u003c/p\u003e  "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Access"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions"],"altformavail_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Matthew Fontaine Maury papers are avaliable \u003ca href=\"http://digitalcollections.vmi.edu/cdm/landingpage/collection/p15821coll6\"\u003eonline\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"altformavail_heading_ssm":["Online Access"],"altformavail_tesim":["The Matthew Fontaine Maury papers are avaliable online."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eMatthew Fontaine Maury (1806-1873) was a naval officer and oceanographer known as the \"Pathfinder of the Seas.\" He was notable for his pioneering scientific work in the fields of navigation, hydrography, and meteorology. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMaury joined the United States Navy at age 19, and in 1842 was named head of the Navy's Hydrographical Office and of the United State Naval Observatory. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eBeginning in the 1830s, he published a number of significant works on the Gulf Stream, ocean currents, and navigation. He was also involved in research concerning deep-sea sounding and transoceanic cables.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eA native of Virginia, Maury resigned his commission as a Commander in the United States Navy at the outbreak of Civil War in April 1861. He entered the Confederate Navy and undertook research into the new technology of torpedo warfare. He was subsequently ordered to England as a special agent with instructions to purchase ships for the Confederate government.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAt War's end, he was enroute to the United States with a cargo of torpedo equipment when, upon arriving in port at Havana, Cuba, he learned that the War had ended. Maury then went to Mexico, where he served Emperor Maximilian and later returned to England where he worked until 1868.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe last five years of Maury's life were spent as a Professor of Physics at VMI in Lexington, Virginia. At VMI, Maury did not have regular classroom duties, but instead gave occasional lectures to the cadets and was primarily involved in overseeing an extensive physical survey of Virginia. He died in 1873.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical / Historical"],"bioghist_tesim":["Matthew Fontaine Maury (1806-1873) was a naval officer and oceanographer known as the \"Pathfinder of the Seas.\" He was notable for his pioneering scientific work in the fields of navigation, hydrography, and meteorology.","Maury joined the United States Navy at age 19, and in 1842 was named head of the Navy's Hydrographical Office and of the United State Naval Observatory.","Beginning in the 1830s, he published a number of significant works on the Gulf Stream, ocean currents, and navigation. He was also involved in research concerning deep-sea sounding and transoceanic cables.","A native of Virginia, Maury resigned his commission as a Commander in the United States Navy at the outbreak of Civil War in April 1861. He entered the Confederate Navy and undertook research into the new technology of torpedo warfare. He was subsequently ordered to England as a special agent with instructions to purchase ships for the Confederate government.","At War's end, he was enroute to the United States with a cargo of torpedo equipment when, upon arriving in port at Havana, Cuba, he learned that the War had ended. Maury then went to Mexico, where he served Emperor Maximilian and later returned to England where he worked until 1868.","The last five years of Maury's life were spent as a Professor of Physics at VMI in Lexington, Virginia. At VMI, Maury did not have regular classroom duties, but instead gave occasional lectures to the cadets and was primarily involved in overseeing an extensive physical survey of Virginia. He died in 1873."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eMatthew Fontaine Maury papers, MS 0103, Virginia Military Institute Archives, Lexington, Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"prefercite_tesim":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, MS 0103, Virginia Military Institute Archives, Lexington, Virginia."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Matthew Fontaine Maury papers consist primarily of letters written by Maury to various members of his family, including daughter Diana Fontaine Corbin (Maury) (1837-1900), son-in-law Spotswood Wellford Corbin (1835-1897), and wife Ann Hull Maury (Herndon) (1811-1901). Other correspondents include Maximilian (1832-1867), Emperor of Mexico, and Empress Carlotta.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIn addition to personal and domestic matters, topics include:\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLecture series\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCareer at the National Observatory in Washington, D.C.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConfederate service in Richmond, Virginia\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eActivities in England\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eColonization efforts in Mexico\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProfessorship at VMI\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e   \nThe papers also include related correspondence and printed material.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents"],"scopecontent_tesim":["The Matthew Fontaine Maury papers consist primarily of letters written by Maury to various members of his family, including daughter Diana Fontaine Corbin (Maury) (1837-1900), son-in-law Spotswood Wellford Corbin (1835-1897), and wife Ann Hull Maury (Herndon) (1811-1901). Other correspondents include Maximilian (1832-1867), Emperor of Mexico, and Empress Carlotta.","In addition to personal and domestic matters, topics include:\n\nLecture series\nCareer at the National Observatory in Washington, D.C.\nConfederate service in Richmond, Virginia\nActivities in England\nColonization efforts in Mexico\nProfessorship at VMI\n   \nThe papers also include related correspondence and printed material."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eManuscript collections in the VMI Archives are made available for educational and research use. The VMI Archives should be cited as the source. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright holders. Materials from our collections may not be redistributed, published or reproduced without permission from the VMI Archives. 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Letter regards travel across Mexico, ongoing colonization, and the political situation in Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e","label":"Abstract Or Scope"}},"breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593_c01_c85#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593_c01_c85","ref_ssm":["vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593_c01_c85"],"id":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593_c01_c85","ead_ssi":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593","_root_":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593","_nest_parent_":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593_c01","parent_ssi":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593_c01","parent_ssim":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, 1833/1873","Correspondence, family, 1840/1872"],"parent_ids_ssim":["vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593","vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593_c01"],"title_filing_ssi":"Letter to children","title_ssm":["Letter to children"],"title_tesim":["Letter to children"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Letter to children, 1866"],"text":["Letter to children, 1866","Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, 1833/1873","Correspondence, family, 1840/1872","Mexico—History","Correspondence","English.","mail to Will or Corbin\nHavana Arrived 9","Veracruz, Mexico\n1 March 1866","My dear Children\nThe English steamer in which I have paid my passage £49.10 is now over-due two days, and her day of sailing again is day after to-morrow.","I left Mexico Saturday the 24th at 2 A.M. arrived at [Puebla] at 7 p.m. when I \"pernocted\" in a room with diverse others for $2. Was called at 1 A.M. and off again at 2, over a very rough road -a very fatiguing journey. Passed between long ridges of my lordly maquay shooting up it magnificent flower stalks, as large and as high and as straight as a common telegraph pole. Indeed unless you were near enough to see the wires I found it often difficult to tell one from the other. This `first of Flora\" with its enormous height and proportions is pushed up in the course of 6 or 7 days. To compare great things with small, imagine an immense asparagus stalk say one day old and before its head has swollen out sufficiently to begin to burst and shoot out branches, well imagine it to 18 or 20 inches in circumference, 30 or 40 feet high and you have it as I generally saw them, rising out its magnificent tuft of foliage 30 feet around and 12 feet high. Occasionally the more forward ones had commenced to shoot out, from the top and horizontally their splendid flower brackets and to assume the appearance of splendid and gigantic candelabras from which the genie of the hoary hooded orizaba which with his night cap of snow was looking down upon us, intended to light up the plains through which the coach was teetering its toilsome way. Ascending the Western slopes of the [`Cumibres'], the highest range between Mexico and the Gulf, we left its `boast of Bacchus\" and entered the cloud region. It was blowing a furious gale, the wind was howling amongst the rocks and cliffs, and driving a cold and penetrating mist through a white darkness so thick that you could see\nnothing beyond the distance of a few feet. It was piercing cold: I had on 3 flannel shirts, but as we began to climb, I began to draw around and button tight and finally found\nmyself wrapped in cloak and blanket and uncomfortably cool. Presently we dropped down through this thick cloud stratum into bright sun shine and the coolest air that is was possible for heart of men to conceive. This was the lovely little valley of [Acu ] at our feet, and spreading out miles away into the plains of Orizaba which are 4000 feet above the sea. The valley was quilted over by swirling crops in all the stages of growth form the sprouting corn to the ripe grain. The reapers were in golden fields of the yellowest and\nthe brightest barley I ever saw, the wheat was just coming up; and immense herds of cattle as they fed on the rich pasturage lent a charm to the landscape that made it\naltogether lovely. Passing a cascade of milk white foam as it leaped from the mountains.","We entered the valley and felt what old Job had said about the scent of water - we were in the midst of fruits and flowers. Orange trees loaded with ripe fruit. And the peach tree is all the glory of blossom. Hedges and copens of roses, fuschias, arborvitaes, rhododendrons. Oh a wilderness of the loveliest flowers and the gayest colors, and such only as I used to think in Tennessee had never grown anywhere except in the garden of \"Beauty and the Beast\" - and it too has its beast, for two months ago it had been then in the shape of an earth-quake and shaken down the adobe huts of the village, which owners were reconstructing of some rustic materials, such as bamboo, reeds - palm [fronds] straw and hides. After passing through these beauties for 12 or 15 miles, and at\n6½ p.m. drove into Orizaba in the midst of a rain storm - Coffee, tobacco, the cereals, and the banana with other fruits seemed to be the principle article of cultivation. Here I pernocted again in another [ ] whereas before there was little chance for sleep. Was called at 5, off at 6, and at 10 breakfasted at Cordoba, and I arrived at Pas del Macho where I pernocted again as unsatisfactorily as before. And so the next day at 6 started in the cars for this place. Total expenses $45.50 the $0.50 being spent for extra's such as a cup of chocolate or so between the early hours of starting and the late one of breakfasting. There were fresh arrivals of immigrants, all the hands were taken up. Cordoba looked lively \u0026 everybody in high spirits. Two ship loads had just arrived. Sheridan had refused to let them embark at New Orleans as he was determined to break up that Maury nest of Confederates which was agitating the public mind of the South \u0026\npreventing the people there from quietly submitting to subjugation. I thank him for the encouragement. The Mexican plan is spreading over the South. We are going to have happy homes, a fine country, \u0026 a bright future here. Let those who lack gall or who having it, have steeped it in honey, stay. I seek to plant my posterity here.","Dick has got land in my Carlota colony, 640 acres. He has sent to China for labourers- 12 or 15 to work it, and to Virginia for young Crutchfield to take charge of it. I have such good irons in such good fires, that some of them will surely be got to welding heat. If so, I hope to find comfortable homes, and a bright future here for you all at last. Corbin and Nannie will come in the steamer that is to leave New York Oct 8. They will without stopping here a night, take the cars to Paso del Macho- 50 miles-they are then by stage 5 hours from Cordoba, where they will arrive say 21st or 22nd and wait a week for us. We will be due here say on the 27th. Corbin can spend this week profitably \u0026 both of them pleasantly in visiting the Colony, examining the coffee plantations \u0026 c. [Then] will take a [whole] stage for Puebla, by which time the railway thru to Mexico will be completed- so will teeter over the cumbres and among the maguey in a stage coach.","My letter to \"the people at home\" has never been published. It should be. So should the anachronistic one to Dr. Dabney. Let my brave backers- Nannie \u0026 Corbin- do the thing that is right and send copies of them to Jno Tyler of the Whig or someone else who has a bone in his back to publish. Among the misfortunes that have befallen our people, I regard as not the least, the advice that has been given by the best men among them, viz.- to stay at home \u0026 help the enemy to establish his power \u0026 complete our degradation. The Yankees have conquered Virginia, it's theirs, we are subjugated, \u0026 have no rights except such as the victors in mercy may vouchsafe to give. If the whole South is not a conquered territory then I have never read in history of one that was conquered, and Dabney \u0026 them who like him consider it to be their duty \u0026 their interest to help build up that Yankee despotism called the Union, owe it to the grace and mercy of their conquerors, that their conquerors do not cross from the map the very name of Virginia, blot out all former state lines, make new provinces and call a part of what was Virginia the state of Winnepisscogee, South Carolina Peasquod, \u0026 such like Yankee innovations \u0026 that nothing should remain to remind the vanquished of the ancient renown.","Written from Veracruz, Mexico. Letter regards travel across Mexico, ongoing colonization, and the political situation in Virginia."],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, 1833/1873","Correspondence, family, 1840/1872"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, 1833/1873","Correspondence, family, 1840/1872"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1866"],"unitdate_other_ssim":["1866 March 1"],"level_ssm":["Item"],"level_ssim":["Item"],"component_level_isim":[2],"sort_isi":86,"repository_ssim":["Virginia Military Institute Archives"],"collection_ssim":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, 1833/1873"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"parent_access_restrict_tesm":["There are no restrictions"],"parent_access_terms_tesm":["Manuscript collections in the VMI Archives are made available for educational and research use. The VMI Archives should be cited as the source. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright holders. Materials from our collections may not be redistributed, published or reproduced without permission from the VMI Archives. Contact the VMI Archives for additional information"],"access_subjects_ssim":["Mexico—History","Correspondence"],"access_subjects_ssm":["Mexico—History","Correspondence"],"language_ssim":["English."],"date_range_isim":[1866],"odd_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003email to Will or Corbin\u003cbr\u003e\nHavana Arrived 9\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eVeracruz, Mexico\u003cbr\u003e\n1 March 1866\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMy dear Children\u003cbr\u003e\nThe English steamer in which I have paid my passage £49.10 is now over-due two days, and her day of sailing again is day after to-morrow.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eI left Mexico Saturday the 24th at 2 A.M. arrived at [Puebla] at 7 p.m. when I \"pernocted\" in a room with diverse others for $2. Was called at 1 A.M. and off again at 2, over a very rough road -a very fatiguing journey. Passed between long ridges of my lordly maquay shooting up it magnificent flower stalks, as large and as high and as straight as a common telegraph pole. Indeed unless you were near enough to see the wires I found it often difficult to tell one from the other. This `first of Flora\" with its enormous height and proportions is pushed up in the course of 6 or 7 days. To compare great things with small, imagine an immense asparagus stalk say one day old and before its head has swollen out sufficiently to begin to burst and shoot out branches, well imagine it to 18 or 20 inches in circumference, 30 or 40 feet high and you have it as I generally saw them, rising out its magnificent tuft of foliage 30 feet around and 12 feet high. Occasionally the more forward ones had commenced to shoot out, from the top and horizontally their splendid flower brackets and to assume the appearance of splendid and gigantic candelabras from which the genie of the hoary hooded orizaba which with his night cap of snow was looking down upon us, intended to light up the plains through which the coach was teetering its toilsome way. Ascending the Western slopes of the [`Cumibres'], the highest range between Mexico and the Gulf, we left its `boast of Bacchus\" and entered the cloud region. It was blowing a furious gale, the wind was howling amongst the rocks and cliffs, and driving a cold and penetrating mist through a white darkness so thick that you could see\nnothing beyond the distance of a few feet. It was piercing cold: I had on 3 flannel shirts, but as we began to climb, I began to draw around and button tight and finally found\nmyself wrapped in cloak and blanket and uncomfortably cool. Presently we dropped down through this thick cloud stratum into bright sun shine and the coolest air that is was possible for heart of men to conceive. This was the lovely little valley of [Acu ] at our feet, and spreading out miles away into the plains of Orizaba which are 4000 feet above the sea. The valley was quilted over by swirling crops in all the stages of growth form the sprouting corn to the ripe grain. The reapers were in golden fields of the yellowest and\nthe brightest barley I ever saw, the wheat was just coming up; and immense herds of cattle as they fed on the rich pasturage lent a charm to the landscape that made it\naltogether lovely. Passing a cascade of milk white foam as it leaped from the mountains.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWe entered the valley and felt what old Job had said about the scent of water - we were in the midst of fruits and flowers. Orange trees loaded with ripe fruit. And the peach tree is all the glory of blossom. Hedges and copens of roses, fuschias, arborvitaes, rhododendrons. Oh a wilderness of the loveliest flowers and the gayest colors, and such only as I used to think in Tennessee had never grown anywhere except in the garden of \"Beauty and the Beast\" - and it too has its beast, for two months ago it had been then in the shape of an earth-quake and shaken down the adobe huts of the village, which owners were reconstructing of some rustic materials, such as bamboo, reeds - palm [fronds] straw and hides. After passing through these beauties for 12 or 15 miles, and at\n6½ p.m. drove into Orizaba in the midst of a rain storm - Coffee, tobacco, the cereals, and the banana with other fruits seemed to be the principle article of cultivation. Here I pernocted again in another [ ] whereas before there was little chance for sleep. Was called at 5, off at 6, and at 10 breakfasted at Cordoba, and I arrived at Pas del Macho where I pernocted again as unsatisfactorily as before. And so the next day at 6 started in the cars for this place. Total expenses $45.50 the $0.50 being spent for extra's such as a cup of chocolate or so between the early hours of starting and the late one of breakfasting. There were fresh arrivals of immigrants, all the hands were taken up. Cordoba looked lively \u0026amp; everybody in high spirits. Two ship loads had just arrived. Sheridan had refused to let them embark at New Orleans as he was determined to break up that Maury nest of Confederates which was agitating the public mind of the South \u0026amp;\npreventing the people there from quietly submitting to subjugation. I thank him for the encouragement. The Mexican plan is spreading over the South. We are going to have happy homes, a fine country, \u0026amp; a bright future here. Let those who lack gall or who having it, have steeped it in honey, stay. I seek to plant my posterity here.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eDick has got land in my Carlota colony, 640 acres. He has sent to China for labourers- 12 or 15 to work it, and to Virginia for young Crutchfield to take charge of it. I have such good irons in such good fires, that some of them will surely be got to welding heat. If so, I hope to find comfortable homes, and a bright future here for you all at last. Corbin and Nannie will come in the steamer that is to leave New York Oct 8. They will without stopping here a night, take the cars to Paso del Macho- 50 miles-they are then by stage 5 hours from Cordoba, where they will arrive say 21st or 22nd and wait a week for us. We will be due here say on the 27th. Corbin can spend this week profitably \u0026amp; both of them pleasantly in visiting the Colony, examining the coffee plantations \u0026amp; c. [Then] will take a [whole] stage for Puebla, by which time the railway thru to Mexico will be completed- so will teeter over the cumbres and among the maguey in a stage coach.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMy letter to \"the people at home\" has never been published. It should be. So should the anachronistic one to Dr. Dabney. Let my brave backers- Nannie \u0026amp; Corbin- do the thing that is right and send copies of them to Jno Tyler of the Whig or someone else who has a bone in his back to publish. Among the misfortunes that have befallen our people, I regard as not the least, the advice that has been given by the best men among them, viz.- to stay at home \u0026amp; help the enemy to establish his power \u0026amp; complete our degradation. The Yankees have conquered Virginia, it's theirs, we are subjugated, \u0026amp; have no rights except such as the victors in mercy may vouchsafe to give. If the whole South is not a conquered territory then I have never read in history of one that was conquered, and Dabney \u0026amp; them who like him consider it to be their duty \u0026amp; their interest to help build up that Yankee despotism called the Union, owe it to the grace and mercy of their conquerors, that their conquerors do not cross from the map the very name of Virginia, blot out all former state lines, make new provinces and call a part of what was Virginia the state of Winnepisscogee, South Carolina Peasquod, \u0026amp; such like Yankee innovations \u0026amp; that nothing should remain to remind the vanquished of the ancient renown.\u003c/p\u003e"],"odd_heading_ssm":["Transcription"],"odd_tesim":["mail to Will or Corbin\nHavana Arrived 9","Veracruz, Mexico\n1 March 1866","My dear Children\nThe English steamer in which I have paid my passage £49.10 is now over-due two days, and her day of sailing again is day after to-morrow.","I left Mexico Saturday the 24th at 2 A.M. arrived at [Puebla] at 7 p.m. when I \"pernocted\" in a room with diverse others for $2. Was called at 1 A.M. and off again at 2, over a very rough road -a very fatiguing journey. Passed between long ridges of my lordly maquay shooting up it magnificent flower stalks, as large and as high and as straight as a common telegraph pole. Indeed unless you were near enough to see the wires I found it often difficult to tell one from the other. This `first of Flora\" with its enormous height and proportions is pushed up in the course of 6 or 7 days. To compare great things with small, imagine an immense asparagus stalk say one day old and before its head has swollen out sufficiently to begin to burst and shoot out branches, well imagine it to 18 or 20 inches in circumference, 30 or 40 feet high and you have it as I generally saw them, rising out its magnificent tuft of foliage 30 feet around and 12 feet high. Occasionally the more forward ones had commenced to shoot out, from the top and horizontally their splendid flower brackets and to assume the appearance of splendid and gigantic candelabras from which the genie of the hoary hooded orizaba which with his night cap of snow was looking down upon us, intended to light up the plains through which the coach was teetering its toilsome way. Ascending the Western slopes of the [`Cumibres'], the highest range between Mexico and the Gulf, we left its `boast of Bacchus\" and entered the cloud region. It was blowing a furious gale, the wind was howling amongst the rocks and cliffs, and driving a cold and penetrating mist through a white darkness so thick that you could see\nnothing beyond the distance of a few feet. It was piercing cold: I had on 3 flannel shirts, but as we began to climb, I began to draw around and button tight and finally found\nmyself wrapped in cloak and blanket and uncomfortably cool. Presently we dropped down through this thick cloud stratum into bright sun shine and the coolest air that is was possible for heart of men to conceive. This was the lovely little valley of [Acu ] at our feet, and spreading out miles away into the plains of Orizaba which are 4000 feet above the sea. The valley was quilted over by swirling crops in all the stages of growth form the sprouting corn to the ripe grain. The reapers were in golden fields of the yellowest and\nthe brightest barley I ever saw, the wheat was just coming up; and immense herds of cattle as they fed on the rich pasturage lent a charm to the landscape that made it\naltogether lovely. Passing a cascade of milk white foam as it leaped from the mountains.","We entered the valley and felt what old Job had said about the scent of water - we were in the midst of fruits and flowers. Orange trees loaded with ripe fruit. And the peach tree is all the glory of blossom. Hedges and copens of roses, fuschias, arborvitaes, rhododendrons. Oh a wilderness of the loveliest flowers and the gayest colors, and such only as I used to think in Tennessee had never grown anywhere except in the garden of \"Beauty and the Beast\" - and it too has its beast, for two months ago it had been then in the shape of an earth-quake and shaken down the adobe huts of the village, which owners were reconstructing of some rustic materials, such as bamboo, reeds - palm [fronds] straw and hides. After passing through these beauties for 12 or 15 miles, and at\n6½ p.m. drove into Orizaba in the midst of a rain storm - Coffee, tobacco, the cereals, and the banana with other fruits seemed to be the principle article of cultivation. Here I pernocted again in another [ ] whereas before there was little chance for sleep. Was called at 5, off at 6, and at 10 breakfasted at Cordoba, and I arrived at Pas del Macho where I pernocted again as unsatisfactorily as before. And so the next day at 6 started in the cars for this place. Total expenses $45.50 the $0.50 being spent for extra's such as a cup of chocolate or so between the early hours of starting and the late one of breakfasting. There were fresh arrivals of immigrants, all the hands were taken up. Cordoba looked lively \u0026 everybody in high spirits. Two ship loads had just arrived. Sheridan had refused to let them embark at New Orleans as he was determined to break up that Maury nest of Confederates which was agitating the public mind of the South \u0026\npreventing the people there from quietly submitting to subjugation. I thank him for the encouragement. The Mexican plan is spreading over the South. We are going to have happy homes, a fine country, \u0026 a bright future here. Let those who lack gall or who having it, have steeped it in honey, stay. I seek to plant my posterity here.","Dick has got land in my Carlota colony, 640 acres. He has sent to China for labourers- 12 or 15 to work it, and to Virginia for young Crutchfield to take charge of it. I have such good irons in such good fires, that some of them will surely be got to welding heat. If so, I hope to find comfortable homes, and a bright future here for you all at last. Corbin and Nannie will come in the steamer that is to leave New York Oct 8. They will without stopping here a night, take the cars to Paso del Macho- 50 miles-they are then by stage 5 hours from Cordoba, where they will arrive say 21st or 22nd and wait a week for us. We will be due here say on the 27th. Corbin can spend this week profitably \u0026 both of them pleasantly in visiting the Colony, examining the coffee plantations \u0026 c. [Then] will take a [whole] stage for Puebla, by which time the railway thru to Mexico will be completed- so will teeter over the cumbres and among the maguey in a stage coach.","My letter to \"the people at home\" has never been published. It should be. So should the anachronistic one to Dr. Dabney. Let my brave backers- Nannie \u0026 Corbin- do the thing that is right and send copies of them to Jno Tyler of the Whig or someone else who has a bone in his back to publish. Among the misfortunes that have befallen our people, I regard as not the least, the advice that has been given by the best men among them, viz.- to stay at home \u0026 help the enemy to establish his power \u0026 complete our degradation. The Yankees have conquered Virginia, it's theirs, we are subjugated, \u0026 have no rights except such as the victors in mercy may vouchsafe to give. If the whole South is not a conquered territory then I have never read in history of one that was conquered, and Dabney \u0026 them who like him consider it to be their duty \u0026 their interest to help build up that Yankee despotism called the Union, owe it to the grace and mercy of their conquerors, that their conquerors do not cross from the map the very name of Virginia, blot out all former state lines, make new provinces and call a part of what was Virginia the state of Winnepisscogee, South Carolina Peasquod, \u0026 such like Yankee innovations \u0026 that nothing should remain to remind the vanquished of the ancient renown."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eWritten from Veracruz, Mexico. Letter regards travel across Mexico, ongoing colonization, and the political situation in Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Written from Veracruz, Mexico. Letter regards travel across Mexico, ongoing colonization, and the political situation in Virginia."],"_nest_path_":"/components#0/components#84","timestamp":"2026-08-14T22:37:30.860Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593","ead_ssi":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593","_root_":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593","_nest_parent_":"vilxv_repositories_3_resources_593","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/oai/VMI/repositories_3_resources_593.xml","aspace_url_ssi":"http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vmi/vilxv00010.xml","title_ssm":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers"],"title_tesim":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers"],"unitdate_ssm":["1833-1873"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["1833-1873"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1833/1873"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, 1833/1873"],"text":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, 1833/1873","MS.0103","/repositories/3/resources/593","Confederate States of America—International relations","Confederate States of America. Navy—Officers—Correspondence","Virginia Military Institute—Faculty—19th century","Virginia Military Institute—Faculty—Biography","American Confederate voluntary exiles","Mexico—History","Correspondence","There are no restrictions","The Matthew Fontaine Maury papers are avaliable online.","Matthew Fontaine Maury (1806-1873) was a naval officer and oceanographer known as the \"Pathfinder of the Seas.\" He was notable for his pioneering scientific work in the fields of navigation, hydrography, and meteorology.","Maury joined the United States Navy at age 19, and in 1842 was named head of the Navy's Hydrographical Office and of the United State Naval Observatory.","Beginning in the 1830s, he published a number of significant works on the Gulf Stream, ocean currents, and navigation. He was also involved in research concerning deep-sea sounding and transoceanic cables.","A native of Virginia, Maury resigned his commission as a Commander in the United States Navy at the outbreak of Civil War in April 1861. He entered the Confederate Navy and undertook research into the new technology of torpedo warfare. He was subsequently ordered to England as a special agent with instructions to purchase ships for the Confederate government.","At War's end, he was enroute to the United States with a cargo of torpedo equipment when, upon arriving in port at Havana, Cuba, he learned that the War had ended. Maury then went to Mexico, where he served Emperor Maximilian and later returned to England where he worked until 1868.","The last five years of Maury's life were spent as a Professor of Physics at VMI in Lexington, Virginia. At VMI, Maury did not have regular classroom duties, but instead gave occasional lectures to the cadets and was primarily involved in overseeing an extensive physical survey of Virginia. He died in 1873.","The Matthew Fontaine Maury papers consist primarily of letters written by Maury to various members of his family, including daughter Diana Fontaine Corbin (Maury) (1837-1900), son-in-law Spotswood Wellford Corbin (1835-1897), and wife Ann Hull Maury (Herndon) (1811-1901). Other correspondents include Maximilian (1832-1867), Emperor of Mexico, and Empress Carlotta.","In addition to personal and domestic matters, topics include:\n\nLecture series\nCareer at the National Observatory in Washington, D.C.\nConfederate service in Richmond, Virginia\nActivities in England\nColonization efforts in Mexico\nProfessorship at VMI\n   \nThe papers also include related correspondence and printed material.","Manuscript collections in the VMI Archives are made available for educational and research use. The VMI Archives should be cited as the source. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright holders. Materials from our collections may not be redistributed, published or reproduced without permission from the VMI Archives. Contact the VMI Archives for additional information","Manuscripts Stacks","Virginia Military Institute Archives","Maury, Matthew Fontaine, 1806-1873","Maury, Ann Hull (Herndon), 1811-1901","Corbin, Diana Fontaine (Maury), 1837-1900","Corbin, Spotswood Wellford, 1835-1897","Maximilian, Emperor of Mexico, 1832-1867","Smith, Francis H. (Francis Henney), 1812-1890","English\n."],"collection_title_tesim":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, 1833/1873"],"collection_ssim":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, 1833/1873"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["MS.0103","/repositories/3/resources/593"],"unitid_tesim":["MS.0103","/repositories/3/resources/593"],"repository_ssm":["Virginia Military Institute Archives"],"repository_ssim":["Virginia Military Institute Archives"],"creator_ssm":["Maury, Matthew Fontaine, 1806-1873"],"creator_ssim":["Maury, Matthew Fontaine, 1806-1873"],"creator_persname_ssim":["Maury, Matthew Fontaine, 1806-1873","Maury, Ann Hull (Herndon), 1811-1901","Corbin, Diana Fontaine (Maury), 1837-1900","Corbin, Spotswood Wellford, 1835-1897","Maximilian, Emperor of Mexico, 1832-1867","Smith, Francis H. (Francis Henney), 1812-1890"],"creator_corpname_ssim":["Virginia Military Institute Archives"],"creators_ssim":["Maury, Matthew Fontaine, 1806-1873","Maury, Ann Hull (Herndon), 1811-1901","Corbin, Diana Fontaine (Maury), 1837-1900","Corbin, Spotswood Wellford, 1835-1897","Maximilian, Emperor of Mexico, 1832-1867","Smith, Francis H. (Francis Henney), 1812-1890","Virginia Military Institute Archives"],"access_terms_ssm":["Manuscript collections in the VMI Archives are made available for educational and research use. The VMI Archives should be cited as the source. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright holders. Materials from our collections may not be redistributed, published or reproduced without permission from the VMI Archives. Contact the VMI Archives for additional information"],"access_subjects_ssim":["Confederate States of America—International relations","Confederate States of America. Navy—Officers—Correspondence","Virginia Military Institute—Faculty—19th century","Virginia Military Institute—Faculty—Biography","American Confederate voluntary exiles","Mexico—History","Correspondence"],"access_subjects_ssm":["Confederate States of America—International relations","Confederate States of America. Navy—Officers—Correspondence","Virginia Military Institute—Faculty—19th century","Virginia Military Institute—Faculty—Biography","American Confederate voluntary exiles","Mexico—History","Correspondence"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"extent_ssm":["175 items"],"extent_tesim":["175 items"],"genreform_ssim":["Correspondence"],"date_range_isim":[1833,1834,1835,1836,1837,1838,1839,1840,1841,1842,1843,1844,1845,1846,1847,1848,1849,1850,1851,1852,1853,1854,1855,1856,1857,1858,1859,1860,1861,1862,1863,1864,1865,1866,1867,1868,1869,1870,1871,1872,1873],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions\u003c/p\u003e  "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Access"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions"],"altformavail_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Matthew Fontaine Maury papers are avaliable \u003ca href=\"http://digitalcollections.vmi.edu/cdm/landingpage/collection/p15821coll6\"\u003eonline\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"altformavail_heading_ssm":["Online Access"],"altformavail_tesim":["The Matthew Fontaine Maury papers are avaliable online."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eMatthew Fontaine Maury (1806-1873) was a naval officer and oceanographer known as the \"Pathfinder of the Seas.\" He was notable for his pioneering scientific work in the fields of navigation, hydrography, and meteorology. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMaury joined the United States Navy at age 19, and in 1842 was named head of the Navy's Hydrographical Office and of the United State Naval Observatory. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eBeginning in the 1830s, he published a number of significant works on the Gulf Stream, ocean currents, and navigation. He was also involved in research concerning deep-sea sounding and transoceanic cables.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eA native of Virginia, Maury resigned his commission as a Commander in the United States Navy at the outbreak of Civil War in April 1861. He entered the Confederate Navy and undertook research into the new technology of torpedo warfare. He was subsequently ordered to England as a special agent with instructions to purchase ships for the Confederate government.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAt War's end, he was enroute to the United States with a cargo of torpedo equipment when, upon arriving in port at Havana, Cuba, he learned that the War had ended. Maury then went to Mexico, where he served Emperor Maximilian and later returned to England where he worked until 1868.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe last five years of Maury's life were spent as a Professor of Physics at VMI in Lexington, Virginia. At VMI, Maury did not have regular classroom duties, but instead gave occasional lectures to the cadets and was primarily involved in overseeing an extensive physical survey of Virginia. He died in 1873.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical / Historical"],"bioghist_tesim":["Matthew Fontaine Maury (1806-1873) was a naval officer and oceanographer known as the \"Pathfinder of the Seas.\" He was notable for his pioneering scientific work in the fields of navigation, hydrography, and meteorology.","Maury joined the United States Navy at age 19, and in 1842 was named head of the Navy's Hydrographical Office and of the United State Naval Observatory.","Beginning in the 1830s, he published a number of significant works on the Gulf Stream, ocean currents, and navigation. He was also involved in research concerning deep-sea sounding and transoceanic cables.","A native of Virginia, Maury resigned his commission as a Commander in the United States Navy at the outbreak of Civil War in April 1861. He entered the Confederate Navy and undertook research into the new technology of torpedo warfare. He was subsequently ordered to England as a special agent with instructions to purchase ships for the Confederate government.","At War's end, he was enroute to the United States with a cargo of torpedo equipment when, upon arriving in port at Havana, Cuba, he learned that the War had ended. Maury then went to Mexico, where he served Emperor Maximilian and later returned to England where he worked until 1868.","The last five years of Maury's life were spent as a Professor of Physics at VMI in Lexington, Virginia. At VMI, Maury did not have regular classroom duties, but instead gave occasional lectures to the cadets and was primarily involved in overseeing an extensive physical survey of Virginia. He died in 1873."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eMatthew Fontaine Maury papers, MS 0103, Virginia Military Institute Archives, Lexington, Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"prefercite_tesim":["Matthew Fontaine Maury papers, MS 0103, Virginia Military Institute Archives, Lexington, Virginia."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Matthew Fontaine Maury papers consist primarily of letters written by Maury to various members of his family, including daughter Diana Fontaine Corbin (Maury) (1837-1900), son-in-law Spotswood Wellford Corbin (1835-1897), and wife Ann Hull Maury (Herndon) (1811-1901). Other correspondents include Maximilian (1832-1867), Emperor of Mexico, and Empress Carlotta.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIn addition to personal and domestic matters, topics include:\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLecture series\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCareer at the National Observatory in Washington, D.C.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConfederate service in Richmond, Virginia\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eActivities in England\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eColonization efforts in Mexico\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProfessorship at VMI\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e   \nThe papers also include related correspondence and printed material.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents"],"scopecontent_tesim":["The Matthew Fontaine Maury papers consist primarily of letters written by Maury to various members of his family, including daughter Diana Fontaine Corbin (Maury) (1837-1900), son-in-law Spotswood Wellford Corbin (1835-1897), and wife Ann Hull Maury (Herndon) (1811-1901). Other correspondents include Maximilian (1832-1867), Emperor of Mexico, and Empress Carlotta.","In addition to personal and domestic matters, topics include:\n\nLecture series\nCareer at the National Observatory in Washington, D.C.\nConfederate service in Richmond, Virginia\nActivities in England\nColonization efforts in Mexico\nProfessorship at VMI\n   \nThe papers also include related correspondence and printed material."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eManuscript collections in the VMI Archives are made available for educational and research use. The VMI Archives should be cited as the source. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright holders. Materials from our collections may not be redistributed, published or reproduced without permission from the VMI Archives. 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