Letter to Diana Fontaine Corbin (Maury), 1868

Scope and content:

Written from Rockbridge Baths, Virginia. In the letter, Matthew Fontaine Maury notes that VMI Superintendent Francis H. Smith will come tomorrow to take him to Lexington, Virginia, where he will be officially installed on the faculty of the VMI.

Language:

English.

Other descriptive data:

Rockbridge Baths

Dear Nannie,

Dabney's Nannie with their children is at the Mason's. Rose sick with chills. Tomorrow Smith comes to fetch me to Lexington. Totts or Elie, perhaps both will go with me. I am to be installed on the 10th and deliver an address with pomp & circumstance and with all my decorations. After that we shall return here and wait till frost for Richmond. I go to work immediately in preparing a preliminary report of the natural wealth & c of Va. such as its climates, productions and favored position. I strike for a line of steamers between Norfolk & Holland, expecting to turn a stream of immigration - German- thro Va. as it flows to Ohio and forts beyond. And so hasten the completion of James River Canal, and Va. Central to the Ohio branches getting some immigrants to stop by the way. Tell Corbin, C held this special term expressly, but lawyers were not ready. Jno Herndon will go to F'bg next week. I have asked him to sound about a compromise. That I am seen is the best way of ending that matter. Ask him to get from Rutson the m.s. of P.G. and Astronomy and the first time he comes South to bring me them. I am not in a hurry for them. "Where had you best live?" In a New York City Boarding house when the dog days are over. Taking care to spend enough time in Va to keep up the idea of Va residence on ac't of them suits with which Corbin was threatened. Tell him the chances of being useful to the state in my own vocation are very fair. Everybody appears to be looking to politics for help. I almost [ ], exclusive to agencies outside of this political arena for material help. Stir up about J.B.'s grapes. Love to the H's with kisses to Maria. Tell Nanna I wish she was here to eat maple sugar. Yr. aft father.

Subjects:

Virginia Military Institute—Faculty—19th century
Correspondence

Names:

Smith, Francis H. (Francis Henney), 1812-1890

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