Letter to Spotswood W. Corbin

Scope and content:

Written from Richmond, Virginia. Letter regards business news and the publication of Matthew Fontaine Maury's report on the Physical Survey of Virginia.

Language:

English .

Other descriptive data:

Richmond Va
14 January 1869

Dear Corbin,
I am sorry to have such an account of yr tenant. You will be lucky to get rid of him without more trouble. His contract shows that he is one of those who are unworthy of confidence - his London trip is I take it a sham.

I hope to send you in a few days copy of the Report. The Railway and Canal men have been watching the press and literally devouring the sheets as fast as they were printed. They think it will wake up a lively interest especially in the South and West. Smith - V.M.I. will be down to-morrow, we are going to send copies to Governors of the states and ask them to make it the subject of official action by calling it to the attention of legislatures &.

The Report will I am sure tickle vox pop especially the planters, farmers and factors in the Mississippi Valley, and it ought to give you favor among them.

Indeed it may be worth considering whether it be not wise for you to look in the direction of Norfolk anyhow, for the Report makes a Dutch line of steamers from Flushing to Norfolk look very promising anyhow. In beating about the bush in my mind for something for Dick, I have been looking that way. I fancy this report will give us an influence which if we have the tact and the luck on our part may be made of commercial value. In the course of two or three weeks you will see by watching South-Western and N. Western papers how the thing works, and can then better shape your course.

If W. & E. have lost money it don't sound well for a partnership. Anyhow, I question whether it would not be better for you to be looking out for something else. I doubt whether a monthly salary would not be better than a partnership with them. A partnership would tie you down and in coming, as this Report and my other work here will bring, so [prominently] before your customers, I may have a chance in some unexpected way of helping you along, of which, if you're tied down by co-partnership, might be lost. In short the chances are that you may be able to do quite as well, South, pecuniarily and a great deal better socially than you are now doing. Therefore when the time comes for your talk, consider well the grounds you should take: a good monthly salary to be antedated: what think you? I suggest but don't [persuade].

This is my birth day tell Nannie. Sue's going up to F'bg next month. Mary Herndon is here, her brother is at V.M.I. We are all well and send love. I think that so called "conservative [Va.] [ca ] impolite and foolish.
yrs truly
M.F. Maury

Subjects:

Virginia Military Institute—Faculty—Publications
Correspondence

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