ENPages
(seq. 21)
when searching after principles may ^ turn the scale, when searching after principles (this phrase crossed out) against a man
Marine Hospital 28th June 1809 [Suval Sir-?] General [Deaborn?*] communicated to the Steward of the hospital + to me this day your remarks of (his John Bullard's) acct of vegetables for the hospital, I shall see that Mr. B. attends to it the first leisure, and had it been communicated before you would probably have received the explanation with the quarterly accts now making up. I write this therefore merely to explain the reason why it does not accompany the accounts which he is now giving in to the Collector, and am very respectfully yours B W.
Honbe* Albert Gallatin Cambridge July 13th 1809 Sir Four days ago Gen D. communicated to me the result of the President's decision respecting me together with a friendly intimation from him, which I shall by no means neglect. I hope however that neither the President nor yourself will misconstrue the motive, when I say that I find myself under the necessity of writing to him in the course of a day or two on a subject which, I think absolutely necessary to be explained. I regret exceedingly that I did not listen to the advice of my friends + go on to Washington. I never before understood and felt that most precious privilege of the _trial _by _our_peers, that is by our [lines above crossed out; small initials "? G. D."] _neighbours-. I find by conversation that the thing on which he imagines government has laid the most weight has been that on which I have said the least, not because I had nothing to say in extenuation.
----------------- * A General Dearborn was appointed Collector of the port of Boston in March 1809 by President Madison * Honbe : Honorable
(seq. 22)
May 22nd 1809 Hon(ora)ble Albert Gallatin Secretary of Treasury Sir General Dearborn informs me that he shall enclose to you by this male the Defence which I gave unto (crossed out) to him against those charges which you enclosed to me.
Altho Genl D and myself opened the business of the enquiry full a month ago, we never set down to the business until the 16th instant. In our first conference I never pretended to advance any (crossed out) scarce anything in my vindication, but resolved what I had to offer until after he returned his journey from to the District of Maine to Boston.
I have now enclosed such documents as will illustrate what I have advanced in my defence. 1st respecting the Directress 2d respecting James Smith 3d respecing the opinion of the oldest and most distinguished physicians in the state of Massachusetts - and 4h respecting the boarding of pupils. But I (crossed out) I shall do myself the honor of writing to you in 4 or 5 days , when I shall notice some things of importance scarcely touched on in my defence because they came not, strictly speaking under any of the 5 charges - As my defence would be imperfect without this contemplated letter, I hope no inconvenience will arise from a few days delay
(seq. 23)
Honble Paul Hamilton Esq. June 13th 1809. Sec'y of Navy ( sent corrected and altered June 14th) Ever since Pres.t Jefferson gave me the surgency of the Navy yard at Charlestown, in addition to my appointment as physician to the Marine Hospital, there has been a series of intrigues by professional competitors to detach the former from the latter, in hopes that I should relinquish the whole. These efforts have been made by young men who conceived they might possibly obtain such a station as surgeon of the navy yard when they despaired of attaining the more important station of the hospital. I should continue to dispise(sic) these secret intrigues were I not convinced that an officer respectable for his years + rank had by a recent transaction attempted to throw his weight into the scale of those who have been long striving to obtain my place. I shall briefly explain myself. as physician of the navy yard, I conceive that Capt Nicholson, who is superintendant of it has a right to claim my medical services, whenever he himself should call on me. Accordingly he never has called that I have not visited him. About a year ago the Navy agent [mphamnot], + Capt Caldwell of the marine corps asked my advice respecting the most healthy position of a small wooden barrack about to be erected in the navy yard, my opinion coincided with theirs which was to place it in a dry gravelly spot and not as Captain N. wished in a low wet one; the first being more in front of his house, the latter on one side. This gave such offence to Captain N. that he never sent for me afterwards, but employed Dr. Bartlet* of Charlestown. Soon after Genl Dearborn came to Boston as Collector, Capt. N procures Dr. B's bill for his attendance in the course of the year, and carries it himself to Genl D. with a request that he would transmit it on to the Sec'y of the Treasury for payment. His argument was that as the go-vernment supplied him + his family with a physician, and that physician _neglected_ his _duty_, and he was obliged to employ
*possibly Dr. Josiah Bartlett of Charlestown
(seq. 25)
| Jefferson [?] | June 1809 |
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