Now I have all the pages. The primary document is a letter from James McHenry to John Adams, August 12, 1799, with two copies (IDI04 draft and KGD03 fair copy), plus enclosures. I'll transcribe using the cleaner KGD03 fair copy as primary, with IDI04 to fill gaps. War Department 12 Aug^t. 1799 Sir. I had the honour to receive your letter of the 5^th on Saturday last, inclosing a letter from General Smith, and that dated of the 6^th inst. this morning. The General has not sufficiently examined the points he writes upon or he would not suggest that Baltimore has had too little [strikethrough: defence] allotted to her of the appropriations; In particular, he cannot have read my letters to the naval committee. The information I have given [strikethrough: the gentlemen composing this committee,] them, and arrangements respecting the defence of the Harbour of Baltimore will be [strikethrough: found to] be strictly correct and my expressions, appropriate. I shall send you all the letters I have [strikethrough: addressed] to [strikethrough: them] [strikethrough: written to those gentlemen,] and relative to this business, with a statement of the distri:bution [and expenditure] of the money that has been appropriated for the protection of our harbours, as soon as they can be made out. I shall also inform you, what sum may be calculated upon towards improving the [strikethrough: fortifications in] defences of the Harbour of Boston. It was my opinion (as expressed in my letter of the 31^st July ulte.) that it was unnecessary under present circumstances to organise the Hospital [strikethrough: department,] establishment, or in other words, to fill all the offices created by the "act to regulate the medical establishment." I inclose the act for your perusal. You will perceive, that by the first section of this act, Hospital Surgeons are made liable to serve in the field; and by the fourth section, that Regimental Surgeons and matis may be [strikethrough: required] called upon to serve in the Hospitals. This provision was inserted into the act merely for the purpose of obviating any difficulties that might be started by either order of Surgeons, when the service required that the one should assist the other. There is no where in this or any other act, a power to [create and] detach hospital Surgeons or mates to serve on board of Ships [undecipherable] the method pursued for the care of the sick of the army is as follows. The sick of the respective garrisons are attended in their quarters, in garrison Hospitals, or tents, as the case may be, by the Surgeon or mate of some Regiment, or by temporary mates, when there are more insufficient in number, by temporary mates, appointed in conformity to the 1^st section of the "act to augment the army of the United States and for other purposes" passed the 16 July 1798. In like manner, and until the Regiments [are directed] to a certain size and take [appropriate] positions, their Surgeons and mates, may suffice for the care of their sick. I concluded that we may pursue this course for some time, at least, while the army remained nearly under present circumstances, Regimental Surgeons and mates, with the [addition of] temporary mates, would be adequate to the management of the sick, consequently, that we might with propriety and without inconvenience to the service postpone the appointment of at least the far greatest number of the officers contemplated in the act to regulate the medical establishment. The act itself countenanced this view of the subject, by providing, "that none of the officers aforesaid shall be intitled to any part of the pay or emoluments aforesaid, until they shall respectively be called into actual service." The only officers, under this [Hospital] act, for whom any employment could be devised, at this moment, are, the Physician General, one or more Hospital Surgeons, and the Purveyor to the establishment. If a system of directions for the care of the sick in camps &c and temporary and permanent Hospitals, are to be established, at this time there must be, for these purposes, a Physician General and several Hospital Surgeons. As to the Purveyor, he could be actually employ'd in procuring medicines wanted for the [medical establishment,] army, and [supplies] to provide Hospitals for sick and disabled seamen and marines. The result of this long view of the subject is. 1. That Regimental Surgeons and mates, with temporary mates, are considered [equal] to the care of the sick of the army while situated as at present. 2. That if the Physician General is called into actual service, it will be proper to appoint several Hospital Surgeons, to enable him to [do certain acts,] and that a Purveyor could be employ'd. 3. That the organising of the Hospital establishment is not necessary to give effect to the two acts [undecipherable] sick and disabled seamen and marines, [undecipherable] every thing necessary for their comfort [undecipherable] Doctor Warren is a man of superior talents, and deserving [any] medical appointment in the power of the President to offer. I question however whether he would renounce his practice in Boston for the office of Senior Hospital Surgeon, the performance of the duties of which would require his attendance elsewhere. Doctor Welch, from what I have heard of him is well intitled to attention. I believe he is at present under pay, as temporary Mate only, an appointment which does not oblige him to relinquish his private practice. I had the honour to inclose [the names of the] in my letter of the 6^th of Aug^t. inst. the candidates for surgeons and mates for the 14 & 15 Regiments, with the recommendations of Col^c Humewrile & Price. I now inclose a list of the names of those who have applied to be appointed chaplains in the army of the United States. General Pinckney has proposed for Cap^t. in the 5^th Regt. D^r John Melcher vice M^r. Simons who has declined to accept of that office. The recommendation, which was received this morning, is respectfully submitted. With the greatest respect I have the honour to be Sir, your most Ob^t & hble S^r. James McHenry John Adams President of the United States. [Enclosure: Printed act, "An Act, To regulate the medical eſtabliſhment." 25^th February, 1799. Read the firſt and ſecond time, and committed to a Committee of the whole Houſe, to-morrow.] [Enclosure: Handwritten table, "A Liſt of the names of thoſe who have applied to be appointed Chaplains in the Army of the United States," with columns Names | Town or County | States | By whom Recommended — listing: Seth Noble, New Market, N. Hampſhire, The Preſident, P. Wingate, Gen^l. Lincoln & M^rs. [undecipherable]; Jacob Emerſon, Caſtle Iſland, Maſſachuſetts, Aſſociation of Miniſters — The Reſident on his letter on file, of 28^th October 1798; Iſrael Evans, ditto, General Knox; Aſhbel Baldwin, Stratford, Connecticut, M^r. Tracy; Sam^l. Shuttleworth, Windſor, Vermont, Fiſher Ames, Elijah Payne; David Huſcall, Fairfield, New York, a Number of Gentlemen; Benj^m. Lindſey, N. Brunſwick, New Jerſey, M^r. Pattersons, Ja^s. Habersham; Sam^l. Laycock, Pittgrove, Salem C^o., Do., Gov^r. Howell, a No. of Clergymen; And^o. Hunter, Trenton, Do.; Robert Cathcart, York Town, Pennſylvania, H. Latimer, I. Hartley, R. Walrs, R. [undecipherable]; Robert Andrews, Do., Biſhop White; Sam^l. Barr, Delaware, M^r. Latimer, Delegation from that State; Geo. W. Snider, Frederick Town, Maryland, Geo. Baer; Geo. Deſheil, Kent County, Do., Wm. Matthews, Wm. White; Ja^s. J. Wilmer, x Roads N. Count., Do. [carried over]; James Evans, York Town, Virginia, Thomas Evans]