Quincy August 6^th 1799 Sir Last night I received your favor of 5 July. Upon looking over the list of candidates for surgeons I surgeons mates & all the other papers, I find no letters from Lt Col Price on Lt Col. Hamersells selection, such as they said. Lt Col. Iuce called on me a few days ago & told me he had recommended Piries Blake for surgeon & Cheever or Lawrence for mate. I have personally few of the candidates but Cheever & Walsh are characters so vastly superior, that no hesitation could be made. But I presume neither would accept a regimental place. Blake is a young man of twenty four, brother in law of Iuce. I should be very loth to refuse Iuce his choice, but we must act depend upon principles — I think Walsh ought to be appointed a surgeon. I have the [undecipherable] for his duty &service in very strictly attended. And I wish to know the plan. I have understood that we were to appoint all hospital surgeons & mates & detach from them individuals to regiments & ships. — There is neither surgeon nor phy sician in the United States of higher character or better practice than Cheever. If any medical department with the afflicted districts in any of these northern regions, there is not a man of equal pretensions to be superintendent. As to chaplains I wish for a list of candidates. No Gorman an old chaplain must be known to you. He has applied to me & is recommended by Gen Lincoln. I readily approve of M^r Charles Jones Perkins of Pepfril recommended by Gen Dearborn vice Edmond Craft. Joining sincerely with you in your best wishes for Mrs. Dearborn's health, I respectfully submit to the Gen^l discretion the voyage or journey to Newport &c. to Abner. [ID017]