Now I have all the images. Let me compose the transcription using the primary IDI04 copy (pages 2–10), with the cleaner KGD03 copy used to decipher heavily revised passages. 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 [strikethrough: 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] [strikethrough: to them] to be strictly correct and my ex:pressions, ap:propriate. I shall send you all the letters I have [strikethrough: addressed to them] [strikethrough: written to those gentlemen,] and relative to this business, with a statement of the distribution [strikethrough: and expenditures] 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] [strikethrough: defences of] the Harbour of Boston. It was my opinion (as expressed in my letter of the 31^st July ulto.) that it was unnecessary, under present circumstances, to organise the Hospital [strikethrough: department,] establishment, or in other words, to fill the offices created by the "act to regulate the medical establishment." I inclose the act for your perusal. You will perceive, that by the 1^st section of this act, Hospital Surgeons are made liable to serve in the [underline: field]; and by the 4^th section, that Regimental Surgeons and mates may be [strikethrough: required] called upon to serve in the Hospitals. This provision was [strikethrough: intended not in the act,] merely for the purpose of [strikethrough: 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 [strikethrough: to create and] to detach hospital Surgeons [strikethrough: or] mates to serve on board of Ships [strikethrough: or in lines, its im:p] [strikethrough: to [undecipherable] the field,] [strikethrough: [undecipherable] the method [undecipherable] define the care of the Sick of the army [undecipherable] the meaning of officers. The sick of the independent forces,] the sick of the [undecipherable] garrisons are attended [strikethrough: in their quarters,] in garrison Hospitals, or tents, as the case may be, by the [strikethrough: [undecipherable] temporary] mate of some Regiment, [strikethrough: or by temporary mates,] when there are more insufficient in numbers, by temporary mates, appointed [strikethrough: 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^th of July 1798. I [strikethrough: see that] [it] has concluded therefore [strikethrough: [undecipherable] his course for some time] [strikethrough: [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] the general regiments; concerned but greatest and greatest, with their [undecipherable] occasions which of the temporary soldiers,] [strikethrough: were that not be adequate] to the management of its sick, [consequently,] that we might with propriety and with out inconvenience to the service postpone the appointing of [strikethrough: at least] [strikethrough: 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, [strikethrough: in questions] 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. [strikethrough: The discharge] [strikethrough: The appearance [undecipherable] copies of the] If a system of directions for the care of the sick in camps is and [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] temporary [strikethrough: [undecipherable] broken to be formed + c established,] 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 employed in procuring medicines to wanted for the [strikethrough: [undecipherable] of the medical establishment, to provide Hospitals] army, and [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] only disabled seamen and marines. [+ The result of this long view of the subject is.] The medical [strikethrough: establishment required [undecipherable] adequate, to provide Hospitals and [undecipherable] for the soldiers and disabled] seamen and marines. It appears to me [strikethrough: [undecipherable] common] that the act for the [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] 'disabled seamen' [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] passed the 16^th July 1798, and the act in addition to an act for [undecipherable,] 'the relief of sick and disabled seamen,' [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] of the 2^d of March, contains provisions, [and] full authority to do every thing necessary for their comfort. The result of this [strikethrough: long] [strikethrough: brief] review of the subject is. 1. That Regimental Surgeons and mates, with [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] temporary mates, are considered [strikethrough: equal] [competent] to the care of the sick of the army while [strikethrough: it shall be] situated as at present. 2. That [if] the Physician General is called into [actual] service, it will be proper to appoint several Hospital Surgeons[,] [strikethrough: [undecipherable] do certain acts, in which the law [undecipherable] certain operations [undecipherable] and confirmation [undecipherable] a vacancy;] duties, and that a Purveyor could be em:ployed. 3. That the organising of the Hospital establishment is not necessary [strikethrough: to give affect to the two acts [undecipherable] ordering sick any medical treatment + manner is a man] every thing necessary for their comfort [strikethrough: o milita:] Doctor Warren is a man of superior talents, and deserving[,] of 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 in my letter of the 6^th of Aug^t. inst. the [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] names of the candidates for Surgeons and mates for the 14 & 15 Regiments with the recommendations of 2 Colonels Hunnewell & Rice. 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 Melchue 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 & very hble S^t. James McHenry John Adams President of the United States.