JLXXJw;*. x,1Ajj x„Eja& ▼ 111 lUtl i LIBRARY OF THE 10 ->? ^SURGEON GENERAL'S OFFICE CO ^ ^ LIBRARY. Section No. 113, W. D.S.G.O Presented to the Statistical Division, Surgeon-General's Library, United States Army Washington, D. C. The Prudential Insurance Co. of America Newark, New Jersey ~y^t'^t>^taM-J MESSAGE rRo:r THE President of the United States^ ACCOMPANYING A R E P O R T OF THE Secretary of the Treasury To him, and two statements marked A and B, on the subject cf MARINE HOSPITALS; Also, sundry documents respecting the situation of seamen and boatmen of the United States, frc^uL 1X0,0; the port cf New-Gricd-.s. 24tb Febr:\iry, 1302. Read, and referred to the committee c.f CXnn.erce and rXim.Xctin 00. Osl) • MESSAGE. Gentlemen of the Senate, and of the House of Representatives, / COMMUNICATE to both houses of Con- gress a report of the Secretary of the Treasury on the subject of our Marine Hospitals, which appear to require legislative attention. As connected with the same subject, I also in- close information respecting the situation of our seamen and boatmen frequenting the port of New-Orleans, and suffering therefrom sickness and the want of accommodation. There is good reason to believe their numbers greater than sta- ted in these papers. When we consider how great a proportion of the territory of the United States must communicate with that port singly ; and how rapidly that territory is increasing its population and productions, it may perhaps be thought reasonable to make hospital provisions there of a different order from those at foreign ports generally. Th : JEFFERSON. February 24, 1802. ■^»ff»—mw.ii» afforded in private boarding Houses. ( <5 ) 5th. Savannah, from which no returns have been received. By the statement B, it appears that the whole sum received from seamen, either in private or in public service, amounts to 147,875 dollars and 58 cents, of which 6,185-^ have been applied to the purchase of the Hospital at Gosport, near Nor- folk, and 74,636^V have been expended for the relief of sick seamen; that 73,761-/^ remain unex- pended in the hands of sundry collectors and agents, and that 6,707,% are due to certain agents who have expended more than has been received by them. This last circumstance has taken place in New- port, Norfolk and Charleston, namely in three of the four Marine Hospitals which have been esta- blished : and it will be perceived, by a recurrence to the same statement, that to those three places the Navy fund has been exclusively applied. But this last fund being nearly exhausted, it is impractica- ble to continue any longer the established Hospi- tals at Norfolk and Charleston, unless Congress shall think proper to grant them some aid, or to make such alterations in the law as will permit a more general application of the fund. Under existing circumstances, if no alteration shall be made, it will be necessary to write to the collectors of both places, to discontinue in toto, the Hospitals after the 31st March next. For the advances made by them, must, by this time, ex- ceed twelve thousand dollars ; these have been paid out of the proceeds of the duties on import and tonnage, and cannot be admitted to their credit, in their accounts as collectors. It will be necessary for them to continue to collect the seaman-money, until they shall have been fully re-imbursed for their advances. i ( 7 ) If it be asked why the funds have proven insuf- ficient in those two places, the following rea- sons, it is believed, may be assigned.—1st. The establishment of an Hospital; instead of having had recourse to city or state institutions, as m Philadelphia and New-York; which has drawn with it all the expences of superintendance, attend- ing Physicians &c. For what reason the Gosport Hospital was purchased from the state of Virginia I am at a loss to know ; but if it was intended for the Navy it should be supported out of the funds appropriated for that Department, and placed un- der its controul. The building is much too large and in an unfinished state, and wants immediate and expensive repairs. 2dly. Those two seaports are more expensive, and generally, so far especial- ly as relates to non residents, more sickly than the more northern ports. 3dly. The provision of the law which makes seamen on board coasting ves- sels pay only in the port to which they belong, is unjust in its operation, and bears more particular- ly on the southern ports. It is necessary to state, that complaints are fre- quently received from those ports where no relief has yet been granted j the seamen complaining that they pay without deriving any benefit from it. This may be true in some instances; but it is doubtful whether the application of the funds, iii such manner that they might find relief in all the important ports of the Union in case of sickness, may not be more beneficial to them, than a pro- vision in the ports where they reside, and where they want it least. Whilst the expenditure of the money is restric- ted to the port or state where it is collected it can- not be considered in any other light than as a Mu- nicipal establishment, and would more conveni- ( 8 ) ently be placed under the controul of the state it- self. I have the honor to be very respectfully, SIR, your obedient servant, ALBERT GALLATIN, Treasury Department, ~) February 16, 1802. 5 The President of the United States. ( 9 ) Extract of a letter from Evan Jones, Esq. to the Secretary of State, dated New-Orleans, 10th August, 1801. " A great number of American citizens, espe- cially seamen and boatmen from the Ohio, die here yearly for want of a Hospital into which they might be put and taken care of, not that they are refused admittance into the Spanish poor hospital, but that building is by much too small for the pur- pose. No public house of any reputation will take them in, and consequently they lie in their ships or boats, or get into wretched cabins, in which they die miserably, after frequently subjecting the hu- mane among their countrymen to much trouble and expence. " Will not this be an object, Sir, worthy the at- tention of the Government of the United States ? And might not a fund be easily established for the preservation of these poor people by imposing a light tax upon every vessel and boat that comes in, as well as upon every seaman and boatman ? " About two hundred vessels have entered here from sea during a twelve month past, and allowing eight men only to each, it makes 1600. Perhaps from 350 to 400 boats have come down from the Ohio, &c. during the same time, and allowing four men to each, it would make about an equal num- ber of men. A small sum from each, added to something from every vessel and boat, would pro- bably produce a capital equal to the exigency." B ( io ) Extract of a letter from E. M. Bay, Esq. to the Secretary of State, dated at Charleston, 4th November, 1801. " It will readily occur to you, Sir, that thou- sands ot our fellow-citizens must soon be employ- ed m navigating the ships and boats which must ever be used, as the means of transporting these commodities* from one place to another. Now, Sir, when we take into consideration the climate and season of the year, when this commerce must be carried on, the risque to our citizens must be multiplied in a high degree. It is well known that the western rivers cannot be conveniently na- vigated into the Mississippi 'till the breaking up of the frost in the spring of the year.—It is then that that great river begins ro rise, and it generally re- mains up till July. The great distance and una- voidable impediments naturally in the way," will al- ways carry over these commercial transactions to so late a period, as to leave the great bulk of those employed in them, at or about New-Orleans, in the sickly season of the year ; which, in that low, flat, unhealthy southern climate, is fatal in the ex- treme, to the strong, robust constitutions of our western brethren *: hence many of them fall victims to climate and disease, leaving families and friends at a creat distance from them. ■ • " The want of proper accommodations for poor and infirm seamen and boatmen at New-Orleans, is another very serious inconvenience our poorer class of fellow citizens are much subjected to, in that place. It is really pitiable to sec such num- bers of distressed objects, as sometimes present themselves to view, in the sickly months, who have been left to shift for themselves, after thur employers have made their markets. St.methmg ( 11 ) like- an Hospital establishment, to be superintend- ed by American Physicians, would go a great way to alleviate the distresses of these useful men. I mention American Physicians, because our people are strongly prejudiced against those of the Spa- nish faculty ; and generally not understanding the language, they derive little or no benefit frora them." * Those of the Western Country. [A] A STATEMENT of Monies remaining in the hands of Collectors and Agents, received by them for support of the MARINE HOSPITALS established in the United States for the relief of sick and disabled Seamen, up to the SOui September, 1801, or so far as returns have been received. —"■........—— ■'■ Hospitals lo which Amount in Amount due sunoune due I' 0 H T S. Collector? Nates. Monies heretofore Date of each Col- each Hospi- Agents of collected have been Return. lector's tal as now the Marine applied for support. hands. established. Hospital. 1801. Portsmouth, Joseph Whipple Dudlcv A. T\ ng None designated Boston Sept. 30 1320 45 1230 75 Newburyport, Gloucester, William Tuck - - Ditto 582 55 Salem, J.wph Hillcr Diito — 3078 44 Matblchead, - - Samuel 11. Gerry Diito — i.'il 29 Boston, Benjamin Lincoln Ditto — Plymouth, William Watson - Ditto June 30 522 89 BarnstaOe, Joseph Otis - Ditio Sept. 30 996 05 XautucO-., Stephen Hussey Ditto 279 92 Edgartown, John Pease Ditto 55 81 New-Bedford, Edward Pope Ditto 581 36 Dighton, Hodijah Baylies Ditto 487 ce Ipswich, Asa Andrews Ditto 64 48 8551 20 13,003 54 Boston, Bcuj. Lincoln, Agent Boston Sept. 30 . M VSSACIIUSETT.S. 21,554 74 York, Joseph Tucker Portland Sept. 30 54'33 Biddcibrd, - - ■ Jeremiah Hill Ditto 449 87 Kcnnebunk, Jours Clark - - Ditto .. 325 23 Bath, William Webb - Ditio -. 261 83 Wiscassct, Francis Cook Ditto 402 26 Per ibsrot, Benjamin Jams Ditto 474 29 Vrai-:oborough, Joshua Head - - Ditto March 31 497 09 Frenchman's Bav, .M' latiah Jonlan Ditto Sept. 30 73 20 Mi .-Mas, - ' - Stephen Smith - - Ditto 20 21 Passamaquody, L. F. Delesdernier - Ditto 224 51 i'ortland, Nath. F. Fosdiek - Ditto --_-- 2788 82 Ditto, Ditto, Agent William Ellcry - - Portland Newport, R. I. Sept. 30 Sept. 30 154 98 3252 00 MA INK. 6040 t.. Newport, -, Providence, Jeremiah Olney Ditto 421 78 Bristol, ... Jonathan Russell Ditto " 135 81 712 60 Newport, Will. Ellcry, Agent Newport Sept. 30 &99 89 RHODJ- ISLAND. Jedediah Huntingdon New-London Sept. 30 " 712 60 New-London, Middletown, Alexander V/olcott Dilto — 1'5 312 94 Ditto, Chaunccy 'Whittlesey Ditto March 31 581 61 New-Haven, Samuel Bishop Ditto Sept. 30 1111 96 Fairfield, Samuel SmcdlOy Ditto 373 53 2380 04 Nc -.■.-London, Jed. Huntingdon, Agent New-London Sept. 30 1914 73 CONNECTICUT. Henry P. Dering New-York Sept. 30 182 S3 Sag Harbour, Hudson, Henry Malcolm J)i;to 181 42 New-York, David Gelston Ditto 2,220 32 2584 07 Ditto, - - - Ditto Agent New-York 9230 31 NEW-YORK. . . . 11.814 38 ____ 1S00. ----- Perth Amboy, John Halslcad usually paid inX. York March lo 1801. 74 40 G. E. Harbour, Alexander Freeland Do. do. Sept. 30 160 Ce- L. E. Harbour,' - \\;illam Watson , - Do. do. — - ll !■ 19 ilurlington, Moses Kempton } usually paid in C - 210 07 llridaetnv. n. Eli Elmer 5 Philadelphia t — 61!' 47 ----- 1178 79 Philadelphia, George Latimer Philadelphia Sept. 30 10,660 45 _____ 10;660 45 Ditto, - - - Ditto Agent - Ditto June 30 5234 4-1 15,891 S9 Hospitals to which Amount in Amount dm Amounr'due PORT S. Collectors Names. Monies heretofore collected have been Date of each I'olAeach HosfA-lector's \tal as Hus- Agents of the Marine ..■.■■/..■V,-,.'/o/-.-.v-'.-,-;'-/. bands. established. Hospital. 1«01. ■" DKl.-WVARE. Ah; n M'Lap.c usually paid inPhilad. Dee. 31 1,429 7 ----------- ---- 1,429 74 B llimore, Robert Purviancc Baltimore Sept. 30 Cis ter, Jeremiah Nicolls - Ditto .. 171 33 Oxford, - - Robert IV'niiing - . Diiio 84 5; Vienna, James JO.zicr Diito .. 636 77 11 rvre-df Grace, Roirer Bovce - Ditto .. 258 S( S.iow Bui, William Sc% Ditto .. 173 24 Annapolis, John Randall - - Ditto June 189 3S Nottingham, George Biscoe Ditto September 147 08 Nanjernoy, John C.Jones Ditto ' .. 179 37 George-Town, James M'Lir.gan Ditto " 78 03 1918 20 Baltimore, R. Purviancc, Agent Dilto 2523 05 MARYLAND. William Kirhy - - Norfolk .Jo Return ' - - 44-1-1 25 Hampton, Petersburg, William Belli Ditto Sept. 30 160 86 York-Town, William Reynolds - Ditto March 31 23 40 Tappahannock, Laurence Muse Ditto Sept. 30 192 33 Ycocomico, James A. Thompson Ditto 108 71 Dumfries, William Linton Ditto 27 58 Folly Landing, William Gibb - - Ditto 45 91 Cherrystone, Nathaniel Wilkins Ditto s'oReturns South'quay, - - Archibald Richardson Ditto June 30 66 Richmond, James Gibbon Ditto Sept. 30 159 39 Ditto, \\ illiam Davies (late) Ditto 44 91 Norfolk, William Davies Ditto June ----. 763 75 Ditto, do. Agent Ditto 3017 76 VIRGINIA. Charles Simms usually paid inNorfolk Sept. 30 719 57 719 57 i Alexandria, Wilmington, N. Carolina, Griffith J. M'Rce, Agent Wilmington June 30 395 8i Washington, William Keais Ncwbern Sept. 30 607 53 Newbem, Francis Hawks Ditto 59 75 667 28 Ditto, Do. Agent Ditto June 30 699 16 1566 45 Camden, Enoch Sawyer Edenlon Sept. 30 515 i2 515 12 l-'.cicri'on, Sam. Trcdwcll, Agent Ditio " 582 65 NORTH-CAROLINA. Charles Brown Charleston June 30 136 71 1097 77 Georgetown, S. Carolina, 1800. Beaufort, Robert G. Guerard Ditto Dec. 31 1 55 Charleston, James Simons Ditto Sept. 30 ---- 138 09 Ditto, Ditto, Agent Ditto ----- 3190 22 SOUTH-CAROLINA. 1799. Savannah, John Habersham Savannah June 30 398 37 Ditto, Thos. D. M. Johnson Ditto 1801. October 21 35 20 Sunbury, George Foster Ditto Sept. 30 2 33 Brunswick, Claude Thompson - Ditto March 31 8 10 St. Mary's, - - William Mawbray - Ditto 65 52 Ditto, Randolph M Gillis Ditto Sept. 30 21 47 Hardwieh. Simons Maxwell Ditto June 30 4 06 499 85 535 05 Savannah, '- "• Palmyra, Ditto Xo Return Morgan Brown June 30 139 37 Detroit,, ... Matthew Ernest Jan. 1 13 10 152 47 ™ [B] STATEMENT of the Marine Hospital Fund, from its Establishment to 30th September, 1801 ; taken from .the Agents Accounts New-Hampshire Massachusetts Maine Rhode-Island Connecticut New-York New-Jersey Pennsylvania Delaware Maryland - A. Virginia, (Norfolk) /A- " Dp. (Alexandria) N. Carolina/ Wilmington) A. Do. (Newbern) A. Do. (Edenton) South-Carolina Georgia , Tennesee and Detroit /JTotal- ved by Agents from Collec- tors. . Dolls. Cts, .. 849 59 22,666 96 *j j %y o %j */ *-& 4,712 9.6 3,498 54 21,250 43 . 5,808 93 14,091. 22 5,5.52 39 932 23 t. 895 80 1,091 31 9,939 .54 Amount recei vedby Agents from the Na- vy. Dolls. Cts. 2,450 00 4,017 51 4,500 00 94,646 34 10,967 51 Amount due by Collectors. Dolls. Cts 381 16 8,551 20 .2,788 82 •: 712 60 .2,380 04 2,584 07 1,178 79 10,660 45 1,429 74 1,918 20 •,763 75 7 7:19 57 667 28 515 12 138 09 535 05 152'47 36,076 40 Total amount of. Hospital fund. Expenditures. Dolls. Cts 1,230 75 31,218 16 6,144 76 • 7,875 56 ,5,873 58 23,834 50 >1,178.79 r 16,4,69 38 1,429 74 £. 16,009 42 10%334 15 r 719-57 • 932 23 v1,563 08 1,606.43 14,577 63 ; 5.35 05 152 47 Dolls. Cts. 141,690 25 No hospital. 9,663 42 103 95 7.662 85 1,583 81 12,020 12 No hospital* 574 49 No hospital. ,,11,568 17 12,588.16 . 536 42 1,96 70 508 66 '17,629 76 No hospital. Balance c\u by Agents and Collvc tors. 74,636 51 Dolls. Cts. 1,230 75 21,554,74 6,040 81 712 60 4,294 77 11,814 38 '1,178 79 15,894 8 1,429| 74 4,441 25 Balance due to Agents. Dolls. Cti 719 57 395 81 1,366 38 1,097 77 138 09 . 535 05 152 47 73,761 61 A. The accounts of the Agents for the Hospitals at Philadelphia, Norfolk, Wtoington and Newtos, %re only to. the 30th June, 180,1. 499 89 .3,017 76 3,190 22 6,707.87 f.Of this sum there is due to Will. Davis, Agent, 2061 12 To Otway Byrd, late Agent, 1,675 32 ! Deduct amount due from lJ. Gate- wood, also late Agent, 718 68 956 64 3,017 76 [Total Hospital Fund, - |Advanbed by Navy Department for the pur- 1 chase of Gosport Hospital, not included ^ in the above account, Balance due to Agents, X 141,690 25 6,185 33 6,707 87 Dolls. 154,583 45 S Expenditures, Purchase of Gosport Hospital, Due by Collectors and Agents, 74,636 51 6,185 33 ----------80,821 84 73,761 61 Dolls. 154,583 45 Mei. H-ist. wz no c>\ 9999999999999915 5764�424