To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 20 December 1802
From Albert Gallatin
20th Decer. 1802
Dear Sir
I enclose the proposals made for building the marine hospital; and also some objections made by Doctr. Eustis as to the site & plan. Are they sufficient to induce a postponement & inquiry. The consequence of the delay will probably be that the building cannot be completed till summer of 1804, instead of being done in the course of next year.
A. M’Clene has called on me, and on coming to an explanation of his letter, says that he never intended it as a resignation; but that he meant to convey the idea that if the President intends removing him, which he still hopes, will not be the case, the removal might not take place till next spring.
With respect & attachment Your’s
Albert Gallatin
RC (DLC); endorsed by TJ as received from the Treasury Department on 20 Dec. and “Marine hospital Boston” and “Mc.lane” and so recorded in SJL. Enclosures not found.
building the marine hospital: on 18 Dec., William Eustis wrote Gallatin that he had examined the proposals for the hospital and believed that Ward Jackson and Joseph Eaton, two Boston builders who had submitted the lowest bid, should receive the contract, though he feared the young men were making “a bad bargain for themselves.” On 23 Dec., Gallatin returned the proposals to Benjamin Lincoln, the collector at Boston. Gallatin noted that, unless Lincoln had objections, he should employ the contractors who made the lowest offer (, 7:828, 846; The Boston Directory: Containing the Names of the Inhabitants, Their Occupations, Places of Business, and Dwelling-Houses [Boston, 1803], 45, 73). For the hospital plan and the call for bids, see Gallatin to TJ (second letter) and TJ’s response, both at 7 Oct.