To Thomas Jefferson from Orchard Cook, 24 December 1807
Decr. 24th. ’7
Hon: Sire
The President of the Marine Society at Boston (a republican Company) have pass’d on to the Speaker of the H of R & to all the Members from Mass, a remonstrance on the Subject of the appt. of a Chirurgeon for the Marine Hospital in that State. This remonstrance will be forwarded to your Excellency—They state that they conceive that some Person must have improperly recommended Docr. Waterhouse—who is a respectable & useful Gentleman—but not qualified for a practical Physician & far less for a Surgeon—They are highly in favour of the appt. of Docr. William Eustis—who was a Surgeon in the Revolutionary Army—& a very Celebrated Physician & Chirurgeon Docr. Eustis is certainly the most respectable & popular Man which New England contains; & as he Acted as Surgeon immediately after the Death of Docr. Jarvis—it was expected that he would have been appointed & the general celebrety of Docr. E. was so great that no exertions were made in his favour—It appears to be the wish I believe of all republican Members from Massachusetts that Docr. Eustis had have been appointed—with profound respect
Orchard Cook
DNA: RG 59—LAR—Letters of Application and Recommendation.
Enclosure
13 Dec. 1807
At a meeting a number of the Republican friends to the present Administration. held at Boston Decr 13 1807—
Mr. John Brazer
Voted unanimously that the opinion of the Marine Society, is also the opinion of this meeting. & as we believe of the community at large—
Voted as it appears to be a fact well substantiated, that Doctr. Waterhouse is not a practitioner in Surgery, & that he has been known repeatedly to declare, that he did not profess that branch of the profession; that independant of all political considerations, he is not qualified for the important trust of Surgeon & Physician to the Marine Hospital & we are satisfied that the Physicians & Surgeons of Boston & the vicinity are of the same opinion, & wou’d declare it, if required by proper Authority—
Voted that as we presume these facts cou’d not have been known at the time of his appointment, & that the Interests of Justice & humanity, will in our opinion be promoted by substituting a Character more competant to the Business
Therefore that the chaiman of this meeting requested to transmit a copy of these votes together with the opinion of the Marine Society, to the Honble Joseph B Varnum to be communicated to the. Delagates from this State, with a request that the same may be communicated to the president of the United States, in such manner as may be judged most respectful & proper.
Voted in our unanimous opinion that the Honorable Doctr Eustis is most eminently qualified to perform the duties of the station alluded to, & that we do therefore most cordially recommend him for the Appointment.
John Brazer