§ From Charles W. Goldsborough to [Robert Smith?]. 25 November 1806, Navy Department. “The situation of sick & disabled seamen & marines, returning to this place after a long cruise in our public vessels, & who chance to be sick or disabled whilst employed in the public service here, has been, for years past, & continues to be, truly deplorable. Confined in a very small inconvenient house, eight or ten sometimes in a room not more than twelve feet square, they suffer greatly from foul air—& it is impossible, in such a place, to provide for them those comforts & attentions to which they are entitled. The surgeon represents that frequently from putrid air, of which it is impossible to dispossess such a place especially in warm weather, valuable men are lost who might have been saved if comfortably accomadated. Hence, among other evils, those that recover become dissatisfied with the service & unwilling to reenter into it—& they tell their story to others who are restrained from entering the service by the apprehension of similar sufferings.

“With the view to remedy these evils, I take the liberty respectfully to recommend to your serious consideration the propriety of erecting a Marine Hospital at this place, in a healthy situation, & large enough to accomodate comfortably, all that may possibly be sick at any one time, nurses & other attendants.

“The Provisions made by Law for the relief of sick & disabled seamen may be seen by a referrence to the acts of which the following are the titles—viz. +

“‘An act for the relief of sick & disabled seamen’ 16 July 1798—see vol 4. p. 223.1

“‘An act in addition to “an act for the relief of sick & disabled seamen”[’] 2 Mar 1799. vol 4. p. 497.2

“‘An act to revive & continue in force, certain parts of the “act for the relief & protection of American seamen” & to amend the same[’]—2nd March 1799. vol 4. p. 502.3

“+ ‘An act for the relief & protection of American seamen’—28th. May 1796. vol 3d. p. 322.4

“‘An act to amend the act entitled “an act for the relief of sick & disabled seamen” & for other purposes.’ 3d May 1802. vol 6. p. 174.5

“By the act in addition to the act for the relief of sick & disabled seamen, the Secretary of the Navy is directed to deduct from the Pay of each officer seaman & marine of the Navy 20 cents ⅌: month to be applied to the relief of sick & disabled seamen &c, & the officers, seamen & marines of the Navy are placed on the same grounds & entitled to a participation of the provisions made for the relief of sick & disabled seamen of the Merchant service. Under this Law the Secretary of the Navy has deducted 20 cents ⅌: month from the pay of each officer seaman & marine of the Navy, & of the money so deducted has paid into the Treasury the sum of $17135^33/100, & has now in his hands ready to be paid over about 30,000$.

“The act of 3d May 1802 declares sec 1. that ‘The monies heretofore collected in pursuance of the several acts for the relief of sick & disabled seamen & at present unexpended, together with the monies to be collected by authority of the above mentioned Acts shall constitute a General Fund, which the President of the U.S. shall use & employ as circumstances shall require for the benefit & convenience of sick & disabled seamen.’6

“Thus it appears that full authority exists & ample means are provided for the erection of a Marine Hospital, & I know of no place where one is more wanted that [sic] at this. In my view sound policy & humanity unite in recommending this measure.”