. 3 [56J LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY, TRANSMITTING SUNDRY STATEMENTS IN RELATION TO NAVY HOSPITALS, January 20,1818. Read, and referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs. WASHINGTON! PRINTED BY E. »E KRAFFT, 1818. [56] 3 In compliance with a Resolution of the House of Representatives passed on tht 22d day ol December, 1817, I have the honor to sub- mit the following staiement, in relation to Naval Hospitals, and to meet the inquiry contemplated in said resolution. By the act of Congress, passed 26ih February, 1811, the Secre- taries of the Navy, Treasury, and War, were appointed a board of commissioners of navy hospitals, and the sum of 50,000 dollars was appropriated " out of the unexpended balance of the marine hospital fund," to be paid to the said commissioners, to constitute a fund for navy hospitals; which sum has not been transferred to the credit of navy hospitals, in consequence of the deficit of receipts in the several succeeding years, to meet the annual expenditure for the support of the marine hospitals, as will appear by the Treasury statements, here- with; so that the fund for navy hospitals remains still unaided by that amount. In the year 18(,9, as will appear by statement marked A, No. 1, the sum of §38,513 96, was paid by warrant of the Secretary of the Navy into the treasury, in conformity with the act of 2d March, 1790, being the amount collected " by virtue of said act, from the officers, seamen, and marines of'the navy;" and on the 25th February, 1811, at the period of passing the act establishing commissioners of navy hospitals, there remained a balance, due to the marine hospital fund, of §3,782 86, as per statement, marked A, No. 2; and by the same statement it appears, that the fund, which has accrued to naval hos- pitals since the 26th February, 1811, to the 30th November, 1817, the latest settlement of accounts, amounts to 877,701 45, while the annual expenditure for supporting the tempory establishments ot na- vy hospitals, was 813,785 98, as per statement A, No. 3, which has been paid out of the appropriations for the navy, and which exceeds, considerably, the amount received on account of the fund for navy hospitals. By a statement of the register of the treasury, marked A, No. 4, it appears, that on the 1st January, 1811, there remained on hand a balance, on account of the marine hospital fund, of 8112,081 90; and that the expenditures of the years 1811, and 1812, exceeded the ac- tual receipts, by the sum of 817,82-4 39; in the three subsequent years buildings were required for the further accommodation of the sick at different ports, and specific appropriations were granted by Congress, for that purpose, to the amount of sixty thousand dollars.— The unexpended balance of §33,667 41, remaining in the Treasury on the 1st January, 1817, with the estimated amount of receipts for that year, falls short of the expenditures by the sum of 7,869 54, as appears by statement A, No. 1. By section 3d of the act passed 26th February, 1811, the commis- sioners were "authorized and required to procure, at a suitable place, or places, proper sites for navy hospitals, &c. j" in pursuance of which 5> h7 3 4 [56] the commissioners met in the early part of the year 1812, and had Surveys made of several sites in Washington city; and an architect was employed to make a draught of a building, he. but the subse- quent events of the war stopped all further proceedings, until after the peace. In 1815, and 1816, the commissioners met, and, upon examining the state of the funds, it was found that there were no mo- neys at their disposal, and applicable to the object, so that the pro- visions of the act for establishing navy hospitals have not been carried into effect, for the reasons assigned; while no neglect is justly impu- table, for every accommodation, and medical aid, has been afforded to the sick in temporary hospitals, commensurate with the means, and as far as circumstances have permitted. The Resolution of the House of Representatives affords an oc- casion of presenting, herewith, a joint report of the commissioners of navy hospitals, for the consideration of Congress. All which is respectfully submitted. Navy Department, January 15th, 1818. B, W. CROWNINSHIELD. To the honorable the Speaker, House of Representatives. [56] 5 Navy Department, ath January, 1818. The commissioners of navy hospitals, designated by the act of Congress, passed 26th February, 1811, have taken into considera- tion, the provisions and the objects of the said act, and find, upon examination, that the want of adequate funds has prevented its being carried into effect. The commissioners, therefore, recommend, that so much of the law as separates the navy hospital fund from the ma- rine hospital fund, be repealed; and so much of the 3d section of that law, as requires the establishment of a permanent asylum, &c. unless Congress shall deem it expedient to appropriate, specifically, a sum sufficient for that special object. The commissioners further recommend, in case of repealing so much of the law, that the joint funds for the support of hospitals be placed under their direction as commissioners of hopitals, generally; and that the present existing marine hospitals, with such as may be erected as naval hospitals, be placed under the same direction, to be governed by such rules and regulations as the commissioners shall adopt; and the surgeons, officers, attendants, &c. to be appointed out of the naval surgeons, and those who fill the same stations in the naVal hospital establishments; and that an appropriation be made for building and supporting the same. WiM. H CRAWFORD, J. C. CALHOUN. B. W. CROWJSINSHIELD' The honorable the Speaker, House of Representatives. 6 [56] A, No. 1. Statement of the Marine and Navy Hospital Fund, on the 1st day of January, 1818. The Register begs leave to state to the Secretary of the Treasury, that by a statement rendered to the Treasury Department from this office, under date the 5th January, 1818, there remained unexpended on the 1st January, 1817, of the marine hospital fund, the sum of - - - - - 33,667 41 That from the best estimate which can be formed, the receipts into the Treasury during the year 1817, will not exceed - - - 40,000 Making on 1st January, 1818, - - 8 73,667 41 From an examination of the accounts settled at the Treasury, in relation to said fund, warrants for payments made in the year 1817, will be issued to the amount of - - - g 81,536 95 And that a deficiency on the 1st January, 1818, is stated at - - 7,869 54 8 81,536 95 Note. The sum of 8 38,513 96 was paid into the Treasury in the year 1809, by Thomas T. Tucker, for so much received by him from the Navy Department, under the act of 2d March, 1799. This appears to have been the only payment into the Treasury, by the Navy Department. Treasury Department, Register's office, January 8,1818. (Signed) JOSEPH NOURSE. Honorable William H. Crawford, Secretary, oj the Treasury. [56] t A, No. 2. Treasury Department, Fourth Auditor's Office, 8th January, 1818. SIR, In pursuance of your verbal request, I have the honor of handing you the subjoined statement, exhibiting the balance of moneys stand- ing to the credit of the "Marine Hospital Fund," on the books of the accountant of the navy, and of the amount which has accrued to the " Navy Hospital Fund." I have the honor to be, Sir, very respectfully, &c. (Signed) CONST. FREEMAN, Auditor. The hon. Benj. W. Crowntnskield, Secretary of the Navy. Marine Hospital Fund Balance to its credit to 25th February, 1811 - 8 3,782 86 Navy Hospital Fund Amount to its credit on accountant's books from 26th February, 1811.....867,876 46 Ditto on auditor's books from 3d March, 1817, to 30th November, 1817 - - - - 9,82i 99 Total amount 877,70145 CONST. FREEMAN, 4th Auditor. [56] A, No. 3. Estimate of the aunual expenses paid by the Navy Department on account of Navy Hospitals, established at the following places, since the passage of the act of the 26th February, 1811. NEW ORLEANS. Rent of house for hospital and sur- geon's quarters ... 1,560 00 Surgeon's pay and rations - 782 50 Surgeon's mate's pay and rations - - 542 50 -2,885 CHARLESTON, S. C. Rent of house for hospital - 350 Surgeon's pay and emoluments - - 782 50 Rent of quarters for ditto - - - 198 Surgeon's mate's pay and rations - - 200 -1,873 WASHINGTON CITY» # Rent of house for hospital - - 200 Surgeon's pay and rations - - - - 1,126 48 Rent of quarters for ditto - - 400 Surgeon's mate's pay and emoluments 632 Rent of quarters for ditto - 542 50 ---- 2,558 48 PHILADELPHIA. Pay and rations of surgeon Rent of quarters for ditto Pay and rations of surgeon's mate 4,825 782 50 500 - 542 50 [56] 9 NEW YORK. Rent of a house for hospital - 450 Pay and rations of surgeon - 782 50 Rent of quarters for ditto ... 500 Pay and rations of two surgeon's mates 1085 ------------2,817 50 CHARLESTOWN, (Mass.) Pay of a surgeon ----- 782 50 Rent of quarters for ditto - 500 Pay and rations of surgeon's mate - 542 50 -------------1,825 Totaramount of annual expense 8 13,783 98 Treasury Department, Fourth Auditor's Office, 13th January, 1818. (Signed) CONST. FREEMAN, Auditor, 2 lb [56] A, No. 4. Statement of Receipts and Expenditures, on account of the Ma- rine Hospital, from 1st January, 1811, to 3\st Decem- ber, 1816. if-."-, ■ -----:--------1— «■-------- ___.,—. _,— Rect •ipts. • Total Re-ceipts. -Years. From col-lectors of Specific ap-propria- Expendi-tures. customs. tions. Balance on 1st Janua- ry, 1811 - - - 112,081 90 - 112,081 90 - Amount in 1811 54,586 34 - 54,586 3 ; 57,109 08 1812 42,421 46 - 42,421 46 57,723 11 1813 21,789 58 20,000 41,789 5F 53,376 87 1814 10,191 97 20,(00 30,191 97 45,226 58 1815 28,374 74 20,000 48,374 74 43,651 55 1816 43,864 21 - 43,864 21 82,575 68 Balance on 1st Janua- ry, 1817 - - - - - - 33,667 41 Total, Dollars 313,310 2f 60,000 373,310 20 373,310 20 Treasury Department, Register's Office, « January 5, 1818. (Signed^ JOSEPH NOURSE.