After some conversations with the late secretary and chairmen of the naval committees concerning the surgeons' department, to save time, they requested my ideas in writing, which are now laid before you. A copy was presented to Mr Mercer Cast winter, to submit to the naval committee, if he thought proper to do so. These, together with some other communications on the same subject, were not presented in a formal manner, to remain in the department, but to serve as memoranda for the moment, in which light I beg they may be now considered. They were written more than three years ago, and the only change I would not suggest in them is, a still greater increase of pay than what I have proposed. I have the honour to be very respectfully yr