Lincoln, Benjamin (1733-1810) to Henry Knox
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.04933 Author/Creator: Lincoln, Benjamin (1733-1810) Place Written: Boston, Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 27 April 1791 Pagination: 2 p. : address : docket ; 30.5 x 18.6 cm. Order a Copy
Received Knox's letter of 19 April 1791. Comments on "young Mr. [William] Balch" and calls him, "a wild citizen, yet I think he has many qualifications which will recommend him as an officer - He very well knows that he cannot sport with his character and hold his rank in the army." Talks extensively about the job of army surgeon and why Dr. William Eustis did not accept the appointment. Eustis could not be guaranteed a rank equal to his experience and "Besides the pay of the surgeon of a regiment, though handsome for a young Gentleman whose wish is to introduce himself into life is no temptation to a Gentleman already established to leave the City, give up his friends, and an extensive & lucrative practice & submit to the fatigues of the camp." Also states that if Dr. Eustis could be convinced that his services would be used to the fullest "and not be marred by the controul [sic] of others, he would not hesitate one moment to accept it and would leave the arms of his friends here in which he is embraced with the utmost tenderness and affection..." Encloses something for Mr. Lear (not present).
Boston April 27th 1791
I was my dear Sir honoured with the receipt of your favour of the 19th. instant by the last post. -
I am very happy that you had it in your power to provide for young Mr. Balch, although, as I remarked before, he has been a wild citizen, yet I think he has many qualifications which will recommend him as an officer - He very well knows that he cannot sport with his character and hold his rank in the army. -
You say "we want a capital character as a surgeon" you would have perfectly have embraced the very desirable object had Dr. Eustis accepted the appointment offered him, which I have no doubt, he would have done, for I think he has a predilection for the army, could he have been assured that under the appointment he should have held that rank to which, former pretentions, long experience, present standing, and expectations in life give him an undoubted claim. He saw no hope of this, but the contrary, while surgeon of the second regiments He is too much the soldier not know that there would be times in which he must submit to be commanded - Besides the pay of the surgeon of a regiment, though handsome for a young Gentleman whose wish is to introduce himself into life is no temptation to a Gentleman already established to leave the City, give up his friends, and an extensive & lucrative practice & submit to the fatigues of the camp. [2]
Although these are real objections yet I think they are not the most weighty in the Docrs. mind money is not a primary object with him nor is he unduly attached to rank this I am sure he would surrender, and sacrifice his own feelings to a knowledg [sic] that thereby he would become more extensively useful However he feels a responsibility to his own mind, at the least, that be no art of his he places himself in a situation where he cannot be the most extensively useful - His time & services here are much more important that probably they would be circumscribed the hands of a regiment. Could he once be convinced that by joining the army they would be a field opened for the exercise of his full abilities, for the public good, and that his services would not be [marred] by the controul [sic] of others, he would not hesitate one moment to accept it- and would leave the arms of his friends here in which he is embraced with the utmost tenderness & affection, in hopes of becoming more extensively useful for the [position] how then, consequent on a war to be conducted as [strikeout] ours must
Your affectionate friend
B Lincoln
PS pardon me for troubling you with the inclose purchase for Mr Lear which I wish may be sent to him by some faithfull man or he notified to send for it it is a bundle of public [illegible] on public service I have therefore I have [therefore] [illegible] them to save postage
War General
Knox
[address leaf]
Hon Maj General Knox
Secretary at War
Philadelphia
[docket]
Genl Lincoln
27. April 1791
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