on the bill of the Dale, (although the prices were the same as those for the Yorktown, with the exception of those mentioned,) he also went around to different druggists, to see if the articles could be procured at lower rates; and, to our surprise, told us that certain articles could be procured at less prices than we had charged. Knowing that our prices were just and equitable, we refused to make any deduction; and, after explanation to Dr. Patton, he was completely satisfied as to the fairness of our charges. Concerning these facts, Drs. Cornick and Patton are ready to testify; and yet, after these facts, a partner of the firm on whom these calls were made has sworn he could have furnished those very bills for one-half or two-thirds the amounts charged. Further comment is useless. Ninthly. United States navy surgeons who have procured their medical supplies from us have always been accustomed to call at our store every day during the period allotted us to put up their supplies, (while they were in town;) they have examined and selected for themselves; they have directed the particular manner in which they should be packed, and have, in every and all cases, expressed their gratification as to the quality, package, and of the medicines, &c., furnished by us. in These considerations, we think, are amply sufficient to show that the charge against us of exorbitant prices against the naval service are false and unfounded, and that the evidence of sundry druggists on this subject has been given with too imprudent haste, and these gentlemen, in their hurry to gain some particular end, have proceeded beyond the bounds of candor and prudence. We can show that the prices of other druggists who have supplied the navy are the same and higher than ours; we can show that articles of the same name are at a difference in cost of 100 per cent. on account of quality, and from being the manufacture of particular persons, and that navy surgeons always and properly desire every thing of the very best quality. When all these statements and facts are taken into account, it is difficult to imagine in what spirit such testimony as that we have examined could be uttered; we regret it for their sakes; but a decent and proper regard for our own characters has restrained us from saying less than we have, and charity forbids us to say more. Statement of the proportion of medicines, surgical instruments, groceries, dry goods, hardware, furniture, &.c., on the bills of Whitehead & Beale, against the Constitution, Yorktown, and Dale. First bill against the Constitution-date February 19, 1839: Medicines, &c. . . - $870 62 Surgical instruments, &c. - 326 50 Groceries, dry goods, &c. 177 72 Hardware, furniture, &c. 92 01 Second bill against the Constitution-date March 10, 1839 : : Medicines, &c. • $572 27 Surgical instruments, &c. 375 00 Groceries, dry goods, &c. • 174 50 Hardware, furniture, &c. - 4S 87 Bill against the Yorktown-date November 12, 1840: • $497 13 . 335 75 311 49 114 00 Bill against the Dale-date November 14, 1840: • $231 06 The preceding statement is divided into four heads only, to be more concise. There are a number of other articles which we have furnished, such as tin, glass, crockery ware, &c., which are included in one of the heads above. We would also remark that, under the head of medicines, &c., is also included every description of glass ware, canisters, jars, &c., in which the medicines were packed, which materially increases the prices of the medicines. , ii Quinine, per ounce - $5 50 [No.51] - - $5 (No. 51] $5 (No. 59) $4 50 [No. 56.) 75 cents [No. 57. - $9 (No. 56.]' 20 cents (Nos. 41 and 74) - 16 cents (No. 52) . - 20 cents [No. Acid, tartaric, per pound - | 75 cents 88 cents Nos. 51 and 74] - $1 (No. 52] - . . $1 [No. 7.] Ung. hydr. per pound - $1 $1 30 [No. 49.] - 10 cents (No. 59) . - 10 cents (No. 52) . - 10 cts.[No.7]& 124[No.57] 10 cents [No. 56.1 $1 50 [No. 49] - 1 50 (No. 57] 1. . $1 50 [No. 56.] $1 75 (No. 49.1 $9 [No. 53.] 50 cents (No. 57) Jamaica. $3 (No. 74.] Morphine, per ounce - $9 199 . - $9 (No.41] & $10 [No. 411 | $8 No. 55.j $1 (No. 63) and $1 No 59.1 || $138 (No.51]$150 (No.591 | $1 62 [No. 56.] [No. 59) 75 cents [No. 63] -62 cents (No. 48] . - 56 cents [No. 56.3 $3 (No. 59] - - - $2 25 (No. 56.] $6 (No. 52) . - $6 75 (No. 7.] - 88 cents [No. 7.) Ipecac., per pound $2 25 and $2 - $2 25 (No. 67) $2 25 (No. 67) $2 35 (No. 57) $2 50 (No. 62] $3 (No. 1] - $1 88 [No. 56.] Oil Ol. menth. pip., ounce 50 cents - 50 cents [No. 40) . 50 cents (No. 52) 50 cents. Alex. senna, per pound 75 cents $1 [No. 59.) Nux moschat, per pound - $1 50 $2 56 (No. 64.] Tamarinds, per pound - 12 cents 15 cents (No. 52] 19 cents [No. 64.] Patent lint, per pound $2 75 ce Extract colyc. C., per oz. | 25 cents .. $2 (No. 66.] $6 Nos. 174 and 59) $3 50 [Nos. 62 and 57.] - 37 cents (No. 64.] 75 cents. $1 50 No. 67.j cenls (No. 47.] $3 (No. 52.) 25 cents (No. 58.j $1 80 (No. 58.j 50 cents (No. 59.) 60 cents (Nos. 64 and 51.] $5 (No. 46.] 60 cents (No. 41.) -: - .. . - - - - $2 [No. 56.] : - 10 cents (No. 59] - - 10 cents (No. 57.] - 75 cents (No. 47.) 60.) - . $1 25 (No. 49.] - $4 (No. 53.1 - $6 (No. 64.) 38 cents (No. 41.) In the testimony of Mr. James F. Hunter, there is an allusion made to the price of $4 25, charged for a half barrel of kiln dried corn meal, in the bill against the Constitution ; at that time we could find none of the article in Norfolk, and were obliged to order it from the North, where, for so small a quantity of an article, which is usually sold by the five and ten barrels, the charge was of course high; and, with the freight, drayage, &c., we were compelled to charge the above-uamed price. We also submit a price current of Taylor & Moore, to siiow the cost prices in New York of many of those articles on the list of prices of Mr. N. C. King, of the same year, which he has handed in to be used as evidence against us. To show more clearly the incorrectness of the answer of Thomas D. Toy, " that he could have furnished the bills of W. & B. against the Constitution for one-hall, and those against the Yorktown and Dale for two-thirds of the amount charged,!' we submit the following statement : The amount of the two bills against the Constitution is $2,637 49, which he says he could have furnished for one-half, that is $1,318 74 Amount of hospital stores, and on which there is no profit 493 10 Amount at which he would have furnished the medicines and instruments Amount of surgical instruments on the bill 895 64 701 50 Amount for which he could have furnished the medicines, pack age, &c., which, on the bill, is $1,442 89 124 14 Now, even allowing that the instruments cost only one-half of the amount charged, which would be $350 75, (which, in fact, cost a great deal more,) then he would have furnished the medicines for one-third of the amount charged. What clearer proof can be shown that the gentleman has made the answer, to say the least, without examination and reflection ? He says, also, he could have furnished the supplies for the Yorktowa and Dale for two-thirds of the amount charged. The bill against the York. town is $1,308 37, only $497 13 (little more thun one-third) of which are for medicines ; and the bill against the Dale amounts to $588 30, only $231 06 of which are for medicines. What further can we say ? Question. Were you a member of the firm of N. C. Whitehead & Co., and of Whitehead & Beale, at the time the several accounts for medical supplies now submitted to you were rendered ? Answer. I was. TO INTERROGATORIES BY THE COMMISSIONERS. Question. Have you examined the copies of the accounts of N. C. Whitehead & Co. and Whitehead & Beale, or compared them with the original bills ? Answer: I have. Question. Are the copies correctly made, or have you detected any, what, error in them? Answer. I believe there were two or three trivial errors; and from the bill against the Yorktown a deduction was made in the original which is not noticed in the copy. and |