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Michael Healey as a third lieutenant in the revenue service; and that, if he would cause it to be hunted up, and would advise him whether it was likely to be acted on favorably, and, if so, when, he would be much obliged.
The Governor said,—
I do not know Healey myself, but I am well acquainted with his brother, the Rev. James A. Healey, the secretary of Bishop Fitzpatrick of this diocese; and if one can argue from the qualities of a clergyman to those of a sailor, and the two brothers are alike, I should say that you would have few brighter and more capable young officers in your revenue marine than Healey, if you shall appoint him.
On the 22d of November, the
Governor wrote to
S. B. Stebbins, of
Boston, acknowledging the receipt of his check for twelve hundred and fifty-six dollars, payable to the
Governor's order, as the amount of collections and contributions made at the
Music Hall, the
Friday preceding, for the benefit of the
Massachusetts soldiers' relief agencies at
Washington and elsewhere.
The Governor said,—
I take pleasure, in behalf of those agencies, in expressing gratitude for this contribution, and my sense of the practical benefit which will result from it. I know no better medium than these agencies through which such contributions will come more directly and efficiently to the comfort of our soldiers; and I will take immediate measures, upon consultation with Surgeon-General Dale and the chiefs of the various agencies, for the distribution of this sum among them.
In addition to the money raised at the
Music Hall, it appears that a large sum was also contributed by the Republican committee of
Boston, assisted by
Mayor Lincoln, to furnish Thanksgiving dinners to
Massachusetts soldiers in camp and in hospitals.
We find on the files of the
Governor a letter addressed to him by
Mr. Stebbins, dated ‘
Boston, Thanksgiving morning, Nov. 24, 1864,’ giving a detailed and interesting statement of the manner in which this fund was expended.
Five hundred dollars were given to
Colonel Frank E. Howe, to provide dinners to the sick and wounded soldiers in hospitals in and near New York, and at his agency; to
Colonel Robert R. Corson,
Massachusetts State agent at
Philadelphia, for the five hundred sick and wounded
Massachusetts soldiers in