The commander-in-chief directed an inquiry to take
place before a medical board impannelled for the purpose, and the
result of that inquiry may be guessed from a communication made by
the War-Office to the commandant of the depot. This states 'the
unanimous opinion of the Board to have exculpated Dr Jackson from
all improper treatment of diseases in the sick,' and the
commander-in-chief's gratification, 'that an opportunity has thus
been given to that most zealous officer of proving his fitness for
the important situation in which he is placed.' The result of this
wretched intrigue, however, was that Jackson, disgusted with the
whole affair, requested to be placed on half-pay, to which request
the Duke of York, with marked reluctance, at last (March 1803)
acceded.
In his retirement at Stockton, Jackson put forth two valuable works,
one on the medical economy of armies, and another on that of the
British army in particular, and was much gratified by an offer to
accompany, as military secretary, General Simcoe, just appointed
commander-in-chief in India. The general's sudden death, however,
put an end to this plan; and Jackson continued at Stockton,
addressing frequent representations to government on the defective
medical arrangements in the military service--representations the
very receipt of which were not acknowledged by Mr Pitt, to whom they
were forwarded. The Peninsular war commencing, Dr Jackson was again
named Inspector of Hospitals, but was not, thanks to the persevering
enmity of the Medical Board, sent on foreign service, although he
volunteered to sink his rank, and go in any capacity.
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