pressing duties, that I have not since had time to think of the matter nor did I, before I got Your Lordship's letter, know of the reference had been made to the Land Officer by Major Aldrich respecting N. E. extremity of Fire Hill on which the Morrison Education Society stands.
I shall now take measures to ascertain the right by which Messrs Jardine Matheson & Co hold both the Godown and Hill, and will also call on the Land Officer to explain the objection he made to Major Aldrich's proposal.
I have been forced to go to Macao for a short time for change of airs since I am not aware of any intention of making a Road in that direction.
As soon as I have obtained the requisite information on these points, I will again address Your Lordship.
In the mean time, I may observe that I have great doubts as to both the utility and salubrity of the site fixed. The Troops stationed there would, it appears to me, be placed in a low corner where they would be shut out from the smallest view of any part of the neighbourhood, and since Your Lordship's letter reached me, I have been informed that every person who has resided in that location during the last three or four Months, has either died, or been forced to go away sick.
Looking to these facts, I am disposed, if a better site cannot be found, to abandon the project of having a Barrack in that quarter of the Island altogether, but I will not decide upon this question, until I have made further inquiries.
I am truly grieved to see from Colonel Campbell's report, that the Detachment on Leighton's Hill has been so unhealthy during the last four Months, but I ascribe that solely to the want of proper and comfortable Barracks.
ATL/Tom