Cof
Sir,
164
APR 22 1648
Vietnia, 7th February, 1848.
I have the honor to enclose a Certificate from Dr Morrison the Colonial Surgeon, relative to the state of my health, and respectfully to request that you will solicit His Excellency the Governor to grant me 18 months leave of absence from the date of my embarkation which will take place without unavoidable delay.
I take this opportunity of reminding you that I have been in the Government service since 1842, and attribute my present deranged state of health to a severe attack of Fever which I experienced at Nanking whilst attached to the Diplomatic Mission during ...
The Honorable,
W. T. Mercer, &c.
&c.