464 and the following week one hundred and twenty-eight. In the first week of June it reached two hundred and six deaths. The second, third and fourth weeks in June the returns were one hundred and fifty-nine, one hundred and forty-nine, and one hundred and fifty-three, while the last week sank to sixty.
By this time the people became seriously alarmed.
Since the 11th May, twenty-five Europeans had been attacked and nine had died. The public Press published letters and articles that increased the alarm which was intensified among the Chinese by the refusal, under instructions, to permit the removal to Canton of any person suffering from Plague, even under conditions of regulated precaution. An exodus of the Chinese Community ensued which has had the result of paralysing certain works in the Colony and has caused the greatest inconvenience, amongst others. I addressed you on this subject by despatch No.398 of the 29th ultimo.
On the 4th ultimo, the Chamber of Commerce addressed to the Government the letter of which, with my reply, I enclose a copy, as also of a further letter of the 14th June, of which a copy is also enclosed and which