CO129-009 - Public Offices - 1844 — Page 459

For some time past the health of the Community generally, and of the Officials in particular, has been very unsatisfactory. Among the Officials, sickness here this season has been unusually great, but excepting the numerous deaths among the troops, the mortality has not been so extensive as last year. The Governor was unwell before he went to Chusan; the Chief Justice was given ill news – his eldest daughter is dead, his son is home an invalid. The Colonial Judge, Mr. Bruce, was almost despaired of and is still on the sick list. The Auditor, Mr. Shelly, has had a severe attack of fever. The Surveyor General, Mr. Aldrich, is on sick leave; his Assistant is nearly as ill as his chief. The Civil Engineer has had fever twice and was obliged to go to Macao for his health.

I have had two clerks in the Accountant General's Office ill since August; one is dead, the other dying. I was unable to get the continuous work done for a long time without intermission. The Official Correspondence Department is in arrears owing to the incapacity of the Clerks to withstand the Climate, which sooner or later undermines the most robust constitution. The incessant mental labor required renders many utterly unfit for a longer residence in Hong Kong.