[Enclosure]

Roy Bo^t Gardens | Howrah,

30^th. July.

Dear Sir,

I had hoped to have sent you a first remittance (of the money which M^r. Darwin so kindly advanced me) months ago.⁶ It has been a great grief to me that it should have been so long due, and very pleased should I have been to have been able at this time to have remitted the full amount. When I wrote to you first on the above, I had in view, M^r. Blechyndens duty, (for which I got very readily the Lieu^t. Governors sanction)⁷ and also the Gov. Generals Gardens. It was Lord Mayo’s intention that I should look after them, but Lord Northbrook made them over to the Public Works Department, as he found out they had been many years ago.⁸ Latterly they had been under the Private Secretary. I have been disappointed of both. I am thus sorry that I can only send you a bill for fifty pounds only. This is not half the amount which I had from M^r. Darwin. I think he gave me money on three different occasions amounting in all if I mistake not to £120. I have thus to remit you a balance of £70. I shall be very pleased when I can do this.

You will have heard of Dr. Kings serious illness, and his leaving us for three months.⁹ I have just heard from him from Madras where he had recently arrived. He had suffered from sea sickness   This has I suspect thrown him back, though he writes very hopefully. I do hope the Nilgiris¹⁰ (where he goes) will put him all right again. But for Dr. Ewart he would have had to go home.¹¹ He ultimately swayed the others, and they all agreed that he should try the Nilgiris for three months. I was just afraid that we might have M^r. Clarke back again:¹² though since he lost Sir W^m. Grey he does not appear to have much influence amongst the higher officials. For the three months I have to officiate, and though it is not likely to be of any pecuniary advantage to me for the present it will always be a step to a better appoint in the future.

I have a letter long overdue to M^r. Darwin as to worm-casts which I enclosed in a box to you.¹³ This is partly through my time having been so much occupied during Dr. Kings illness, and that I have myself been suffering from fever and ague. Just now I am ill with a fever very prevalent here—dengue—and which though not dangerous is a very tiring one.

I enclose the first bill of exchange in this letter and next week I shall send a second in case of any miscarriage. With very many thanks for the assistance you have given me, I remain gratefully obliged | Yours truly | John Scott