| Description | He can only write a short letter in response to Alick's of 3 April asking if he had a fever. William is now suffering from one, describing his treatment by 24 'ravenous' leeches, losing sixteen ounces of blood. He refers to letters received from the family. In reply to his father's question about why gold is not the standard for coinage, he asked Colonel Forbes who said it would be a dead loss to the Government. William does not see why this might be so, since gold is cheaper than it used to be, but Forbes will write to his father. William attended a public ball given by the Governor General on 24 May, leaving early but catching his fever the next day. He notes mangoes in season, and cholera, which is 'raging'. He outlines a visit with his uncle to see a patient at Serampore, describing the countryside. He has witnessed the North Western of Calcutta, giving an account of the storms and rain, with the rainy season about to set in. The Adjutant birds are an indicator of this and William gives a description of their appearance, and that of an egret. He has shot some common green parrots and notes other birds, the mynah, kingfisher and shama blackbird. He will miss the language examinations because of his fever, but this will only put him back two days altogether. |