Item A6 - Letter from Thomas A. Ainslie, Government Civil Hospital, Hong Kong, to John Hutton Balfour

Letter from Thomas A. Ainslie, Government Civil Hospital, Hong Kong, to John Hutton Balfour, dated 13 April 1860, Ainslie writes that he is now at the hospital from 12 January at a salary of £300pa which he confesses is a poor salary for China but he doesn't expect any preferment in the Government Service. Ainslie has had an offer of a medical practice in Amoy; $4000 [Chinese or U.S. dollars?] from Dr. Hunter [who is leaving due to ill health] at an income of $8000pa. Ainslie has little faith in people here; has to see how his health holds up. "Here Dr. Murray keeps me in until 4pm. I climbed the Peak to visit the new sanitarium. Many troops here, several regiments have gone to Chusan to be nearer the action. The ultimatum has been rejected by Shanghai. Cumming who graduated two years ago is in the artillery was sent home after a few weeks to die of phthisis [tuberculosis]... Many deaths in the hospital; five out of 30 patients died from phthisis or pneumonia." Hopes Mrs Balfour is well and thank her for her kindnesses. Ainslie sent her and his mother presents at end of December, with a a good likeness of himself [photograph] for his mother. Dr. Wang called while Ainslie was laid up. Dr. Dods has taken Dr. Dixon's practice in Canton. Ainslie is trying to get a few seeds from the interior to send. He has asked about the rice paper plant and the specimen poison Prof. Christison asked about without success. This will reach Balfour in mid-summer. Ainslie wishes he was in your class, with best remembrances.