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Address
35 South St.
Park Lane, W.
Sept. 9/76
My dear Sir,
I am sure that you will believe it is
no mere form of words when I say that
your plans & the Madras Drainage Works
are almost as near my heart as they
are near your own.
I was not aware till I received yours
of Aug 31 that nothing held been done
W. Clark, Esq. |
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and I immediately wrote for information
as to the present state of the question.
This I have received only this morning:
I am sorry to say it is very discouraging.
I enclose a copy of it.
[I assure you that last year I spared
no effort either with the Governor or
with the Prince of Wales' party when
at Madras; sending out your Memo
& my own "by desire."
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I know that much passed between Sir
Bartle Frere & Sir Wm. Robinson upon
these: & that Sir Wm. Robinson hoped
to get Lord Northbrook, when he met him
at Calcutta, to give Madras the required
loan, but at Calcutta he was told
that a revision of the Madras Municipal
Act was a necessary preliminary: &
this has yet to be done.]
I am advised by Sir Bartle Frere to |
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recommend you to write to Sir Wm.
Robinson & ask for news of the
New Act & the Prospects of Work,
to be sent to you at Sydney.
Sir Bartle Frere will write too.
At the rate they do things now, I fear
you will have drained & watered all
Australia before you are wanted
to work out your scheme at Madras. |
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2
Indeed as regards any plan requiring
money I have seldom seen prospects
less hopeful: -but things must mend
& probably by the time you have
finished your Sydney inquiries,
the Madrassees, who seemed thoroughly
to appreciate your value, will be
prepared to intercept you on your
homeward voyage. |
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The enclosed, sent in answer to me,
is all I have been able to find on the
proceedings of the Madras Govt. regarding
their Drainage works.
I heartily congratulate Sydney on having
you & I bid you & your works "Godspeed"
with all my heart & soul.
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Pray believe me,
My dear Sir
ever your faithful servt.
Florence Nightingale.
W. Clark, Esq.
I may possibly trouble you with a small parcel
for Mr. Parkes at Sydney, the ex-Colonial
Secretary of N. South Wales, if I hear
that you are kindly willing to undertake it.
F.N.
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Postmark with stamp:
Matlock, A, SP 9, 76, Bath
[Matlock, A, September 9, 1876, Bath]
W. Clark Esq C.E.
9 Victoria Chambers
Victoria St.
London S.W.
9/9/76
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Postmark (black):
London, SW, PM, SP 9, 76
[London, SW, PM, September 9, 1876]
Postmark (red):
8 6, London, EC, 9 SP, 76
[London, EC, 9 September, 1876] |
