W = Chief Justice Hulme at once doubled the number of those to be accommodated.
Near
Had the whole party only consisted of male persons, they might have made shift to find a passage, many of them hanging lots in the open steerage. But the arrangements absolutely necessary when females are to be provided for, opposed insuperable difficulties to any plan by which Mr Auline and his family could be accommodated with the rest.
Dril
And as his own cabins are given up by Captain Maitland himself, nothing more than what is absolutely required for one person who must have space and quiet to write and arrange papers during the voyage. The rest of the Cabins are little more than long enough to turn round in, and some persons at the bottoms of the Colonial List must hang up slings ago in the steerage.
Under these circumstances, it becomes absolutely necessary that the Chief Justice Auline should proceed on the remainder of this passage to China by some merchant vessel, of which several are presently about to sail.
As the expensive overland route (which Mr Hulme undertook at the express desire of the Government) has already cost that Gentleman between £408 and £300 in addition to much physical suffering on his own part and that of his family, I feel a deep interest in recommending his very peculiar case to your Lordship's indulgent consideration.
That H.M. Government may be moved to make Mr. Hulme some allowance on account of the unforeseen expenses which he must incur in abandoning the advantages possessed by the rest of the party.
I quit Bow bay the 13th instant, and expect to reach China about the 5th May.
May I have the honor to be,
• My Lord, Your very faithful & Servant,