I have served on board as many vessels as I pleased, and the one who has hitherto done the measuring has been the same person; I accepted his services, and found his method apparently coincide with the manner in which I had seen ships measured in England several years previous when I commanded brigantine ships to Australia.
I however applied to Mr. Ingles at the Emigration office, who is now in England, to know if he had instructions to give: he replied he was aware of anything of the kind being extant, being ignorant of the method used. He accompanied me several times when measuring ships for the purpose of understanding how it was done. I have a letter from Captain Stall which I trust will satisfy his Excellency that I am not to blame regarding any measurement.
When requested by Captain Edgell of the "Whirlwind" to measure his ship, he made me aware that Captain Ricketts had already measured her, and in doing so informed him he had followed regular legal instructions and that he either read or quoted them to him. At the same time, he, Captain Edgell, gave me a superficial understanding of Captain Ricketts' method of measuring. I immediately applied at the Emigration office to Mr. Newman, who was then acting for Mr. My he said he did not know of any instructions but would apply for them to Captain Fish at his office. On the following day, Mr. Newman informed me that Captain Ricketts had declined to let him see them.
However, at the same time, he gave me to understand that they were signed by the Colonial Secretary. The papers of the "Whirlwind" had been made available at the office, and I was informed of the result on the afternoon of the same day. I had found papers which turned out to be exactly what we wanted; he allowed me a perusal, and I read it over some half-dozen times.
I was sent for by Mr. Newman, and told that the measurements with a crew list were among the papers. I took the liberty of enclosing a diagram explaining to his Excellency that it was my error in reading the breadth on the plain lines instead of the dotted ones. That in calculating for superficial feet with this average breadth it reduces any measurement over two hundred feet.
Being in possession of a copy of the Diagram with Rules attached as forwarded by you on the 8th of March last, such mistakes will not occur again.
In conclusion, I trust that these explanations may cause his Excellency to take a favorable view of the same, and that his Report on my being allowed to measure Singapore ships as a permanent appointment will not be a heavy blow to my prospects in life, and a severe punishment for what I think his Excellency will consider to have been only an inadvertence.
I have the honor to be,
Your most obedient Servant,
Lyttleton Heston