On board the Hartley, New Orleans, April 28, 1849.

Dear Brother O. [Orson] Pratt,--With heartfelt gratitude to our Father in Heaven, I take the earliest opportunity to inform you that we have this day safely arrived at New Orleans in good health and vivid spirits.

Our voyage has been more like a pleasure excursion, than a long journey; for the weather has been so very pleasant, the sea and wind so gentle, that we have not seen the first mountain-wave yet; our sails have been reefed on the approach of squalls, but there has not been more than one or two rough days during the voyage.

We passed the great Bahama Banks on the 35th day of our set in sail from the River Mersey; and we were obliged to cruise, or stand at anchor six days among the Islands, either on account of calms or contrary winds.

Our voyage since that time has been prosperous.

Sister Hall from Liverpool, was delivered of a fine boy on April 15th, at half-past seven in the morning.

Brother T. Slinger's youngest daughter (Elizabeth) died of the croup, April 19. She was placed in a tin coffin (which we made of the tea canisters) and then placed in a wood coffin, so that we have the corpse on board now. I expect we shall inter her at New Orleans. [p.185]

The captain and crew were very kind to us from first to last, several of the sailors have embraced the truth, and are waiting to be baptized.

About four o'clock this evening we were comfortably berthed at No 17 on the levee.

April 29th, - I have this evening baptized four of the sailors, whose names are as follows: - John Everett, aged 27; Alfred Percy, 21; George Percy, 28; and Davis Wilson, 23; George intends to go to the Bluffs with us.

April 30, - We have this day got our clearance, and expect to set off in the American steamship tomorrow. Elder Scovil was waiting for us when we arrived, and intends to go with us up the river.Accept the love and esteem of your humble brother,

William HulmeDear Brother Pratt, —I again address you for the purpose of showing you that we appreciate wour captins conduct. We have drawn up a few lines for publication as follows:--

April 30th, 1849.To Captain Stephen Cammet, of the Hartley.

Sir, - At the termination of a voyage form Liverpool to New Orleans, which has been truly satisfactory to us, we feel it our duty to manifest our gratitude to you by this public acknowledgment for the kind, humane, and generous treatment, and the watchful care for our safety, which you have evinced during our passage. We, therefore, beg you will accept the warmest thanks of yours, on behalf of the passengers,

William Hulme, John Shield, Robert Jones,J.W. Hickey, William Ginn. [p.186]

BIB: Hulme, William. [Letter], Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star 11:12, (June 15, 1849), pp. 185-86. (CHL)
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