To Terence Featherstone
The Most Honorable and Esteemed Terence Featherstone
Continental Occident Company
Wickham House
Grace Park
Dear Sir,
I write to you today in hopes that you will consider most keenly the exigencies of airship travel and the reasons to which I have turned what was planned to be a return voyage by sea into an overland airship journey of significant expense.
In the interest of the priorities put forth to my person by you, Sir, I deem it wise that our cargo not be handled by any more men than necessary. Indeed, I am quite certain that had we allowed our cargo to fall into the rough hands of a sea-going crew that the specimens would have been entirely spoilt regardless of what precautions I could take. It trust I need not overstate why the security of the Horizon is greatly preferable to that of a sea-going ship.
I am, as instructed, caring for the specimens personally, to ensure their delivery into your hands. I trust that the captain and crew of Horizon will be amply compensated for all they have done to ensure the success of the expedition.
With all respect, I remain,
your servant,
Rbt. Meriweather