From Thomas Waters Sr. to his wife Elizabeth Waters (April 28, 1841)

[Thomas Waters, R.M., to his wife, Elizabeth]

Addressed to Mrs Capt.Waters R.M., King Street, Woolwich, Kent

H.M.S.Revenge Malta 28 April 1841

My Dear Wife,

We left the Gulf of Suda, Crete, Tuesday 13th April, arrived at Malta Sunday 18th and on Sunday 25th I had the pleasure of receiving your letter of the 30th March.  I am sorry you have had such Plague with Servants and that you have had such sickness in the Family.  I am glad John is so comfortably lodged in the Neighbour-hood of his valuable Friends the Watsons, and shall be very glad should he continue to find himself comfortable, I am glad he has a Prospect of soon going into the drawing room.  I am very much pleased that Benjamin has been so usefully employed about the Garden.  I am glad Nancy is vaccinated-  In my letter of the 11th March I requested you to pay Clifton’s Wife a Sovereign. I suppose you have received that Letter by this time and as I find from your letter that you had advanced her ten shillings, of course you would only have to pay her ten shillings, Clifton tells me that he believes his Wife is gone into Norfolk to her friends, otherwise he would have let me have twenty shillings which he has saved up and which he would have wished you to have paid to his Wife but as his Wife is supposed to have left Woolwich, I have not received the money from him-
Joshua Houlden, a private Marine, servant to Lieut.Brooker R.Marines of this Ship, has paid into my hands sixteen half-crowns which he has saved up, he wishes you to pay to his Wife two sovereigns, and I shall be glad if you will do it, she lives at Capt.Balchild’s 10 Francis street- Capt.Calamy is gone home on sick lieve, Lieut. Wilson is Adjutant at Portsmouth in the place of Mr.Dwyer promoted, Lieut.Wilson has gained very great credit during the Syrian War- Capt.Pilcher I suppose will be Lieut.Colonel of Plymouth Division by the time you get this, he will, I imagine, get the vacancy of Lieut.Col.Baker who died in Marmorice Bay about the time of his promotion and who came out one of the supernumery Captains in the Brittania when I came out in the Howe.  I suppose Mr.Clendon will get Capt.Pilcher’s vacancy if he is not previously Promoted
With Love and Blessing to my Dear Children I remain My Dear Wife
Yours most Affectionately

       Tho^s. Waters