From Thomas Waters Sr. to his wife Elizabeth Waters (July 24, 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

   24 July 1841

My dear Wife,

I am very happy to find, by your letter of the 29th of May which I received 20th June, that John is shifted into another department of the manufactory, the drawing room, agreeably to his wish, fit him out as well as you can, I am sorry that I cannot at present assist you as regards pecuniary matters but I will live as economical as I can and I hope in time you will not be distressed- The same Mail that brought your letter brought an order for me to be placed on the Ship’s books as Capt.Calamy had rejoined Head Quarters, so that I now belong to H.M.S.Revenge; I think myself rather fortunate in being appointed to her considering that I was too late to be of any use in Syria; the Ship has been two years in Commission and it is probable that she will be twelve or eighteen months, or perhaps longer, in commission; to return to H.Q.^rs before I have completed a tour or two would be very expensive to us, as the probability is that I should have to join another Ship almost immediately, attended with great expense in fitting out for a fresh one as regards mess affairs, and as no large Ships fit out at Woolwich now, I might be waiting about at another English Port for some months before the Ship would be ready for Sea without my being able to afford at the same time to see my family, therefore let us be thankful for what pleases the Almighty, some of the Officers who came out with me are still Supernumeries in the fleet, not having a cabin that they can call their own, they pay more for their mess, they do not know when they will return home or where they will be sent next but as vacancies happen in the fleet they are put in to fill up as I was.  I am very glad you have received a letter from Thomas, the extracts from it are interesting, he has seen service, he seems in high spirits and attached to his profession, make my affectionate love to him when you write.  I am glad he washes and mends his clothes, I hope he will make his trowsers. 

Clifton has had a dangerous Fever, he is now nearly recovered and is out of the sick list, he is not my servant now, for I found fault with him for his negligence a short time before he became ill and he desired me to look out for another person to attend on me as he could not please me, therefore when he went into the sick list I did so and am satisfied for the present for I found Clifton an indolent man and very apt to give unnecessary words, which I disapprove, instead of work, when we were last at Malta he had three days leave to go ashore, he even exceeded that leave by some hours and he never came near me during the whole time, although he would only have to pay a halfpenny or a penny at most each time for a passage in a boat, he might have put my cabin to rights at night and have gone ashore in the mornings, saving a part of the expense he was at in meat drink and lodging.  I think him exceedingly blameable in running himself into the expense of living three days out of the Ship, considering the distressed state of his family and his neglecting to attend on me; when we were at Malta, before, he went ashore for me in the morning, but in the evening he came aboard drunk, I cannot, therefore, advise you to advance his wife any more money, he has only earned from me thirty shillings, out of which you have paid her twenty shillings, and advanced her seven shillings & sixpence, there is only due to him now two shillings and sixpence. 26th May we left Malta 27th arrived at Syracuse to get water, it being rather scarce at Malta for so many ships, 2nd June we sailed, 11th we arrived at Beyrout [Beirut], a seaport town of Syria, about 35 miles from Damascus over rugged mountains and across deep ravins, Beyrout was once a considerable place for traffic between Damascus and other inland places of Syria with Europe, but it is now like all towns under Turkish dominion, more than half in ruins, a quantity of silk is raised here, and some excellent shauls [shawls] I am told are manufactured, but as the place is very subject to the Plague, Europians are in a great measure kept in fear of purchasing any of its manufacture which is liable to imbibe contagion. 30 June sailed, 19 July arrived at Malta where on the same day I received your letter of the 28 June.

Make my best love to my good children, I hope they rise early, as that will tend very much to improve, in time, their health.

I remain My dear Wife Yours Affectionately

            Tho^s. Waters