From Thomas Waters Sr. to his wife Elizabeth Waters (October 27, 1841)

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

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

H.M.S.Revenge  27 Oct.1841 Malta

My dear Wife,

Your Letter of the 30 Aug. enclosed in Dr.Parkin’s, and the September Woolwich Gazette, came to hand 22 Inst. at Sea.  I am exceedingly sorry that you suffer so much in your face and that you have such a sickly house.  I entirely approve Dr.Parkin’s advice to shift your residence, and wish you to remove yourself and family as soon as convenient, and where you think it will suit you best, but I must leave to your judgment which way to act, whether to take lodgings or shift house, I wish you not to stand upon expense as far as you have means, but to adopt that plan which you think will be most conducive to health and happiness, as for those things that may be likely to be cumbersome, by all means sell them, of course the kitchen range, mill, and perhaps mangle, and many other things.  It may be that you would like to take a cottage, hire it by the Quarter, or for a year in a healthy situation, I do not think it would be very expensive, take some of your furniture, and let the rest remain where it is, I do not mind the extra rent, but I leave it entirely to your judgment to do what is best, for I am satisfied I shall not be wrong and that our means will afford it, you must not mind how far the new situation may be convenient to me when I return, for then, I hope, I shall soon be able to remedy the inconvenience, by the Almighty’s permission.  We left Tunis Bay the 19th and arrived here the 24th Inst.  Elizabeth is a dear good child to bear the pain and take the medicine so well.  I am glad that Mary and John are well give my love to the dear children all.  It seems to me that it will distress your mind less, and be less complicated, considering sickness, and time of year, to keep on the house, lock it up, and hire a cottage wherever you can suit yourself and furnish it as most convenient, it will scarcely make £50 in the year difference, and by the end of that time, probably, I shall be home, and now that the Woolwich Police is good, the furniture you leave behind, I think, will be pretty safe, nevertheless do that which will be most agreeable to you and do not deny necessary comfort.  I remain My Dear Wife

Yours truly

      Tho^s. Waters