[Thomas Waters, R.M,, to his wife, Elizabeth]
Addressed to Mrs Capt.Waters R.M., King Street, Woolwich – Prepaid
H.M.S.Revenge Spithead 9 Feb.1842
My Dear Wife
The Kentish Mercury of 13th Nov. and your Letter of 30th came to hand New Year’s Day, I am glad the children are all well, I am very much surprised at Major Molesworth’s intended retirement, when so near his promotion, Bermuda is a healthy place, I resided on one of the Islands twelve months, about thirty years ago, I liked it very well, it is warm in summer but no more so than Malta, living is rather expensive at the Bermudas. I do not think that Rochdale is a favorite place for strangers to reside long at, the people are more inclined to command than to accomodate, but it must be a good birth for a vicar. You will do right to let Mary go on a visit to her Aunt, I hope the dear child’s trip will prove as agreeable to her as she can wish. I should like so much to see my dear little Benjamin trudging along with his brother John, to the Quaker’s meeting at Deptford. You do right to let John please himself in his dress, the Marine in King Street who tailored for me spoiled every thing that he made or altered for me. I perceive that the women wash the linen, here, in cold water by the side of a running stream, kneeling on a board with three sides rubbing the linen on a stone and then thrashing the linen on the stone, the dirt is completely got out, even of the stockings, and holes got in plentifully, & the first part of the linen is drying on the ground while the last part is washing, there is no tub or fire used, indeed, firing is too dear & water also I imagine, therefore it is that the women carry their bags of linen, from Lisbon, into the country where they can find a rivulet. Your Letter of the 4th Jan.y, which gave me much pleasure, I received the 17th at midnight. With respect to Clifton, he attended me thirty-one weeks, nearly, consequently he was entitled to thirty-one shillings wages from me, and what you have paid his Wife above that sum she owes you, exepting the one pound which I received from him at Spithead, and his wife at the same time from you, and excepting the Two pounds which you have just paid her and which I received from her husband before I wrote to you about it, therefore what you have advanced her more than the above, she ought to pay you, I shall not look to her husband for it, he is not my servant, you did right to pay her the whole 2£, only just putting her in mind of her debt to you. Your Uncle Edmund’s Letter to you is affectionate, I wish you to give him a friendly invitation, and should he accept it, to make him as welcome as you can, during the time it may be agreeable to him to stay with you, I should feel much pleasure in hearing of your Uncle’s arrival at Woolwich, and I dare say my dear John would be able to get a days leave to show your Uncle what is worth seeing in the Dockyard, Arsenal, Rotundo etc. the changes have been immense since your Uncle was at Woolwich in 1800. Your Brothers invitation to you and Mary was very kind, and the 15£ note particularly agreeable, I have no doubt, and I am much obliged to your Brother for his attention, make my kind regards to him and to Mrs.Butterworth, also to your Uncle Edmund and your Aunt Lord when you write to them, if I ever go into their part of the world I shall certainly visit them all, please Providence. Major Spry is recruiting at Manchester, I understand from the papers, and he belongs to the Woolwich Division- I am inclined to think that Benjamin’s deficiency lays rather in his mathematical than his mechanical abilities, which deficiency arises in a great measure from a defect in his memory, which defect time and attention will in some degree overcome, with a moderate, but not too much, confidence in himself, for although he may be dull, and I believe him to be, yet I am not without hopes that he will be possessed of Industry and commonsense, and if his disposition is otherwise fair, I have no fear, but by God’s Blessing, I am sure, he will make a respectable member of society, his defect must be treated with indulgence, as it is not his fault, and I am sure he will do, let my dear children be all affectionate and kind to each other, and they will have nothing to fear, having their trust in the Almighty, I hope they will say their prayers to themselves morning and evening like dear good children, and then I shall love them also- It must be a very great relief to you that our sweet Babe is cutting her teeth so nicely, that she can run about the house so sure footed, and can even go upstairs by herself, but I do not wish the dear cherub to attempt coming down stairs alone yet while, she does enough already for her age. I am very glad to find that you are gradually improving in health, and that the rest of my charming family are all in good health, I hope we shall endeavour to feel grateful to the Almighty for such a Blessing and for so many other comforts. By the Packet which arrived at Lisbon 21st Jan. we find that the Revenge is ordered to England. 26th sailed. arrived 9 Feb. at Spithead to be paid off at Shearness. I believe we sail for Shearness tomorrow
Yours truly
Thos. Waters