From Thomas Waters Sr. to his wife Elizabeth Waters (September 13, 1842)

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

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

Bull Plain Hertford 13 Sept.1842

My dear Wife

I have got your Parasol, on receiving your Note this morning, I went to Broxbourne for it, I am glad you met with no other mischance, Elizabeth’s boils coming out will do her good, I wish Benjamin could be relieved the same way.  Mary has been very anxious, I dare say, in taking care of the family, and I am sure she has done justice.  John’s mind I dare say is oppressed with anxiety, and I have no doubt my dear Benny’s is also, with respect to his learning, indeed I am sure all our children are anxious to do their best as well as their age will allow them.  I was sure the house would be to your satisfaction as far as good management is concerned, you will find some window-line in the large box by the library window-  Mary has my best thanks for the care she has taken of the family, I think she has done wonders, and has proved herself well worthy of the confidence that has been reposed in her.  My love to all my dear children.  I had a pleasent walk, on monday, to Welwin a large and respectable village, I returned by Tewin church-  Elms cannot make his pay serve him, notwithstanding your gratuity to him, he must needs come to me the same evening for his weeks wages- I missed your society, you may be assured, on my return after seeing you off, particularly at my tea, and after tea on my taking my walk up the grove, but I had the consolation of hoping that you were comfortably in the midst of our young family, and consequently the change would not be so gloomy to you.  I am right glad that you got through your journey so happily, I think your ride in the cab was as cheap as walking to Fenchurch Street, considering what you would have had to pay for your trunk and box, besides the trouble of watching that they were not run away with, and the ride was a treat and a rest to Mary as no doubt she had been moving about pretty much in the morning and I suppose she was uneasy at your not arriving in town as soon as she naturally expected you would, however Mary had a ride by the railroad and I have no doubt you were home much sooner than you would if you had embarked at the Swan stairs, I think a shilling for your trunk to King Street shameful, when you consider three in a cab for a Shilling besides the carriage of your trunk at a greater distance, however it is only by travelling you can properly know the World and it must be owned it is only by the law that the cab drivers are kept from imposing on the public, but still if they can gain a livelihood by such moderate charge, that people carrying parcels might by the same means for they would have much more to do than they have now, for people would have no objection to pay a trifle rather than carry their luggage as many do now, it clearly proves to you that many would rather beg than work, for many of them must see that many of them lose their pay for want of their labour —

Yours Affectionately, My Dear Wife,

 Tho^s. Waters