[Thomas Waters, R.M., to his wife, Elizabeth]
Addressed to Mrs Capt.Waters R.M., King Street, Woolwich
Bull Plain Hertford Oct.1842
(postmarked 6 Oc 1842)
My Dear Wife
Your Note of the 3rd came to hand and gave me very great pleasure to find that my Dear Mary is better I hope she will soon be well, she is quite right to spend a day in London next week with Mrs.Meheux if she likes it. I am glad you made John’s friend as welcome as you could, I wish him to feel that he has a home to bring his friends to, poor child his spirits require keeping up, it is far better than for him to go to a tavern to treat his friends, but when he has time to give notice it would be better if he would write you a note on friday night or early on Saturday morning to let you know that he expects to bring a friend with him, then perhaps he would not quite take you at a nonplus, for my part I shall be always happy for him or any of the children to bring a friend home when it will not be inconvenient to you, there is one thing when they come without warning, they cannot be disapointed at finding but plain fare, if they have common sense, and if they are fools they are as well away for a foolish friend is no friend, properly speaking, he is only fit for fools: however the health and real happiness of my dear Wife and children is my anxious prayer but all must go through their trials of purifying to fit them for a higher world and God grant that we may be all ready for eternity when called on, and that we be not taken before we are prepared for it. I cannot promise myself a pleasure in dining with my family next Christmas day, my Instructions say that I am on no account to absent myself from my Recruiting Quarters without the consent of my Commanding Officer, so that I shall be more comfortable at my post than to put myself in the power of any to find fault with me, or in any way to lay myself open to censure if I can avoid it, it is true if there were any great emergency, why, a person would run a trifling risk but in this case there is not, and I should not afford my family so much pleasure as I should myself pain, or at least anxiety which you know is painful, therefore I think I shall be better where I am, with a hope that you will all spend a happy Christmas and that we shall all meet equally happy round our table the following Christmas, which I trust in Providence we shall-
My poor Benney I am sorry he suffers so, he is a very nice child, but I do not think it is from getting up so early in the morning, at the blue coats [English charity schools] they get up at six, although some of them are but a little more than seven years old, and they look very well and happy as far as I can judge, but we must expect sickness in our family, and it is only from your good management, under Providence, that the children with yourself are as well as they are, considering the tender constitution they inherit, but I trust in the Almighty we shall yet be well, when nature has taken its course, but poor Benney does not readily comprehend what is taught him, and if he does comprehend, he has a bad memory and it is a long time before he can mind, I have no doubt he suffers from anxiety too, from a fear of not being up in time and of not being able to learn his lesson, there is no doubt he requires a deal of cherishing, I do not wish him to get up so early if he dislikes it, I think if you were to write to Mr.Jeffery, stating Benjamin’s occasional indisposition begging that he will excuse the child if he is sometimes late in the morning or not always able to do his lesson, say that he really studys hard at home and seems to be over anxious from a fear that he should give displeasure, he is so very timid, a better child there need not be than he is, perhaps by your writing or speaking to Mr.Jeffery it may relieve the child’s mind, for I think if he were less under fear he would learn better, the child may rest assured that I am very well satisfied indeed with him, and I have no doubt he will get on very well in time, some learn quicker, some slower and sometimes those that learn slowest are the best in the end, for they make up in diligence what they wanted in quickness, but as I said before sickness you must expect, but I have no doubt you will overcome it all, “there is a sweet little Angel that sits up aloft”, and you may be assured my dear Wife that he is as ever ready to hear as we are to ask if we have only confidence that is “faith” in Providence, and trust, with our endeavour, Firmness and judgement my dear Wife are yours. Love to all.
Yours affectionately
Thos. Waters