[Joseph Waters to his mother Elizabeth Waters née Butterworth]
Addressed to Mrs Captn.Waters, King St., Woolwich, Kent
Address to Mr Livi…
Jan 2 — 37 (1837)
My Dear Mother,
We left the lizard on the 26th of Augt and arrived at Calcutta on the 9th of Dec.r The river is as crooked as the Serpentine and although it is only 100 and odd miles from the Sand Heads to Calcutta yet we were four days beating up. About 1/2 a mile from Calcutta the prospect & irregularity of the river suddenly ceases and presents a most magnificent & luscious sight to the beholder it is perfectly strait from Garden Reach to Calcutta and on either side Palaces & houses of the most beautifull & fantastic sculpture, meet your eye. We experienced some very bad weather and one night we were regularly on our Beam Ends. Hark what the log says!!! “Novr 4th/36. A tremendous squall, which laid her on her beam ends – the rudder being thus rendered powerless, the ships head came up in the wind, when she gradually rightened. Every thing adrift on deck went over-board. viz. a new fore topmast Studsail & sundry other articles of less consequence. Much water went down the Main Hatchway over the lee Coomings.” You can easily fancy what a way she must have been in when I tell you that the cook’s coppers under the top- gallant forecastle were filled with the water. She is however a regular Clipper and although there are a great number of fine vessels in the harbour yet she universally takes the superiority both in the points of beauty & sailing. Mr Christi is extremely kind to me & is one whom I may truly call my friend. Harbour changes my situation greatly – we have got 20 black gemmen on board – I have nothing to do but to look after them & keep myself clean. I am doing my best to learn the language which I do not find very difficult. There is no such a person as Gibson to be found in Calcutta, they say he is dead. I am troubled very much with a sore throat. The capt is very kind to me. I wrote a letter to you when we first arrived here but owing to my carelessness lost it. I wrote this letter in a great hurry in consequence. Mr C. is actually stopping till it is written so that it may go with his, I believe in the “Lady Raffles”. “The Sesostris” lies right abreast of us. Remember me particularly to Mr Ritchie – to Mr Laird – Nichols La Fargue & all my friends. let me hear all the news. I hope you will soon have Papa home. [Here the paper is torn & two sentences are missing. S.T. 1979]
Dear Mother I now conclude hoping that every blessing may fall upon you, my dear father and all my brothers & sisters. Tell Mary that silks of every description are very cheap and that after I have made one trip to China I will send her some home. I hope she is well. Tell Jack that if he was here he should have a good ride in a Palanquin. Tom, that he should have fruits of all sorts & sizes. Ben, that he should have a wife, & little “Liz” a husband (for they marry here at 6 years old) and give dear little Sal a kiss and a lump of candy for Joseph.
My dear Mother
I remain your ever obedient
and affectionate son
Josh Waters
P.S. Mr Christi desires to be remembered to you Mr Ritchie & Mr Laird.
J W
(marked) received 29 April
1837
[This letter appears to be largely a duplicate of the one he refers to that he believes he lost.]