From Joseph Waters to his mother Elizabeth Waters (December 3, 1837)

[Joseph Waters to his mother, Elizabeth Waters née Butterworth]

Addressed to Mrs Capt Waters, King St., Woolwich., Kent

Lintin Dec^r 3rd/37 (1837) [Nei Lingding Island]

           Antonio Pereira

Dear Mother,

I received a letter dated on the 19th/36 – Yesterday – but the other one you mentioned I have not yet received. Although rather an old date – I was very much gratified much with my sister’s. The advice you gave me – I feel is too true & I will endeavour to abide by it. God grant that I may. I am very glad that you sent me that extract from my father’s letter. I was much pleased with what he said & thought of me & I hope that he will soon believe I am really improved in all my qualities. You have no idea what a state our brig is in now, she is quite a wreck – when we were on the “Sands Heads” about 6 days before we made the Calcutta pilot last voyage – we experienced a severe gale of wind, carried away all our weather rail, & we were very nearly lost. The “Highland Chief” was lost & two other brigs – the “Jessey” a brig that was lying at anchor in the river Hooghly was hove up high & dry ashore, & several others that had put to sea were obliged to return – but now we are still worse – for 23 days I never had clean clothes on or dry, seldom at night time. The few clothes that I brought with me from Calcutta are every one either lost or rotten – I have scarcely got 3 changes fit to put on. Mr Christie has lent me some money – he forced me to take it & told me not to ask the Captain. Ever since I wrote the last letter I have thought on it over & over again – I have asked you for money I want some – I cant earn anything yet. You will say that it is very hard after I have as it were been fitted out for sea that I should again pester you – I cannot help it – I had no idea – you had no idea what an apprentice in the country service is. I keep the captain’s watch in the Evening – can work the Longitude & take sights for the Chronometer & order 30 men — Where can I wear check shirts or Duck frocks. I have got no dirty work. I never go aloft except to reef topsails. To give you a little idea of the weather we had I’ll tell you what sails we lost on our passage from Singapore to China besides smashing in our boats & our Bulwarks. We split a new Jib – Fore top-mast staysail – Foresail & two topsails – to crown all – a fore staysail of (N.^r l) when that split it went off like a clap of thunder – everything was furled, the Capt has entered a protest for our cargo which was very lucky as it is nearly all wet & damaged. Every one on board declared that they never experienced such a continuance of bad weather. The “Sylph” lost every one of her sails & out of 50 Calashes could only muster 6 men to work ship. The “Ariel” a new clipper with 14,000 chests of opium in her started about a month before us from Singapore, has never since been heard of. I wrote a letter to you last Oct^r but I forgot to tell you that from an introduction by Mr Christi I was invited down to Barhappoore [Barhapur?] for 4 days along with the officers of the regiment stationed there. I spent my time very comfortably – but when I came back I nearly regretted it – I found that I had lost 16 pieces of clothes viz 10 new W shirts – 2 new pair of trousers 3 silk handkerchief & 1 white jacket – they had been stolen from me in my absence – in consequence I was obliged to have resource to my last 10 rs.  I have written a letter to Mr La Fargue & Mr Ritchie they went in Oct.^r last.  Mr Christi is very kind to me – one who I may indeed call a friend – I think he will soon be Captain. I hope you are quite well & all my brothers & sisters. Ask Papa to send me a letter – if you only knew with what pleasure I read them I am sure you would – every one of you, Write to me. Remember me to all enquiring friends. Tell Mary her “thread holder” is very useful to me & so is Ellen’s “Housewife”, John & Tom will be hearty chaps – if they continue grinding a peck of corn every morning. Mr Ben I suppose lends his little hand & Elizabeth & Sarah help to eat it. But here is stop the winch & lay to for another opportunity.

God bless you all.

     I remain your affectionate

     Son Jos^h Waters

Dear Madam

As your Son is not in receipt of any money just now I have advanced and will continue to advance what little he may want – but would thank you in your next letter to mention how far he is to draw. We are now in all the bustle & confusion of a start from China so you must excuse my not giving you a longer account of his conduct than that he has given me every satisfaction since he has been here (on the Ship) and that his Capt. is highly pleased with him. I will take another opportunity of informing you of that which I am sure will give you great pleasure to hear.

I remain

  My Dear Madam

         Yours very truly Wm T Christi

The whole of this letter was written in such a hurry that you must excuse the writing – Mr Christi wrote what he has said on board the Hercules actually standing up on a case of opium. 

Not a minute to myself

 J W