[Joseph Waters to his mother, Elizabeth Waters née Butterworth]
Addressed to Mrs Capt.Waters, King St., Woolwich, Kent
Singapore – Jany 1838
Antonio Pereira
Dear Mother,
Here I am again at Singapore on my 4th voyage to China with 850 chests of opium on board – we are regularly “chock a block”. The Captain & Mr Christi sleep in palanquins on the quarter deck. I was much surprised at not finding a letter from either you or my father in Calcutta the last time.- pray send me some for when I have nothing to do, it is one of my greatest pleasures to peruse them – I know it would not be much trouble for my dear sister Mary or my brothers to write a letter to me, if they only knew what happiness it would afford me I am sure they would. The last letter I sent you was dated I think “6th Decr“ from China. Mr Christi lent me 70rs this time in Calcutta, 35 of which I laid out in cheroots & put them along with an invoice of his engaged by a person from him in China – the gain I am nearly certain to get on them will amount (I believe) to Cent per cent – with the other 35 I purchased a quadrant from Mr Christi – the best one he ever handled – I likewise received 40 rupees from Captain Young with which I fitted myself out in a stock of warm clothing – very requisite out here this time of the year – A little money is what I want out here now – I am really just like a beggar – not a farthing of my own – to bless myself with – I keep a mate’s watch now both night & day and am obliged to keep myself “afloat or ashore” as respectable as one. On board a Clipper like this they are very particular too. Money out here is about half the value
that it is at home – The 15£ that you gave me was expended before I had been out here 6 months – not extravagantly for if it had been – I am well assured the Captain would not have given me the money he did. Mr Christi & Captain Young are very kind to me – from the former I have picked up a little navigation and from both as much of the seafaring affairs as (I flatter myself) any youngster can muster, who has been my short time at sea. Our brig is rather unfortunate as regards accidents. This time in Calcutta as one of the crew was coming alongside in a “dingey” with his wife – he fell overboard singing “God Save the King” and never rose more though an excellent swimmer. I hope you are all well at home – persuade someone of my brothers or sisters to give me a line or so. How do the mill – the garden & the pigeons get on. Mary’s flowers – I suppose are wonderfully increased – John & Tom I hope catch plenty of fish in the canal. I wish I could shew them some of the fish we ketch out here such as the Shirk – the blackfish – the Dolphin, the albicore or the Benneta, Give Ben Elizabeth & Sarah a sweet good kiss for me & believe me ever to be your most affectionate son
Josh Waters
P.S. I hope my dear father is enjoying good health. my character given by my kind friend Mr Christi will, I trust make him & you think better of me although well indeed – I know to my sorrow that it is more than I can expect. I am present very poorly – I think I have got a flux. I take plenty of medicine & as yet have kept to my duty without complaining –
Your dutiful son
Josh Waters
(faintly on the back) Mary