[Thomas Waters to his parents]
addressed to Mrs or Capt Waters R.M., Surbiton Hill, Kingston on Thames
Surry, England
(Postmark 20 JY 1846 LIVERPOOL SHIP)
Capt Roland Gelston
Nr 320 Pearl Street
Home for seamen
New York
N.A.
My Dear Father and Mother
I am now in St John’s Newfoundland where I arrived 21st of April I think this is the finest harbour for security in the world, although it is a very narrow passage to get into it between two very high mountains which are now covered with snow. We had a rough passage from New York here and were three days in the ice. we were surrounded with icebergs three times as high as our mastheads. it is a splendid sight I do not know anything more so but I wont mention how cold it is. A great many vessels have been lost out of this port in the ice, 25 in the last month besides missing, the icebergs are as bad as rocks. we struck one one dark foggy night, it was a small one about the bigness of Greenwich hospital but fortunately we had a small way on the vessel and it did not injure us. at the same time we passed another as big as a mountain not a ship’s length off, in fact we just luff’d up in the wind and cleared it. I would rather be anywhere than among them at night time but I must wait until I get home to give a description, on paper I cannot. I hope my Dear Father is well of the pain in his side and bad eye. I suppose Ben is quite well it must have been a bad fall, plenty of fresh air is all Eliz wants, I suppose, to recover her health and that is what I get plenty of. I hope Mary likes her new home and prospects, it is an honourable occupation and I know she will succeed. I am glad to hear that John’s wages have increased and better in view. I suppose you know by reading my letter to Uncle that I have had the small pox and that my Captain died of it or of the Hospital usage, I am doubtful of which. The small pox hospital where the Captain and I were sent is a long way from the town and is left entirely to the care of a Dutchman and his wife. once a week or fortnight it is visited by some young doctors student who takes care to keep at a respectful distance from the sick . I liked the doctor for one thing: he never ordered me a dose of physic or any of the rest in my room, he used to take the Dutchman’s account of the whites who died he used to cut a notch on a stick to mark one but as to the blacks who died he would make a rough guess at them, when I see home again I’ll spin you a long twister about it.
Sunday May 17th in Sydney C.B. [Cape Breton] at anchor. I went ashore to day up to the Indian camp and I rested in their wigwams. it is very pleasant in summer but it must be cold in winter for them.
June 12th. Arrived in New York this day, went ashore expecting late news from you but found but one enclosing one from Ben, two from Mary, one from Eliz and one from you dated from Feb to March 7th. I was very glad to receive them and would have been more so if I had not been so foolish to expect later, but I suppose there are some on the road. You say John is going to write me a good long letter, I hope he will not take a good long while to write it. I know he has not much time to spare but still I should be much pleased to receive one from him and in return I would spare some of the short hours allotted for rest to write him one. many thanks to you all for those I have received and for those that’s coming. I cant promise to be home this summer. all the letters you write me after this be so kind as to number them 1 2 3 etc as I know some have miscarried like those you sent me in the Fawn, three years before I received one when all the rest fore and aft received plenty. who puts the letters in the post office no strange agent I hope, if so it is easily accounted for – Dont forget – Your last letter was dated the same day I escaped from the Hospital or dead house and about the time Ben went to the funeral my Captain was put in his grave I am considerable stouter than when I left and enjoy very good health, the healthy climate of Nova Scotia and cold weather agrees with me now I have plenty of suitable clothes. I lost a good many of my clothes, they were burnt up by order of the Health Officer when I was sick. I sent a letter from Newfoundland to Uncle I hope he received it. I am getting on quite to my satisfaction. I wish I had one of those spyglasses that are home. I must ask for one when I return again I am going to buy a quadrant here, they are much dearer and not so good as those in England. My new blankets and quilt that John kindly gave me etc were burnt. I hope John’s health has improved. the climate of Nova Scotia would suit him, that is if he took to farming. he would not make much money but he would preserve his health, my life seems to agree with me better than any of the rest taking the rough and smooth together I am happy and contented with my lot: wholesome food, fresh air, plenty of salt water duckings and washes not once a week on Saturdays or any other particular day but now and then and oftener and plenty of hard work but not too much with an allowance of sleep etc.
I am sorry for Ben’s misfortune and hope he will recover of it soon. No doubt Mary will get used to her new home, I wish her every happiness and success. I shall be glad to hear of Eliz school and how she likes it Sarah must write me a letter little Jane and Nancy keep a look out for the strawberries. I suppose the garden must be very pleasant. how do the gold fish get on. has Joseph Hindle been to see you yet. I hope he gets on well and Ann etc John Harris I wish him well remember me to him he promised to send me a letter. how does the fruit get on, does the same old gardener attend it. you have not got a cow yet the fowls thrive I hope. Dick Bissett has not heard of his brother or sent a letter to me. Henry Watson promised me a letter. If I could only get all the letters promised me I would never be disapointed, but when I arrive at the vessels homeward bound port and see all my shipmates welcomed home by their friends and relations and me left alone like a stray sheep, and then find no letter at the house for me to show remembrance from my friends and relations, why then I feel indeed alone and wish again to be out on the sea with no land in sight. it is the only part of a sailors life that is sad. when I get a letter I dont care a straw, I get into the cabin the same as I am now, haul out all my old letters and new ones and begin a letter home then read a little of my own from you, smoke a cigar, and feel although alone as if surrounded by friends and then I want for nothing, however a sailors life is the best yet it is always changing, up and down, fine weather and foul, the land is very well for a day or week but after that I feel dead and long to be away again on blue water. There certainly is some fine beautiful places here in Nova scotia, the land is very cheap but it would take some time and labour or money to clear it and build a house, not less than two hundred pounds at least, fifty would do but then it would be hard work and would be some time before you could get fairly comfortable. I hope Mrs Nichols is quite well and all the family. I have been offered two mates births but I get as good pay in the one I am in as navigator as I would in the others. the Captain is a good pilot but has very little navigation. he promised if circumstances concur to put me master of her the next winter as he thinks of staying at home. I dont know if he will keep his promise. at any rate I am learning the coast which will be of great use to me. Shipping is very dull in the United states on account of the expectation of war with England and the present war with Mexico. we have a good freight of flour offered us to carry to Mexico but then we would have to run the blockade and all the chances of being taken by the Americans for doing so. I belong to a British Colonist vessel so you see I fly English colors again. Remember me to Mrs Waldts and daughters and to all my friends
I hope Uncle and Aunt Cousin Jane and all my Rochdale friends are quite well. I have received no letter from that way yet hut expect two or three etc when I get back to this port again.
hoping All of you are quite well
I remain
Your affectionate son
Thomas
Tomorrow we sail for Halifax I hope there will be some letters
for me when I come back
June 25 all’s well