[Thomas Waters to his parents]
[from a transcript] 26
Sunday 29th Oct. 1848
Cove of Cork
Dear Father and Mother
We arrived in Cork Sunday 29th Oct. after experiencing as rough a passage as the Atlantic Ocean can afford. Our decks from the time we left New York until we arrived here have never been for a moment free from salt water washing over them, we were rather deep laden for this season, our upper deck being not three feet from the level of the sea, but she is a new vessel strongly built and her timber was clothed with green in their native woods not a year ago. We had our decks swept three times, the force of the sea drawing bolts and ring bolts and we only saved our long boat with much hazard, however we lost neither sails nor spars but the roughness of the passage has caused our cabin to leak very bad, so that with the exception of a few days, I have not had a dry suit of clothes by day or to sleep in at night. We had to heave to three times for as many storms. To help the pleasantness of the passage our cabin was filled with crawling maggots that had escaped from our cargo of Indian corn and had crawled through the crevices into our abode, the cabin was fairly covered overhead with them, at meal times they would drop by the dozen into our tea, coffee or plates etc, the first time they made their appearance the Captain said by way of a joke they would make a fresh mess instead of salt meat, about two days afterwards we had boiled rice for dinner and I observed while he was taking a nip of grog four or five fine large fellows drop into his plate of rice but of course I held my tongue and they having the appearance of grains of rice were not noticed by him. I watched until he had eaten two or three and then handing him the pepper-box asked him if he would not take some pepper with his fresh mess, an explanation ensued and we have had no more boiled rice since, I have asked him several times since when he will take another fresh mess, but by the screw of his mouth at such times I guess he dont much like it. The Captain is ashore now and when he comes back I will finish this letter and tell you where to direct to. I am quite well, indeed remarkably so, and well contented. I hope you are all quite well at home.
Likewise my brother and sister who are away, give my respects to Uncle, Aunt and all my cousins, how does little Edmund get on, Walter I mean, is John Harris still in England, enclosed is a specimen of my picking of Nova Scotia or Maiden hair tea, it resembles in flavour the best imported and is full as wholesome, is your crop of fruit large this year and have the potatoes failed, answer this letter as quick as possible for I do not know how long we may stay here. I received three letters from home, one from Elizabeth, ditto from Mary and Ben and they were very welcome. I would have liked one from my Father or Mother but I shall expect one soon
Direct to me Brig Pageant
To be left at Post Office
Galway,
Ireland
I remain
Your affectionate son
Thomas Waters
We have our orders to sail for Galway and there discharge we sail to day from Cove of Cork.