From Joseph Butterworth to his daughter Mrs. Elizabeth Waters (April 19, 1816)

[Joseph Butterworth to his daughter Elizabeth Waters]

Addressed to Mrs Waters, No 8. : Cecil Place, Portsmouth

Rochdale April 19^h. 1816

Dear Daughter,

I received your kind letter of the 29th Ult. and am very happy to hear you got safe to Portsmouth. I think from not being accustomed to travelling, you would find yourself much fatigued — Your Daughter Jane was here on Sunday with its Nurse to Tea, & again yesterday you cannot think how much it is improved, it is getting quite fat, & a beautiful little Child it is. She is at present getting her Teeth, which makes her crosser than usual, but when well is a very good Child. I purpose getting it inoculated as soon as Dr Dunlop thinks proper. I am glad you have got comfortable & pleasant lodgings excepting Coals which will be much felt, tho’ I expect your Climate requires less Fuel than this. You give a very Dear Description of living in a Tavern I should consider it an imposition. You can surely live much cheaper in Lodgings. When you have been at the Isle of Wight, be so kind as to give me a Description of it in your next. I have now melancholy News to tell you. Your Grandfather & Grandmother of Roughlea are both dead, she died last Saturday but one & he last Saturday. He died poor fellow broken hearted for the loss of his Wife. He fretted so much until he was seized with a paralytic Stroke, which in a few Days terminated this Life, it was very well you went over to see them, at the time you did. I am sorry to say that your Brother Edmund gets much worse. He has not been out of his Bed Room since Sunday last. He cannot in my Opinion recover, tho’ yesterday & this Day more chearful than a few Days preceeding. I know of nothing particular that has happened here since you left worth mentioning only a Gloomy prospect in regard to trade. Wool must naturally fall otherwise no orders can be expected from abroad. all my family here are well (excepting your Brother). They all join me in best respects to you & Mr Waters. My Aunt particularly thanks you for kind enquiry after her Health, & is still I am happy to say very well.

Please accept of my best wishes for both your Welfare & remain – Dear Daughter

Your affectionate Father 

     Joseph Butterworth