[Joseph Butterworth to his daughter Elizabeth Waters]
Addressed to Mrs Waters, No 3. Hambrook row, Portsmouth (single)
Rochdale Decr. 13th 1816
Dear Daughter
Your letter of the 26th Ult. to Alice I have now before me. I am glad to hear you have recovered from a slight indisposition, and that you were then both well. I hope you still continue so. Your Sickness is not often dangerous tho’ troublesome. I did not expect so early an increase of grand Children you should have been another year without. I hope you will use your Endeavour to suckle the next. it will with Perseverance be possible do not give way till you find your health in Danger –
I am happy to inform you your Daughter Jane is very well & improves very much she has not yet cut her Teeth but in a short time I hope she will, she comes up often & knows the House & every one belonging to it, she is the best Child I ever saw she has forgot to cry you may rest assured of its [her] being took proper care of. The Nurse on her part behaves very well & is quite proud of her little Charge. I shall send you down a Box with some Mince Meat & a receipt how your Aunt makes it, other things also, but what yet I cannot tell. I will forward it by the Canal some day next week, so that you will get it some time in Christmas. You will be surprized to hear that Mr Jno. Beckwith Smith is a Bankrupt the first meeting of his Creditors is this day. I happen unfortunately to be one for 40 pounds & a great number in the Town besides. it is expected that he will pay 20 shillings in the Pound sometime but I much doubt it – Trade here is very bad, tho’ much better than the Neibourhood, when the People are employed in weaving Cotton they are literally starving & unless Trade should alter I am afraid of some serious mischief — Robberies are become common & daring. We have now lying here a part of the 54th Regt. (Waterloo lads) which gives the Townspeople a degree of Confidence that they had not before, a meeting is advertised to be held at Middleton on Monday next upon the pretext of that lately held in S..Fields London. I wish it may be a peaceable one.
My Aunt & all my family are well except Jane who has been poorly some time & I fear consumption.
Give my best respects to Mr Waters joined with theirs & accept our wishes that you may have a merry Christmas & a happy new year
I am Dear Daughter your
affecte. Father J Butterworth
Alice’s particular respects. Write soon & all news.