From Joseph Butterworth to his daughter Mrs. Elizabeth Waters (December 13, 1816)

[Joseph Butterworth to his daughter Elizabeth Waters]

Addressed to Mrs Waters, No 3. Hambrook row, Portsmouth (single) 

Rochdale Dec^r. 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 Jn^o. 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 Reg^t. (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

  affect^e. Father J Butterworth 

Alice’s particular respects. Write soon & all news.