[Thomas Waters, R.M., to his wife, Elizabeth]
Addressed to Mrs Lieut. Waters R.Marines, Mulgrave Place, Woolwich, Kent.
No 1 Funchal roads, Madeira 12th April 1824
My Dearest Love
We left Spithead the 31st March and got nearly as far as Falmouth the next day but the wind blowing so strong against us we were under the necessity of putting back to Plymouth Sound where we remained untill Sunday the 4th April when we again sailed, with a fair wind, we had the Commodore and on the 6th he hoisted his broad pendant when he again dined with us agreeable to invitation. He has two passengers with him for Sierra Leone and we have one with us for Madeira. We have a pretty good band of music belonging to the ship, 4 or 5 of them are Marines, one of them a Rochdale lad of the name of Grindrod blows the Bassoon. 10th we are in sight of Madeira standing off and on, the wind being unfavourable for Anchoring. Mr. Crowdie the first Lieutenant has just received his Commission from the Commodore, as Commandeer, and one of the Midshipmen a Mr. Lucan is made Lieutenant We have made a very quick passage twelve hundred miles from Plymouth to Madeira in six days. I hope my sweet children are all well together with yourself. I shall write to you as often as opportunity offers but I dont’ think it worth your while to put any letters in the Post Office for me, while I am abroad, but if you can send any letters to me by any ships coming on the station all well, we shall go to Tenrieffe next and then for Sierra Leone. Dr. Rancan desires to be remembered to you. The Commodore told me he is going to send Capt Varle a Quarter cask of Madeira wine 11th We are anchored in Funchal roads, I dined on shore with some of my messmates at a wine-merchant’s house the gentleman came passenger with us. I shall end this letter and send by Capt. Crow- die who leaves us here. I hope to write again soon. I remain My Dear Love Your most Affectionate Husband
Thos. Waters