[Thomas Waters, R.M.. to his wife. Elizabeth]
Addressed to Mrs.Lt.Waters R.M., Mulgrave Place, Woolwich, Kent
No 7 H.M.S.Maidstone Sierra Leone 21 March 1825
My Dearest Love
We arrived at Sierra Leone 2nd Nov. where I received your letters 2 & 3, they came in the Commodore’s box, of public letters, the Commodore kindly congratulated me on giving them to me, the Doctor and some other of my messmates have not received one since we left England, their friends not knowing how to forward them- I am sorry your excellent Aunt is unwell, I should like very much to see her again, I should like to have seen Mr. Chadwick, I think him a very worthy man, your good Father very highly esteemed him, and I have no doubt he well deserved your father’s friendship. I feel extremely grateful to Mrs Pilcher for her kindness to you, you may be proud of her friendship, make my best respects to her & Mr Pilcher. You must have a great deal of trouble on your hands occasioned by our dear little children’s having the hooping cough but it pleases the Almighty to afflict whom he loves, and I hope it will make you more contented and more grateful, for the Almighty’s goodness to you and me – I am sorry that Betsy is ill, as she cannot be of as much service to you now as she otherwise would have been, but if she is a good girl I am glad she is with you, and remember me to her, Hindle still attends on me. I am glad my sweet Mary is a good girl, and my dear Joseph a good boy, I hope my darling John will like his book better by and by, and my tender little Thomas I hope the Almighty will bless him also, as well as you and the rest of my family; kiss each of my charmers for me and consider yourself as nearer and dearer to me than my own Life. I am sorry you should have experienced any inconvenience from a change of landlords should you meet with any further trouble I recommend you to consult Mrs. Pilcher. I am glad you and your sister are on such good corresponding terms, I wish she enjoyed a better health, I shall be very happy for your brothers and you to write to each other – as for ourselves, trust in the Almighty, and do our best and all will be well, difficulty, with patience and perseverance, is easily overcome, and we may surmount all – I have no doubt you are acting with a great deal of prudence in baking your own bread – I have told Sergt. Perkins his youngest child is ill, he is very sorry for it. I have a man of the name OF Schofield in my party from Rochdale who is married and I think very steady, his wife is in the neighbourhood of Woolwich, it seems one or two of my men have neglected their wives, I am sorry for it, they must be infamous characters. You ask my advice respecting your going to Rochdale, I gave it before I left Woolwich, my opinion is not altered, therefore, I wish you to follow your own judgement. We expect to be in England next summer when I shall be happy to see your sister and brothers an Aunt too if it would please Providence to give her health and strength, remember me to them all. I think you are very highly honoured by Mrs. Nicholl’s mother’s calls, and it also affords me great satisfaction. If you want an extra ten pound write to Mr Sillifant for it, and I have no doubt he will send. The slave vessel is arrived and condemned, a prize to us, we have another vessel not a slaver of very trifling value condemned to us, for smuggling – 20th Nov. dined with the actg. Governor, Hamilton. 2nd Dec. received 3 and a half Dollars prize money for the smuggler. You have not told me Joseph is in Jacket and Trousers – I am in excellent health. We have heard nothing of the Ashantees for some months past excepting that other Tribes of Africans are carrying on War against them, it is supposed they will not return to Cape Coast, unless to make peace as they can gain no advantage over our
stone walls and great guns. 27 Feb. Dr Rankine has just recd. a letter from his wife, she has been delivered of a fine daughter, these three months past, named Agnes and is doing well, she desires to be remembered. We arrived st Sierra leone 15 March after an absence of 3 months cruising. I remain My Dearest Love
Your Most Affectionate Husband
Thos. Waters