From Thomas Waters Sr. to his wife Elizabeth Waters (September 16, 1826)

[Thomas Waters. R.M.. to his wife, Elizabeth]

Addressed to Mrs. Lt. Waters R.Marines, Mulgrave Place, Woolwich, Kent

15 H.M.S. Maidstone Princes’ 16 Sept. 1826

My Dearest Love

I am sorry to find by your Letter of the 19 Ap., which I received by the N.Star, that you have had such a sick house, poor Mary I am sorry she has suffered so much, but the dear girl I am glad she has been so good. I shall love her better than ever she must have been in great pain from the blisters, and she has been so good to in taking her medicines how much I am delighted with her. Your Brothers seem to be very kind indeed to you, Benjamin shows a great deal of thought in paying the carriage of the box which he sent you. You must be much gratified with Miss Bailey’s kindness she has been so very good to you and Mary, make my best respects to Miss Bailey. I cannot tell you when I shall return home but I think you need not write to me here after the end of Dec. or the beginning of Jan^y. next unless you should have an opportunity of sending a letter by the Ship that relieves us. Your letter of the 14th May came by the N.Star. I rejoice with you in Mary’s recovery. I hope we shall never forget what we owe to the Almighty for his goodness to us, you must feel that he has been indeed good to you in giving you such an invaluable friend as Miss Bailey, you may almost thank the Almighty for the trials you have endured when you have had such a return of friends. I am sorry to find by your letter that Mrs. Stockwell is looking sickly, poor lady she has had her afflictions. I am glad to find by your letter that you are not insensible to the Almighty’s goodness to you, you think yourself happy with your sweet family around you, poor as you are, as your rich neighbour who has all the comforts that money can purchase, but then she has not content. I think your family have a most valuable friend in Mr. Chadwick. your brothers cannot do wrong in following his advice, he takes so much interest in their welfare, I think he advises your brother Joseph well to go with a respectable mercer at Manchester for a few years, it requires long experience before any one can carry on business with success, and to become a Bankrupt, he has to go back again without money, and perhaps without credit to recommence, your eldest brother stept into an established business with a most trusty man to guide it, if Mr. Joseph could get into an established house and make himself useful, possibly he might at last be taken in as a partner, but should he find himself above his business it would be quite immaterial what he does with himself, as it is very improbable, in that case, that he would succeed in any thing, however I hope it is not so with him, you know I was not ashamed to work when circumstances required it and I believe I am not the less respected but I am persuaded we now feel the benefit of our past good management. I am glad your Aunt remains in good health, I wish she may long continue so. Your letter of the 28th June Mr. Stockwell delivered to me the 28th Aug^t. , we had been to the Gambia and at St. Jago and after returning from those places to Sierra Leone, and stopping a few days, we sailed thence on the morning of the 4 of Aug. and fell in with the North Star in the Evening. Mr. Stockwell joined us the next morning in good health and not a little rejoiced at meeting with us as we were going direct for Ascension otherwise it is impossible to say how long it might have been before he would have reached his destination and Sierra Leone is very sickly it being the rainy season there. I am quite delighted to find Mary is improving in health so fast and Joseph John and Thomas are so well how happy I shall be my most charming Love to meet you and my dear children all in good health and spirits but I am sorry Joseph is so naughty as to make his dear little brother John cry sometimes I hope he will not do so again. Hindle is quite well he says he sent two gold rings to his wife by Grindrod and even gave him a dollar for his trouble. Hindle is anxious to know whether his wife received the rings. I owe him about three pounds wages if you could advance her a shilling or two now and then should she be in distress do so. I am glad she conducts herself with so much propriety. Kiss my sweet children for me and remember me to your friends in
Lancashire

Mr. Stockwell landed at Ascension the 26th of August in good health and spirits The Colonel was quite well.