From Thomas Waters Sr. to his wife Elizabeth Waters (June 1831)

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

Addressed to Mrs Waters, 21 Mulgrave Place, Woolwich, Kent.

H.M.S.Barham Spithead June 1831

My Dearest love

I am sorry you had so much trouble to get your draft honoured but I hope it will not occur again, Mr.Rice had not then received any authority from Capt. Madden on the subject, but he has since, as the Capt. told me the other day when I called on him and he read to me Mr. Rice’s letter acknowledging the receipt of Capt. Madden’s order and that he had previously cashed your draft, in consequence, he said, of Capt. Mad.^s respect for me, you may now be assured, your Bills for ten pounds per month will be duly honoured and I should have no hesitation if I were you to draw them at sight as before. I had 15£ from my Agent the week that I arrived here, and I have been obliged to have 10£ more this week, I am in hopes this will do for these some months to come, I have bought half a dozen pair good socks double heeled at Billsons for 5/3, I have provided myself with two pair shoes more, I have laid out thirty shillings, altogether, in different articles. I told Mr. Isatt, the surgeon of the Barham, that Joseph’s throat was very bad, he says he has no doubt that it will get well in the course of time, by proper care, Mr. Isatt supposes that Dr. Billings gave Joseph a powder to open his bowels- I hope my sweet little Betsey is more contented and your breasts better by this time – That is a very good idea of yours to have the water butt moved and a pipe added to convey the water directly into the butt, I think the money well laid out, it will save a great deal of trouble and prevent much vexation to you – I have received a letter from Mr. Sillifant, he seemed much pleased to hear from me, he wished to have another letter from me, before we sail, to inform him of our destination, he will forward you the twenty pounds a year agreeable to my request, he says the year’s interest will be due in August-

I am glad to find by your letter that Mary makes herself so useful, I hope she will be a good girl, and my boys at all times do as you bid them, I am delighted you speak so well of them, remember me to all of them, I am quite pleased that Betsey will not take sugar in her victuals, do not let anyone give her ginger-bread or other sweet trash, I should like to see her eating Benjamin’s soup with him – Your scrawls, as you call your letters, afford me very great pleasure, I admire your plan of journal writing, I do not want you to pick and choose your thoughts, but give them to me as they come uppermost, they are all dear to me, neither do I wish you to be consulting the dictionary all day long for fine spelling, all I want is your own sweet thoughts, my most charming Love, how much I hope you will but take care of your health for me and our tender little ones! the pleasure of my life is in thinking of you – I pay four-pence for washing a shirt, and for towels, handkerchiefs and caps, one penny each, Hindle tells me he must give nine-pence for a wash hand bason, the same size he would have at Woolwich for 5 I wished to have a spare one but I have given it up. I suppose you know that Mrs. Wilson left Woolwich last Thursday at seven in the morning, with her family in one of Burk’s vans, a brother of hers superintended the packing and removal of her furniture, she is to give 8^d pr week for part of a house consisting of 4 rooms and the use of the kitchen. I have no idea where we are going or when, when I know I will tell you, in the meantime, believe me my dearest Love to be your most
affectionate Husband

Tho^s. Waters