From Thomas Waters Sr. to his wife Elizabeth Waters (August 17, 1831)

[Thomas Waters. R.M.. to his wife, Elizabeth]
Addressed to Mrs Waters, 21 Mulgrave Place, Woolwich

H.M.S.Barham Downs 17th August 1831

My Dearest love

Your letter of the 28th Ult. came to hand the 3rd Inst. I am sorry you have so much difficulty with respect to servants, I wish you could get one that would suit you, or if you could get a steady married woman upon the terms you propose I think you would be perfectly right to take her, if you think she would answer. I should be very sorry for you to attempt the washing, and to put it all out I know is too expensive. I have no doubt you have a great deal of trouble with the children, I am sorry Thomas is so idle with his books, I hope he will attend better to them, it is a great comfort that the children are in good health, I am sorry that Benjamin and Betsey are so cross, and that you are not so well as you could wish, I do not wonder at it, you have so much on your mind, but I hope, by and by things will mend, Betsey will run away that will be some relief and other difficulties I hope in the Almighty will lessen, I can assure you I enter into all your feelings, however remote we may be from each other. We have had, I think, a lovely summer, I hope we shall have a fine harvest and that food will be cheap and times comfortable to you my own Love who are the delight of my thoughts and the sole comfort of my life – The 6th we were sailing to and fro off the Sicily [Scilly] Isles but on the Admiral’s receiving some despatches the Squadron made sail to the Eastward, on the 8th it arrived of Brighton and on the 9th in the Downs where it moored. Your letter of the 10th I received the 16th, I am afraid by your account your new servant will not suit you, coming from a boarding school and having received £9 a year, so young a woman will not live contented with you for £6 if she is worth anything and if she is not she will be dear if she served for nothing. I think you make yourself too anxious, which is wrong, trust more in Providence, when you do your best and be satisfied He will order for us what is right, by consulting the Prayer book you will find consolation and advice, by not taking care of your health you neglect your children’s and you will make me unhappy. You must not be alarmed about pecuniary difficulties as long as you have money in the saving Bank, draw from it when you are in want and when the money is out let me know, I will do what I can to supply you, I trust in Providence, do you do the same and you will find consolation. I am sorry the boys do not attend better to their learning, if they behaved as they ought, Mr Dixon would not beat them, you must not attend too much to children’s complainings, Thomas is very naughty in not attending to his lessons better. Never trouble your head about the garden, it will do for a play ground for the children. You need not be afraid about Betsey, she will do very well by and by if you do not take to much care of her, our children cut their teeth rather hard. Your new servant having been partly brought up in the Barracks will not do you any good, she once lived with Mr.Burke at the Ship Tavern, she was recommended to Mrs.Wilson who declined taking her- Direct your next letter for me to Portsmouth I remain my sweetest Love your ever most
affectionate Husband

Tho^s. Waters