From Thomas Waters Sr. to his wife Elizabeth Waters (August 30, 1831)

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

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

H.M.S.Barham Spithead 30 Aug. 1831

My Dearest love

Your letter of the 25th came to hand the 27th, The Baker will be the best person to tell you when it is a good time to get a sack of flour, I suppose towards the end of the autumn, before the new comes in. You have a great deal of trouble upon your hands, I am sorry for it, but there is no learning without trouble, you may be said to be studying in the school of affliction, whence you may learn much that is good and useful and be able by and by to teach it to your children. I am sure you would rather be as you are in the midst of trouble in your younger days and therefore be more worthy of your husband and children than be a useless inanimate drone all your life time, I can even now perceive that you are improving in fortitude, my own sweet love. I suppose you are glad that Betsey has begun to cut her teeth, what a pleasure it will be to you when she runs alone- If you withdraw the boys from Mr Dixons’, I think you had better take Mrs. Grays recommendation- You say you are truly tired of the children, as your days and nights are taken up in attending to them, but think to yourself if you would be so happy without them, I am sure you would not, I think an indolent life is a most intolerable one, and what would you have to do if you had not to attend to your children. it is after troubles that we really enjoy happiness, some people are mere nonentitys possessed of no useful quality, all litherty litherty, who would be plagued with them? Now when I return to my home, I have the society of an interesting, engaging, useful, lovely Wife on whom my heart doats [dotes], even now I enjoy her sweet society through her charming complaining letters, my darling love lodges her complaints in the right place, her husbands bosom, continue to complain to me my dearest angel, and I will continue my endeavours to comfort you, it is the sweetest pleasure of my life, I would sooner be possessed of you my sweet complainer than of all the riches of the World without you- Miss Beiley’s recommendation will not suit our circumstances, we cannot afford to send our boys to a boarding school, if it is to cost you fifty pounds a year besides clothes, books etc. etc. for the maintenance of two children, how are you to support and educate the remaining four children with the remainder of your income: if we could afford it, it would be all very well, and I should not object to it. We have a new first Lieutenant appointed to this ship, the old one is going away, we expect great improvement, there is certainly room for it- I think Mr. Willson is becoming reconciled to the ship, for myself I would not leave it for any other- Your letters to me are dearer and dearer, how I adore you! Your wish to see me is most delightful to my heart, how much I long to see you, I cannot express, I must leave it to you to imagine but prudence prevents us from visiting each other, the expense would be so great- and every halfpenny I wish to save for you, my more than life, I do not know what I could not endure for my sweet Love- Remember me to the children, I received all their letters and presents on Sunday morning. Capt. Molsworth is very welcome to the scallop shell, it is at his service without exchange, thank him for the comicalities-
I remain my charming Wife
your most attached Husband

Tho^s. Waters