[Thomas Waters. R.M.. to his wife. Elizabeth]
Addressed to Mrs Waters, 21 Mulgrave Place, Woolwich, Kent
H.M.S.Barham Spithead 14th Oct. 1831
My Dearest Love
I mentioned in my last that I had been at Cork, I was much gratified with my jaunt, I left the Cove about half past nine in the morning and walked to the river Lee ferry, a distance of about two miles, where I crossed over, and from that to Cork which is about six or seven miles I rode, in what is called a gingle which carries four persons, at sevenpence halfpenny each. living seemed cheap, fine turkeys and geese at two shillings each, ducks 1s, Eggs 6d pr doz. turkey eggs 1s pr doz. potatoes 21 lb for 3 1/2 which is about 1s“9d the sack, new milk 1d pr Quart, brown soap for scrubbing 3d pr lb- Cork does not look remarkable for cleanliness, many dirty corners in it, beggars in all parts, particularly young folks, from ten to fifteen years old, they are very teasing, asking where you want to go, what you want to see, if you want any thing, if you have any thing to carry, one of the boys, I believe, never lost sight of me all the time I was in Cork, if I went into a shop he was at the door, if I went into the market place he was near me, say what I would to him, it was no use, he would follow me, I bought two or three books in one shop and the bookseller was carrying them for me, when this boy said, please your honour Sir I showed you that shop dident I sir, appealing to the bookseller, dident you see me at your door? They all look very healthy, free from deformity, and are brisk and lively, tolerable dressed women in the street without shoe or stocking, and some well dressed, travelling without any bonnet. I was back at Cove about 1/2 past 4 oClock, after I had recrossed the ferry a parcel of little boys wanted to carry my small parcel, they were ready to take it out of my hands, they would carry it for threepence, they would carry it for two-pence, at last I let one of the little things have it, he appeared about 8 years old, and he trotted along, without shoe or stocking, as fast as I could walk, untill we got opposite the ship, a distance of two miles or more, when I gave him twopence, he said, God bless your honour and I hope your honour will give me another halfpenny, which I agreed to on condition of his holding the parcel untill the boat came- Labouring men’s wages, without meat or drink, is I am told, sixpence per day, and women’s wages four-pence, they have flesh meat for dinner twice a year only. One of my messmates went into the house of a farmer, in the country, who rents a hundred acres, at thirty shillings pr acre, his wife had no shoe or stocking on, and not much clothes on her back, the family were sitting down at 11 oClock in the day at their meal of potatoes and milk– We had much rain while we were at anchor, indeed it is, I am told, a rainy neighbourhood- I am surprised to find by the news-papers that Mr.Austin, in Powis street, is a bankrupt- Joseph, I dare say, will want a waistcoat in his next suit of clothes and I suppose we may as well humour him in that- Our mess have agreed to give Hindle, as long as he behaves well, five pounds a year to assist the steward, so I think Hindle need not complain, as he has the same living as ourselves, and he will also have the shilling a week which I promised him for attending on me, I have not paid him anything since the beginning of June- We sailed from the Cove of Cork the 9th Inst., leaving Sir Edw.d Codrington and the line of battle Ships in the Cove, and arrived in the Downs on the 12th, sailed again on the 13th and arrived at Spithead 14th where I suppose we shall remain for a few days and then take our departure for the Mediterranean it is said the celebrated Sir Walter Scott is to take a passage in the Barham to Naples- Your next letter of course will be directed to this place- I have just received your letter of no date I am extremely sorry to find you have such a sick family I hope all will be right in time
I remain my dearest Wife
Yours most affectionately
Thos. Waters