From Thomas Waters Sr. to his wife Elizabeth Waters (July 16, 1832)

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

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

8 H.M.S.Barham Bosphorus 16 July 1832

My Dearest Love,

I hope your health is by this time pretty well renovated and that your spirits have recovered their proper tone; I assure you I am deeply afflicted whenever your mind is oppressed with sadness; ill health is difficult at any time to endure with firmness, how much more so when surrounded with sickness, and remote from that assistance and consolation which is deemed so essential to happiness, but I sincerely hope and trust that brighter days are yet to come and that you will live to enjoy the fruits of a good heart and virtuous intentions, amidst those blessings which the world cannot take away. Betsey from your description is a most engaging child, her playful innocent ways must be very soothing to her mother. It gives me very great comfort to learn from you that Mary is so useful, that she is desirous to help you as much as she can and that she begins to have a knowledge in cookery- You say you are afraid there will not be many shirts made for me this time, for my part my sweet Love I would rather that you made none while you have so much employ- ment for your time; I am well stocked for the present and by and by Betsey will be grown out of your way I hope; Mary, I trust in Providence, will be strong and able to afford you much more assistance than now and even sweet little Betsey be delighted to come in for a share of the work, I suppose she is beginning to learn already to cut out. It is a great consolation that my tender-hearted Benjamin is so much recovered and that you are enabled to say you have no need to complain of their healths. I am glad you find Joseph so trusty, I hope he will continue to deserve your praise. I think you are fortunate in having such a kind friend as Miss Molesworth to assist you in needlework. The rheumatism is certainly a most harassing pain; from your saying that you have it in your arm, I am almost inclined to think you have a slight touch of the liver-complaint; the last time I was laid up, the pain began at the articulation of the right shoulder, and sometimes now my right arm seems as if it is almost too heavy for me to sustain, that is to say, when it is in a hanging position, but by taking a calomel pill now and then at night when my arm or shoulder is painful, I get relieved. 29 May The Sultan, after passing the day at his palace near Therapia, did the Barham the high honour of making a circuit round her, about sunset, in his boat, he came very near, but not on board, it being contrary to his dignity, it is said, to visit a foreigner or even to pay any compliment, therefore, what he did was considered an extraordinary act of civility, he held a pink umbrella over his head and was seated at the bottom of his boat, turkish fashion, he was preceded by two boats which were close along side each other and contained a band of musicians softly playing his grand march, the band’s playing or not playing was regulated by a twirl or two of the umbrella, when he came near, he was complimented with three hearty cheers from the Ship’s company, our band striking up his march, and a royal salute of twenty-one guns as he moved off for Stambool, (the turkish name for Constantinople;) we were visited about four or five days after by “His Highness” chief Phisician who gave us to understand that his master was highly gratified with the greeting which he had received. 2nd June we were favoured with the company at dinner of some Turkish Officers, for as we were just sitting down, a Major General and a Lt.Colonel with some other Officers of Cavalry that were encamped in a valley near us, came on board to see the ship, and they were invited to partake of our fare which they did with very little hesitation and not a little to our surprise, as we had been given to understand that the Turks are strongly prejudiced against eating animal food with christians, however, they seemed to feel themselves quite at home as they ate heartily, drank wine freely and laughed, apparently, with much glee. The Ambassador gave his farewell Ball and Supper at his Palace on Saty. the 14th July, and it is said he will quit Constantinople in the Barham on the 28th or soon after, it is supposed we shall take him to Ancona or Marseilles, (after stopping at two or three places,) whence he will proceed to England over land as far as the Channel– I hope Joseph will pay strict attention to his orthography with kindest regards to my children-

I remain my dearest love
yours most affectionately
        Thof Waters

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