From Thomas Waters Sr. to his wife Elizabeth Waters (October 20, 1832)

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

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

11 H.M.S. Barham Napoli de Romania 20 Oct. 1832

My Dearest love

I shall be glad indeed if Dr. Parkin cures Mary of the giddiness in her head and I have no doubt he can, since he has told you he will, but I think she had better avoid stooping her head long at a time as it is apt to cause dizziness to some when they stoop long- I hope our boys are duly sensible of Mr. William’s kindness to them and that they will strictly apply themselves to his instructions, Joseph, I hope, will pay more attention to his spelling and that all our children will feel a proper desire to make themselves respectable in life, each endeavouring to emulate the others, at the same time shunning envy and discord, and each affording what help he can to all, as it will conduce to the glory of all and to the happiness of their Parents, which, it is to be hoped, not one of the children will grudge- You must have been delighted to see your four townswomen although they came unwares and just as you were going to begin cleaning your house, I can easily fancy that your feelings were indeed painful when after going with all the cheerfulness imaginable for your Husband’s ring, which I am sure, as a token, you highly prized, to show your visiters and found that it was gone; the distress of your mind affected me very much, but as the loss was in itself trifling, I think you are fortunate, and by it, in the end, you may be a gainer of valuable experience; firmness in yourself with a reliance on Providence and common precaution is sufficient to protect you from villains; the danger is from a want of confidence in yourself to admit the fox into your house to keep out the wolf; I wish with all my heart you could meet with a discreet industrious woman to live in the house and assist you in household affairs. You do well to acquaint me with all your vexations, I hope you will ever feel it to be your inclination as well as your duty; if my advice in return does not relieve I trust it will not hurt you. I am happy that John has conducted himself so well at School as to gain a prize- You must have misconceived some part of my letter of the 8th of June I believe I endeavoured to convince you that I was not intentionally negligent in answering your letters, but I am not aware that I reflected on you in any way whatever, far be it from me, your complainings in your letters are beauty spots which I admire, when I return I hope we shall be well able to dispense with them, in the meantime do I entreat you let me have as many of them as you can spare as it takes me so much longer to read and contemplate your letters which I so much regard; no no my dearest love do not imagine for a moment that in your looking to me for consolation in your mind’s distress that I am so devoid of tenderness towards my best beloved as to construe it into anything but a devoted affection for, and a reliance on, her Husband. 12th Sept. sailed from Ancona, 17^th Arrived at Malta and were put under quarantine. Do not suffer yourself to be imposed on by those who say they have, seen or known me, or, been at this place or that. Your Letter of the 6th Aug^t. came to hand; Family news from Rochdale is melancholy indeed, but the Almighty’s Will be done, in Him, we had better place our trust, who is able and willing to get us out of difficulties if we do not run headlong into them, Reason will point us out our course but if we deviate to the right or to the left we must abide the hazard; Miss Gibson, for instance, has been depending on her brother for support when she ought to have been providing a support for herself; on the contrary, my Sister’s dependence was on her own exertion, and when she, I believe unexpectedly, received a pretty little fortune, she did not become slothful, but rather redoubled her exertion to gain herself a more comfortable independence, and, should she not succeed, she will enjoy in her retirement the very pleasing satisfaction that she has done her best; We may consider ourselves as placed in a very respectable situation in life, and it will be our own fault if we do not keep in it- Your brother Joseph and Mrs. Butterworth have it in their power to do very if they will but firmly make up their minds to resolutely contend with the various difficulties they will have to encounter. Considering your brother Benjⁿ. as hav^g. bid adieu the idea to me is pleasing that I have a sister who is doing well, and you have a brother who, I trust, will do well; we must not forget that he is very young and that he has three most valuable acquirements viz. an excellent business, a highly valuable partner, and a most prudent Wife, I have no doubt, with such attainments accompanied by persevering industry and a fair judgment he cannot fail, with a due sense of religion, of being successful at last- 25th sailed. Mr Marshall, just before we left Malta, received a letter dated in June from Mrs. Nicholls through the Packet Office for which he paid 4/6 and I understand there is one for me at the same price, it may be from you which probably you sent last June, but from our leaving Malta suddenly before our Quarantine was expired I had not an opportunity of going ashore to ascertain, but we expect shortly to return there when I hope to be able to take it up, if it is from you. 5 Oct. We arrived at Napoli de Romania same day I received your Letter of the 3rd Sept.

I remain dearest Wife yours most affectionately

    Tho^s. Waters