From Elizabeth Waters to her husband Thomas Waters Sr. (September 30, 1833)

[Elizabeth Waters, née Butterworth, to her husband, Thomas Waters R.M.]
Addressed to Capt.T.Waters R.M., H.M.S.Barham, Malta

  Mulgrave Place Sept 30 – 1833
This day My dearest Love belongs to you alone. 19 Years ago I became yours and yet it appears but as yesterday. trouble enough you have had with me altho I am inclined to think that I have added a little to your happiness. May God spare us to meet again is the first prayer of my heart. we have often experienced his Infinite Mercy and goodness, the first and greatest blessing I received was a good Husband who I can sincerely say is better loved now than on that long past day I am writing about. being an invalid enables me to have a little rest from active duties, nothing but my mind is now occupied and that is full of very pleasing and interesting thoughts beyond my ability to pen. You will my love be delighted with Elizabeth, she is very engaging, her tongue is going at a fine rate. Yesterday just after dinner and my head was aching at the time and I said sharply do let us have a little peace, she very quietly said No. I dont want peace, I want to be Dashed. she is very fond of Miss Bealeys powders and will often say, Me very sick, why don’t you give me a little of Miss B
powders, hey why dont you Ma, which she will keep repeating until she is attended to, then and then only we shall have a little ease. she is very fond of Benjiman and he is kind to her. there [their] prattle to each other often amuses me. he will sometimes give her a slap when very teasing. I cannot think what she will think of you when you come home altho she very often speaks about her Papa. Benjiman will say it is his Papa, then Elizabeth will say no it is not, it is my Papa. that he will not allow her to repeat without being angry 

I am not sure whether I told you that Mr. Dale is insolvent and I rather expect we are going to have a new landlord for it is posted up outside Mr. Dale’s house to let on a twenty years lease. whether it includes all three or only his own house I cannot tell but I suppose we shall soon know being so near rent day. the bill was only put up on the 21 and I understand they are going away the first day of October. of course I shall be circumspect in paying my rent. Capt. Molsworth will make enquiries about that for his own sake and will acquaint me with the result. He has often wished us out of this house saying he wished to occupy it themselves. It is sadly out of repair the back kitchen floor is full of holes and the fence next to Burkets is nearly all down, it is the currant bushes that have been supporting it so long and now they are giving way in all directions, still I shall not leave the house before you return unless I am obliged. the Miss Thomsons took tea with Mary one day last week
and were saying that there [their] Papa had some idea of being sent to the South of Wales. there has been Marines doing duty at Milford Haven this long time, it would be very pleasant for you to have an appointment to so cheap and healthy a station then you could take us all with you. then it would only be one remove or you may be sent a recruiting for on your return we shall feel the want of another bed room. at the present we do not suffer from that only when Miss Gibson thinks fit to stop a few nights more or the children like sleeping with her, indeed she complains that they are very restless for all that she is very useful in sickness, I have just received your letter so good bye for the present, I thank you for your letter but not for thinking me uncandid. certainly I was very angry when I wrote the disputed letter, surely it was natural for me to apply the contents of your letter to myself and I cannot help thinking the hints were all intended for me alone and no one else. I am sensible of my bad cooking also of my bad management and I have not looked upon them with indifference, neither have I knowingly neglected to improve in those duties you so strongly recommend. You should not have discontinued your correspondence. I am almost sure you would not if it had been possible for you to feel the painful anxiety your long silence occasioned. it is now past and if you was here I would seal the reconciliation but it is only from my pen you can now receive it. My Brother Joseph I fancy is much displeased with me for not granting his request. I am very desirous of another letter from you so that I may know your opinion, from his reqiring an immediate answer I could do nothing but deny he has never written me since, poor Benjeman has a retreat but it is a melancholy one, I am glad you are not displeased with our visit to your Sister. she occasionally writes indeed I
received one from her last week, with an inclosed one for Miss Sillifant, desiring me to direct the same to the place you called upon them, she very politely sent it unsealed saying you can look it over: if not too much occupied. she had not written to the Miss Sillif- for years and this was an invitation for them to visit Clifton describing the beauty of the place and telling them how commodious her house is, two drawing rooms and two parlours which she lets to a single Lady who has occupied them since May but is now going to leave. she keeps two Servants, complains that business is very bad, very bad indeed. she told them how Thomas was and w(h)ere stationed. I consider you anything but frivolous but really believe that you have a strong dislike to the word busily, when I use it again there shall be no ly [lie] in it, the Childrens letters were there [their] own composing
to the best of my knowledge, Mary is not so frequently complaining of her head, still she is not fit for studying. she is looking very well. Joseph will have a french Master this quarter, his drawing Master is well pleased with his abilities  I shall be glad when you are at home to regulate his studies. John is not so quick in learning but very studious and fond of his home  Thomas is very sharp and has a good memory  thank God they are all very well and the Tailor as well as myself can perceive them grow. in my next letter I will tell you more about them, I will pay Ann the three pounds therefore you can tell Hindle and he will pay you  the Children desire there [their] Affectionate Love, excuse all faults 

Joseph is sometimes very troublesome. he has begun to wear stocks keeping his neck warm has prevented such repeated attacks —
ever Yous Affectionately,

     Eliz^th Waters