From Thomas Waters Sr. to his wife Elizabeth Waters (September 30, 1833)

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

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

19 H.M.S.Barham Malta 30 Sept. 1833

My Dear Wife

your letter of 1st July I received the 22nd Aug^t. Also the one in an envelope of same date. I have known of my late highly respectable Agent’s decease these some month’s past, through the News-papers, but as I could give you no useful information on the subject, I thought it as well to let it take its course, for that if any difficulty occurred your friends at Woolwich would advise you best how to act, and you also would be better able to tell me; I am glad to learn by your letter that the Agency is continued by his Executor Lieut. Madden, and shall be most happy to be his client since his worthy father is no more; with respect to my Draughts, they must be drawn on a London House, else, I should not be able to get them cashed, of course Mr. Madden must know it, therefore, I shall continue to draw my bills in the same way as before, until Mr. Madden makes a different arrangement. I suppose you are fully aware, by this time, of the benefit of having a reserve in the Saving-Bank; at the same time that you are gaining valuable knowledge, by which I hope the children will profit, I sincerely wish that you may not again experience any pecuniary difficulties, it is self-evident that we must not, altogether, leave to-morrow to take care of itself, for if the Scriptures say that the lilys of the Valley, (I think), toil not, yet they also say that we are to earn our bread by the sweat of the brow; therefore, if we wish to reap, or to have, when we want, we must sow, or save, when we prudently can, (which I fear will never be the case with Ann, she is loosing the best time for getting her son into Greenwich School, that is, while her Husband is at Sea.) We should get but little to eat, if no one would cultivate the Soil for another day, and by the same rule we might be houseless, if no one would build; the improvident, the indolent, and the helpless might starve, but for the foresight of the more wise and industrious- With respect to our house at Rochdale, I understood when we purchased the property that it was subject to a Chief rent of £2″14s annually; as for the garden, I would not let a part of it on any account seperate from the House; With regard to the wall I wish it to be rebuilt, if it wants it, and the House pointed, but I should suppose the winter to be an improper time for it to he [be] done, and that the Spring would he [be] better, but of that your brother must be the best judge, however, when the cost is ascertained, I wish you to make him the necessary remittance when required–  I admire the mode you have adopted for the children, during their holydays, that of taking a part of a cottage on Plum-stead Common, I think it excellent, nothing can be better, at so small an expense, for their health and recreation-  A passage in your letters of former date, which says “John is very good to Benja-min who, in return, tells him all his troubles”, pleased me very much, and I should be delighted indeed, could I find that all the
children from the eldest downward were equally attentive to each other, for the benefit which would result to them, from such good will, would be incalculable in their course through life’s stormy
way– i think you acted injudicious in leaving your flannel Wast-coat, I have kept mine on, to have put on drawers would have been more prudent, and take but moderate exercise. Your letter of the 31 Ult. I have received.  I remain My Dear Wife, Yours most Affectionately

Tho^s. Waters