From Thomas Waters Sr. to his wife Elizabeth Waters (May 28, 1840)

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

Addressed to Mrs Capt, Waters R.M., King Street, Woolwich, Kent

Birmingham 28 May 1840

My Dear Wife,

Your letter of the 26th came to hand the following day, the great coat I have no doubts will be a very acceptable present to John and it was very kind of the Wingroves to give it to him, it is all a help and very encouraging, I wish John to have the colour clothes he likes best, I thought blue had been his own choosing, at all events he need not have it again, I suppose he has been laughed out of it, having been told, probably, that he gets nothing to wear but his father’s old clothes, I have no doubt that is the reason- The 6 needle cases together only cost one penny, the two Souvenirs together cost two-pence, I will send you one or two more the first opportunity. The slate pencils I have no doubt are good but I sent some large black lead and red lead pencils some time ago, saying that if John found them good and cheaper than he could get them in London I thought I could get him some more, which sort he liked best or both, the matches are three boxes for two-pence they are good, one hundred in each box which I use for lighting my taper to seal my letters-  Capt.Spry and Lieut.Wood embarked long before I left Woolwich. I suppose it is Capt.Hews that you mean is embarked since I left as he stood first-  I would recommend you to part with the Pigeons get what you can for them or even give them away rather than keep them, they are of great expence and much annoyance, to loose them as we do is very irritating and depressing to the spirits, therefore I would not be annoyed with them any more but part with them, the cat is very useful to keep the house and premises free from vermin and costs but little, therefore I would not part with her-  With respect to the rabbets, the buck must be removed out of sight and hearing of the Doe when she is with young, I would advise his hutch to be placed in the backyard some place about the elder tree or any place that it is thought will suit best but not leave him where he is, the Doe is so listless while the buck is so near and yet separated-  I think the Canaries should not be within hearing of each other in breeding time, I shall be glad if you get some peaches plums cherries Apples etc. you are fond of them and they will do you good-  with respect to the Lieutenant it is immaterial which vessel he commands I know it is the one in which Bisset is, but the real point is that if it had been anything of great consequence, as it is not, it would have been forgotten probably, for want of a pencil in John’s pocket, and card or a bit of writing paper, now I should recommend him never to be without a pencil again and with respect to a book, a sheet or even half a sheet of paper doubled into one is very useful, of little expence and easily replaced and I should recommend the same to Mary it will accustom them to habits of business, which is useful to every one rich or poor in or out of business, indeed no one can be said to be out of business that has anything to do with housekeeping, a business of the utmost importance for the richest cannot be comfortable without it, whether they or some one else manage it for them, and we know the poor cannot live without eating and drinking which we may call housekeeping in some shape or other, therefore I recommend Mary to be a good housekeeper and accountant it is the way to get rich and comfortable, for women it makes them sought after and prized, for the first nobility in the land will not do without good housekeeping if they can help it, whatever luxuries they may have besides, therefore spare no trouble or expence as far as consistent with means to the end, I say with you far better work than beg, the first is honorable the last is despicable mean for a gentleman’s daughter, working was never dishonorable in the eyes of the sensible, begging was always unbecoming, and which brings most contentment to the mind, the first will raise one in the estimation of the wise and good, who would have a begger, who would not have a good discreet servant, but the World is made up of all sorts and if we had no poor, I suppose we should have no rich, therefore I suppose it must be so, only I hope I would not be a beggar, bring up your children in the way they should go and they will not be beggars. If any pencil cases are wanting similar to the one I sent at sixpence halfpenny each I can send some, and John have one, the leads 12 in a box are threepence each box.

Love to Children. I remain your affectionate Husband

   Tho^s. Waters