From Thomas Waters Sr. to his wife Elizabeth Waters (June 24, 1840)

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

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

Birmingham 24 June 1840

My Dear Wife,

“Never despair” I should like a country life too but where is the grist to come from without money to buy it that is the thing, a Country life is a very pleasant life, to those who like it as you and I do, with all the comforts about it, but miserable without any of them, for in a large town a person scarce need starve however poor he may be for if one person will not assist, why another will, which is different in the country where there may be no one to give, and if there is perhaps he may not be able or willing, and when an education for the children is considered, a fitting them out in the World, a supporting home to them and a welcome one, whenever they return, and a little provision to leave behind us for them when we depart from this World to take up our habitation in the next are considerations which will weigh hard to induce us to put up with our present inconveniences for the sake of their future comfort and I think I may add, their final happiness, by Gods Blessing, without which every thing in this World, we are taught, to believe is of no avail to us in the next.  A large and increasing income is better than a small and stationary one we all know, and where there is but you and I to enjoy it, we can say such and such will do, for we may make up our minds to bound our desires by our means, but it is different with respect to our children, for they cannot bound their desires while so young and no fixed provision within their power, much less can we bind them for them, therefore I believe the best thing we can do is to learn and labour truly to get our own living and that of our children’s, and to do our duty in that state of life, into which it has pleased God to call us- The lump in Benjamin’s neck is a serious concern no doubt, but I do not think it a dangerous matter, in your hands where it will not be tampered with and the child so young, and Mary’s the same I am not alarmed about it if you will not be, see how nicely Thomas got round from his dangerous symptom when a little child, see the lump that you had in your throat before we were married, in my opinion, a far more serious ailment as in the first place it impeded your swallowing, in the next place you was in danger of suffocation, and yet you got well over it and have suffered no  inconvenience from it since, your leg again looked like a lasting ailment, yet by your  own care you cured it, in some people’s hands it would have been bad to this day, I had a tumour increasing in my side for many years, and now I do not know what is become of it, dangers or what are considered dangers always look most alarming at a distance or when approaching, we are at a loss how to act, in fact we seem to have a microscopic view of them but remove the glass, otherwise the distance and the magnitude of the danger almost vanishes-   After all continue to do your best as you have done and leave the result to Providence and all will be right at last-  You have written to your brother and there is an end to that affair, for I do not know what you could say satisfactory to him and to yourself and when that is the case the least said the best I think.     John did right to get leave to stay the week at home, when he was not well. I wish him always to do the same, and I am happy for him to have his friends whenever it is agreeable to you and to him. Edw^d Nicoll’s expectations of getting on in the Navy seem to be a great deal damped from his engaging in the Merchant service but I do not know when he can get £12 a month, with board, and a prospect of a speedy increase in pay unless on the coast of Guinea and if it is there I do not envy his parents for I would sooner for Thomas to be engaged in the service in which he is, at least for the present.  I am glad John has spoken to Mr.Millar about being removed to another branch of the mechanic engineering, it is much better than going to another person to speak for him, and he would have been wrong not to have made any application as he has now shown to Mr.Miliar how anxious he is to learn the whole business and that he has zeal to become perfect which will make Mr.Millar more inclined to take him by the hand than he would if he perceived John unconcerned about whether he got on in his business or not.  I shall be very glad for Mary’s health to improve, time and attention will sometimes do great things, and I hope it will in the case of Mary-  I think you had in two ton and half of coal when I was at Newark, I think about that quantity will be necessary and sufficient now, but I wish you to judge yourself-  I think it very likely that you may find a benefit in sleeping in the top front room, you are likely to have more pure air from over the tops of the houses in front of you but I hope Mary does not sleep in the same bed with you and if Jane did not I think it would be all the better. Mary and Sarah could sleep together in one bed and Elizabeth and Jane in another, however for that you must judge, I should like for us to have a couple of new beds in that upper front room instead of those uncomfortable old ones and if you saw one that you thought would suit you I wish you to buy it. Benjamin could have a bed made up in the library if you thought proper-  I wish always to have a little money with you for any demands that may be made upon you on my account, I intend to send you a five pound note one of these days for that purpose, it is so convenient, I have a running account with Capt.Varlo on account of the wives of two of my party, one of them living near Havant receives her allotment at the Portsmouth Division-  I have no objec- tion to Johns having sixpence a week more to his pocket money, as you mention, if you have none. You say I bought the darning cotton very dear, I did not buy any at 3/s per lb, I have seen some since No.16 at 1/9 per lb. I have not tryed my new Cocoa but I have not the slightest doubt that it is very good as that is so which I am now using, it was very kind of John to give me his pound for one of mine of an inferior price but it is not my wish for him to do so again. I have a round sugar canister to keep my main stock in and a small square tea canister for present use, but what you sent me last must remain in paper until I have more room in my canisters- Hindle says you have got the house done up very nicely and the garden looks beautiful, every part of it he says is full and I wish you and the young folks all health to enjoy it with my most affectionate love to you all I remain your truly affectionate Husband

Tho^s. Waters–

Hindle wishes his Wife to £1 the 1st July.

I suppose about 1-2 ton of coals will serve.