From Thomas Waters Sr. to his wife, Elizabeth Waters, and his daughter, Mary. (August 21, 1840)

[Thomas Waters, R.M., to his wife, Elizabeth, & daughter, Mary]
Addressed to Mrs Capt.Waters,R.M., King Street, Woolwich, Kent

Birmingham 21st Aug.1840

My dear Daughter Mary,

I am very glad to find by your Letter of the 14th that Mamma keeps well, that Elizabeth is better, that Baby is quite well, that she is very good and sleeps well.  You want some black Knitting cotton, you say “Meeking’s had not that No. but No.16 was 5/6 the lb,” is it No.16 that you want? for you do not say and No.16 I think is rather fine. I think No.12 used to be preferred but I am not sure, with respect to the largest worsted Darning needles there can be no mistake, but with respect to the large Cotton darners I think you had better name the No. as I suppose the worsted and cotton darners are both of the same kind, the difference I imagine lays in the size.  I hope your Mamma will not sit up too early, more particularly I hope she will not get down stairs too soon, there is danger attending it, she was told by the late Mr.E.Butler, the weather has been particularly favourable for your Mamma, warm at her delivery and cool and bracing since, which is remarkable for the usual sultry month of Aug.  Let Hindle’s wife have a sovereign the beginning of next month.

My dear Wife,

I feel very glad that you are getting round again so well, but I am afraid you are exerting yourself too soon which I do not like, that is to say you may not feel the ill consequence now but you may at a future period if you do not take great care of yourself which you ought for the sake of your young children-  A week or two hence will be quite soon enough for the Infant’s being registered-  Infants are apt I believe to get thinner after they have been born a few days particularly where the mother has been much oppressed with flatulency but that will come round again in good time and the child’s bowels become regular, remember what a poor wee thing Jane was.  By all means get some Port Wine from the Marine Mess-man if you think it will benefit you, you will be sure to have it good which is of great consequence in your present situation.  I must leave the management of yourself and child to your superior judgment in these matters for I am ignorant about what is best to be done. I am sorry about the nurse’s indisposition but my opinion is that she does not take proper care of her bowels. I am sorry that Mary was alarmed, indeed I do not wonder poor child that she was frightened but I hope she soon got over it. I am sorry that the young folks are oppressed with colds but I hope they will soon get about.  It is a great blessing to know where to send for help in the time of need, I do not know what they can do in the time of distress who live far from any neighbour, are also very badly off in the world besides.  But God help us all, we have much to be thankful for notwithstanding our occasional distress. 

Mrs.Scott’s family coming on now after having been so many years married without a family will try her temper very much, and she may have a large family yet, there is no knowing when it may stop-  I am not at all satisfied with Miss Williams nor do I believe that she is satisfied with herself. I attribute her misfortunes to her missbringing up and she will be a miserable being all her life, I wish you could get a better school for the children with all my heart but I do not know where to look for one for a child when it is very young because distance is an objection but I think they might be taken where the youngest of the Pinhorns go.  But may the Almighty Bless you my dear Wife with the Infant and the rest of the family and give you good sound health and much happiness is the Prayer of your Affectionate Husband

     Tho^s. Waters