From Thomas Waters Sr. to his son John Waters (August 21, 1840)

[Thomas Waters, R.M., to his son, John]

Addressed to Mr John Waters, 15 Paterson Street, Commercial Road East, London

Birmingham 21 Aug.1840

My Dear Son, John,

It afforded me much pleasure yesterday on my return from my walk to find a Letter from you.  I was up by a 1/4 to 2 and walked to Coventry, 17 miles, where I arrived before 7 after getting a tolerable wetting much to my dissatisfaction, for I thought to have had a comfortable walk, the weather appearing fine when I arose, and the Barometer got up considerably the day before, on the monday, tuesday and wednesday we had much rain and at times the weather was very boisterous, it appears by the Newspapers that much mischief has been done on the coast in consequence of the gales.  I was back from Coventry before three in the afternoon with fine weather, by the by, you dated your letter which was right but forgot to name the place whence it was dated. fortunately I had a letter of yours by me having the direction, otherwise I should not have known where to send to you, for my memory being indifferent I forget your address, in my present situation of life I merely date from the town because I have some one who goes every morning to the Post office to inquire for letters for the party. otherwise it would be necessary to state the street and the No. of the house if it has one, but the house in which I lodge is not numbered; the direction for me would be at Mr.Chamberlain’s Heavy Steel Toy Manufactorer Belmont row Birmingham, those Heavy steel toys are hammers, pincers, turnscrews etc.  Coventry is a very rough looking place, not at all in my opinion worth walk so far to see, only that the walk contributes to my health & strength which is my motive for taking long walks, the streets of Coventry are in general narrow and unevenly paved, there are three or four handsome churches and some other public buildings, but I only saw the outside of them which affords me but little pleasure.  But I am sorry for your misfortune after all, for though I have been so long without noticing it I have not forgot your accident only I did not like to enter upon it so very abruptly but since the misfortune has happened I hope you will take care of the wounds get them carefully dressed with something that will keep every thing irritating from them and I hope your middle fingers will soon get well, I think you had better show them at the Marine Dispensary Woolwich where no doubt if any thing is wanted something will he done towards healing them and perhaps you had better endeavour to obtain permission to be absent for a few days until your fingers are a little recovered, it is the safest way in the long run to lay by for a short time when you are in any way seriously disordered, the time lost for the present is more than recovered afterwards with a good heart and spirits, laying by in need is like the old saying a stitch in time saves nine for by dilly dallying and putting off the cure of an aliment there is no knowing what harm may be done by the neglect, it may become, in fact, irremediable, when as it is said it is too late to save when all is spent, if you lose the use of one or two of your fingers or perhaps your hand what would be the consequence to your future prospects, therefore whenever you meet with an accident take care that it does not get worse by unnecessary neglect never mind who laughs at your carefulness, let those laugh who have nothing to lose but those who win can laugh at their leisure at the folly of others if there is anything to be gained by it, but I think there is not, in fact Fools deserve as much pity as contempt for if the Almighty has not given them wisdom naturally they cannot acquire it artificially, but a distinction should be made between rogues and fools notwithstanding that one may act the other’s part, a rogues habits are acquired, but if the rogue has sense he may exchange his bad habits for good ones, for we have heard of reformations but I believe we never heard or read of a foolish person becoming wise, therefore where a person has sense and will not put it to a proper use nor endeavour to improve it, such person in my opinion deserves our silent contempt, it might be imprudent to treat him with open contempt, it would not be worth our while, we might lose at it, and it might cause us much vexation, and at all events gain nothing by our disdain.  With respect My dear Son to your not being moved into an other part of the factory, never you mind but wait patiently, redouble your efforts, if possible, to please, do not show a discontented humour to your employers but persevere in endeavouring to please them in an upright and becoming manner never sacrifising your morals or your Religion to please even your Parents but always to what is proper, Mr.Millar worked, I believe, several years as a journeyman to improve his knowledge and to learn what he had not learned during his apprenticeship, you may perceive that much may be learned in other parts of the factory where you are not stationed, by looking on occasionally and by making inquiry when you have opportunities, particularly if you can have the good will of the leading workmen, who have it in their power to teach you a great deal, but as I said before much may be learned by a clever person’s looking on and making his observations; otherwise why should the partners be so tenacious in objecting to strangers going over their Factory, in fact I believe a clever person will actually learn more by looking about the works taking notice making his memoranda when at his residence and afterwards trying his ingenuity, than a dull stupid indolent person will, who may be all his lifetime learning and yet acquire but a little commonplace knowledge of his business, a mere cutting and chopping, rubbing (or perhaps I might say robbing,) and carrying, you heard what Mr.Millar said about Engineering that the Art of it may be acquired without actually working at it, that is the theory only, but then the practice also is what you want for the theory to you without the practice will be but of little use I imagine, and you must not give up your endeavours to attain it until you have gained your point, but have patience as well as perseverance but above all endeavour to be possessed of Prudence, for without that if you have all the ingenuity of the celebrated engineer Watts and of other great characters it will be but of little avail to you, for it will only tend to make other men rich and you dependant upon their Avance, therefore be patient, be persevering in what is right, be prudent and all the rest will follow. You know we heard that a gentleman had made Mrs.Laird a present of a set of silver Tea service who began the world without a halfpenny but that of his own earning and yet how many years did he work as a common journeyman at engineering, I think fourteen after he had served his apprenticeship, and I believe he is not an old man now although he is rich by his own, I may say proud, earning, but you continue to strive to please and I know you will, and indeed I know you will without my importunity for you are a dutiful child in the true sense of the word, without its ever having been preached to you, that I know of, and I wish that all parents would mind their duty to their children more than they do and then we should not hear so much about the undutifulness of children as we do now, but you are blessed with a Mother that is a mother indeed to her children in the true sense of the word and she is in the act of getting repaid by the love of her children, a love that has not been taught them but is, as I may say, innate or ingrafted into them with their food and all reasonable comforts, mind my son I do not tell you this to induce you to redouble your efforts to please your parents for there is no room for that, that I know of, but it is your father’s delight to think of it and to write of it as I cannot talk of it to you my Son, one of my darling children and I can say nothing to you stronger without detriment to all my children, without the hazard of separating the Old Man’s bundle of sticks and the ruin of your parents’ happiness.  But adieu my dear boy and let us begin something else.  I should be happy to see little Nancy your new Sister whom I understand you love but I must have patience for without it there would be a want of Prudence.  If there is any thing here that I can do for you let me know at any time and I will try to supply your want, if you should need a Sovereign for any particular purpose, also let me know, I hope you will not want it in vain for I am sure it will not be to lay out upon folly.  Thomas does seem to be fond of the sea.  I am glad he likes his profession, it is of his own choosing and I trust in Providence that he will succeed as with your own endeavours, under the Almighty’s Blessing I have no doubt you will all, in all reasonable wishes and continue to be your parents good children besides, and a comfort to their old age.  It is with much pleasure that I learn from you that your young Canaries are thriving this year.  I think young Billings did not show good sense in asking to see the Factory having seen it twice previously, considering that he belongs to a rival factory and between you and I, I think he has a weak head, his asking again was presumption, I wonder how he could have been so forward, depend upon it he has not genius to take advantage of what may come under his observation or he would find a better way to obtain his end, if he has an end in view but I think he is merely a tool to some one else who at least endeavours to make him one, therefore I recommend you to be upon your guard that you are not made a tool of also by those who have no right, and to your own ruin of prospects, for if there appears to be any connection between you and another of a rival department, depend upon it you will rue it, therefore have nothing to do with his Engine drawing is my advice, why cannot you learn to draw one yourself, I think, better than he can, but as I said I think he is a tool and somebody wants to make one of you therefore beware how you are not caught in their snare.  Never mind the news my son all the news that I want from you is about yourself and your engineering and that will come all in good time and without hurry for too much hurry is good for nought, what news you send me is quite sufficient and interesting.  I am glad to learn from you that Woolwich is much improved.  I have no douht your plan is good in passing by steam between Blackwall and Woolwich and I should follow it if I were you whenever it best suited my convenience, I see you are a calculator and I have no doubt you will improve your hand in it in time and succeed much better than you did in your Book-keeping where there was a great want of patience.  Once more my dear Son your Letters will always be very welcome to me that is to say mind whenever it is agreeable to you to write them, not else, for I do not wish you to write letters to me or do any thing else for me against your inclination, and although I may not always be in a prattling humour I hope I shall always be able to find something to say to convince you that your correspondence is welcome to your Affectionate Parent

        Tho^s. Waters

remember that your short letters will do as well as long ones do not perplex your head about what to say, long or short send your letters, and employ your understanding in your Profession

T.W