From Thomas Waters Sr. to his wife Elizabeth Waters (October 6, 1840)

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

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

Birmingham 6 Oct.1840

My dear Wife

I am very glad you have sent the children to school again, “time is money” and Elizabeth is likely to be of great help to the family when she has completed her education which I hope will be a good one.  You have done right to send them to Miss Borley’s Academy, she has taken them on very reasonable terms 15/ pr Q.^r each as the children’s education is to include French-  I received notice from H.Q.^rs on Sunday that I am second for Foreign service and that Capt.Pilcher is to relieve me about the middle of the month but that I am to receive further notice, in due time, when I am to be relieved, it will make a difference in your stock of Potatoes, if you send a note by Capt.Pilcher you may mention to me what time the Woolwich Steamers leave Hungerford Wharf but it is of little consequence, you need not write on purpose-  When my chest arrives be sure to get a receipt for what you pay for the carriage as government will repay me but not without my producing receipts for what I pay out for self and baggage  You did right to call on Miss Borley yourself, it gave you an opportunity of thanking her for her delicate attention on your laying in-  You put too much sealing wax on your letters and you should not put it between the letter it does not stick near so well–  Poor John meets with accidents but I hope they will be for his good, we cannot thrive without trials, let John have the plough and the filletster, take what they cost from the five pound note. I hope I shall be home by the time it is expended, John is a good boy and what I can possibly afford him he shall have.  Providence will repay us again in the end through our children’s good conduct, if John’s thigh is much hurt he had better lay by until it is well-  You have done very right indeed in sending the children to school-  The cake that I received by Serj.^t Crutcher I cut into the last day of Sept. and found it excellent, the best I have had, I do not think it had been near so long in the oven as usual as it was not near so much dryed up, consequently the cake’s being more moist was all the better, at all events I enjoyed it very much, the apples I have not yet tried, I am strong now in cocoa enough I believe to last my year out or nearly so, I have not tried my last cocoa but I have no doubt it is good, the rusk I brought with me I finished yesterday morning and it almost seemed to me as if it had improved by keeping it was so good. Love to Children-  Yours Affectionately

     Thos.Waters