H.M. Ship Ganges
Portsmouth
March 5th 1830
My dear William,
Three days ago I had the pleasure of receiving a letter from you dated in December at Malta. Your Mother, Sister, myself and all your friends were very happy on learning that you were in good health, and more especially as we had received information from Mr. Morton that you were a very smart, obedient, clever youth. That is the way, my dear boy, to get on in the Service, make everybody your friend, and often read over the instructions contained in my letter. Pay every attention to the marks of headlands, course etc. of all the places you visit, because as you are to be a Master, learn all parts of a Master’s duty well, and let the Volunteers of the other Class attend to pleasure. Owing to the many changes that are now taking place nearly all promotion is stopped, and now it would be almost impossible to get any young gentleman into the Service. Officers from half pay will be brought forward to fill up vacancies, except in one case out of three. Great reductions are being ordered and many changes will take place in the present spring. There are reports that Ganges will carry the Prince Coburg to Greece.
We are all well, except dear little Frank , but he is not very ill. We are now living with Mr. Pearce at No.59 King Street, Portsea - you remember Mr. P. is our Master. Mr. Roach lives at Southsea, and all are well; they send their love to you. When you write to me, always mention Mr. Roach, Mrs.B. and Mrs. Pearce, as they are very fond of you.
We are much pleased, with your first letter, but you wrote in too great a hurry and forgot to punctuate your sentences. Make it a case to learn the Geography and. particulars of every place you visit, its population, ancient name, what celebrated men in history were born or flourished there - what it is now famous for - above all, learn all its Ports, Bays, roadsteads, depth of water, and time of tides. Another thing, my dear William, study hard to learn the Italian and modern Greek languages, and practise your French as much as you can, for I can assure you that your next three years, if well employed, will establish a basis for your promotion in the Service, either as a Master if necessary, or for anything in the other branches of the Service. Another thing, my dear boy, never cease to daily perform your prayers to God, and in every trouble or danger call faithfully on Him, and He will be merciful and help you. Fear God, reverence your parents, honour your King, do good to all, and injure no one, but never screen the guilty to your own dishonour. Give my kind regards to Mr. Morton, say that I am much obliged to him for his kind attentions to you; tell him that I called at Mrs M's to inform her that if she would write her letters by 4 o’clock, I would send them.
Lieut. Gunning has been suddenly order to proceed to Falmouth to embark in a Packet and join your Admiral: He will take charge of this parcel. Tell Mr. Morton that Mrs. M. was not at home, but I left a note for her, and at 4 o'clock shall send to her for the letters: tell him that Mrs. M., her father, and all the dear children are in good health. Give my love to William Morton, and my compliments to Captain Swinburne, Mr. Eyton, Mr. Brown, Mr. Davis and. Mr. James, and. to Mr. Marshall - perhaps I shall see you this year as, there is a report that the Ganges will be the flag ship.
I am glad. You are serving with Captain Swinburne and in so fine a Brig. We were on the Platform when you saluted. - the Brig was much admired. – you went out like a Man of War.
We shall teach Frank what you desired. He is beginning to talk and. to walk alone. All your kisses were received.
When you write, my dear William, do not put your letters into the Packet, unless something very particular has occurred. – and when you fold up your letters, do it up as this is done, for owing to your letter being very badly folded, it looked like a double letter, and it cost me 6/4d. I hope, my dear William, you will be very careful of your clothes and use economy as much as possible.
Some reports say that all officers pay will be lowered or a tax be laid on their pay. The clerks at some of the public offices have just had 10 per cent put on their pay - the salaries of many Officers in Civil situations have been reduced, the Pensions to Orphans of 18 and 21 years of age, is done away - and thus poor Mary Gallon having lost her seven pounds a year is in much trouble as her aged Mother is now very ill. The Chelsea Pensioners have 5 per cent tax on their pensions - all these changes are owing to the Country being in distress, therefore it is the duty of everybody to practice economy.
Mrs, Hire is just come to England, she live near us. William desires to be remembered to you. Henry is a Volunteer on board the Victory. There is now the Smallpox at Bermuda, and everybody there is alarmed. Mary Ann sends her love to you, and your Mother and myself look forward with fond hopes to see you in a few years a very clever good Officer. We both pray God to bless you, and to watch over you. Your Mother has given me two shirts which you left behind and these, Mr. Gunning will take charge of. Mind and ask leave to go on board the Admiral's ship to see Mr. Gunning, and thank him for his kindness - remember he will be a Captain by and bye - and may become your friend - Now, my dear William, I have given you all the news, and fervently praying that you will be a good lad.
remain,
Your Affectionate Father, James Hall.
When any Ship leaves you for England send a letter by her and direct to me at No.9 King Street, Portsea, or ask the bearer to leave it at Mr. Cashe's or Mr. Gibson's, but not to put it into the Post.
Ordinary at Sheerness
8th August 1830
Dear William
Captain Swinburne's polite letter has given me great pleasure. It afforded me, your Mother, Sister and all your friends infinite satisfaction on learning from so good an officer the high opinion he has formed of you. Now remember, the higher you rise, whether in the world, or in the estimation of those who know you, the more burden you fix on your back; for you have to maintain your high station against all assaults; therefore be vigilant, and excel yourself to avoid doing, or being disposed to do anything that may diminish what you have acquired, either by industry or good behaviour. Often read over my former letters, and weigh well all the advice they contain.
You say that I am to remember that you are not now a child, c'est tres bon. I will bear this in memory - you now will regulate your conduct by that of men - Of course you will remember that the excuses of children, henceforth will not serve you. I now expect not again to be informed that your chest in is confusion – your things lost, or stolen - or chest broken; order and personal care will prevent confusion; a recollection of your father's limited income, ought to make you look after your things yourself, not even a button or shoe ribbon ought to be lost - by locking your chest, and not entrusting your man with the key, nor with liberty to overhaul your things, nothing will be stolen; - and by speaking to the carpenter, or Captain, your broken chest will be repaired. – L’enfant est parti - jam homunculus est.
I am very sorry you failed, to keep an account of the monies Mr.Morton expended, for you, but yet I desire you will strive to recollect all the items, with the times and places, so that when I have another letter in reply to this, I may be able to meet Mr. Morton's demands with equity. I am very sorry he behaved so ill: We were at an evening party at his house about the time the poor man was leaving you. In the midst of the hilarity of Mrs. M. and the poor children there was bitterness at the bottom of their cap of joy, but they know it not.
So, my dear boy, be careful and steady - your fortune as yet depends on a father's life, be diligent, be sober and wise; not only in the things of this world, but in all that relates to your state in the next world. Exert yourself as if your father were dead, and the road of Glory was open to you - to enter on it, and to advance in it in order to reach palmam, qui mernit, feral as many gallant youths before you have done with prospects not bright as yours are, therefore, by strict economy, civility to all, kindness to your inferiors, respect to your superiors, a never ceasing obedience to all orders; a promptitude not to be excelled by anyone, a fearlessness of danger, great attention to become perfect in your profession; a proper attention to cleanliness in your person and clothes, these things will make the men respect you, your companions court you, and your Captain will be proud in having the pleasure of rearing up an officer of whom hereafter he may hope to see maintaining the honor of the British flag. Again, however, my dear William, I must remind you that to prosper and be happy you must be religious; therefore, daily say your prayers, practise the Commandments, and by frequent reading of the Proverbs make yourself master of them - and then, in useful wisdom you will, as you will see, far excel all around you.
We are now living on board the Temeraire, at Sheerness; the appointment is a very good one. I have one half of the whole length of the half of the Ward room. We are very comfortable. We are all, thank God, in good health, and are happy in knowing that you are well. Frank is beginning to speak and he is extremely happy to learn that you are so clever in your profession. I hope you will soon inform me that you can work Lunar - Chronometer - Double Altitudes - Latitude - by Moon and Star - Azimuth -Amplitude - Tides, and all other questions; and also that you are expert, not only in working, but also in taking these sights. Read all the books you can get relating to Navigation -and in your night watches learn the planets and attend well to the various parts of Astronomy. Sketch off all the headlands, and marks of coasts and places you visit, study well the appearances at various distances - with the depth of water marks, tides, currents. Winds that prevail etc; thus you will soon be qualified for an examination as Master. Of course you know well everything relative to the hold, rigging, etc.
Your Captain begged me to write to the Admiralty for you to be put into the 1st Class, but I informed him that not having any interest I should not like to see you an old Midshipman, and I begged him to keep you in the 2nd Class and as soon as you are qualified, make you Master's Assistant; indeed, my dear William, when you wrote saying that Mr. Morton was coming home and that your chest was broken, things lost, etc., I was much inclined to write for you to be sent home, as unless you are very careful of your things, shall not be able to allow you to remain in the Navy; if you were in the 1st Class you would. not have any hopes of promotion and your pay would, be less - so that I could not think of permitting you to be put in that Class unless I were certain that you would study hard, push yourself on, and be very steady, and very careful of your expenses.
I should like to try you, because your Captain says you have conducted yourself well. Give my best respects to him, and say that I wrote to him, and sent the letter to his Agents, and that I shall send money to his Agents every quarter, therefore when you want any things, or money, apply to him - but mind you keep an account; and now give my compliments to Captain Swinburne and say that on the 5th I wrote to the Admiralty and requested them to direct Captain S. to give the present, or the first vacancy in the 1st. Class Volunteers to Mr. William King Hall !! because you have a good character from your Captain and Officers - and I hope you will now continue to merit it - you now have your wish !!! Write when you shift the button.
If the vacancy of Mr.Morton is filled up, Captain S. will no doubt give you the first one that occurs, if the Admiralty sanction it: and as I have not heard from the Admiralty, I conclude they have written or mean to write to Captain S., if he has not heard from them when this arrives, and the vacancy be not filled up, perhaps he will be justified in putting you into it, and informing the Admiral of my having written to the Admiralty.
Do not write often by Packet - but by Ships that are coming home, ask someone to put your letters into the Post Office. Your mother and sister send their love to you, and we all pray God to bless you.
I remain My dear William
Your affectionate father,
James Hall
Ordinary at Sheerness,
December 7 Dec 1830.
My dear William,
Two days ago I received a letter from Mr.Morton containing his Account of Monies he had expended for you; and desiring me to pay him a balance of £8.15.9 sterling. This is the first letter I have received from him. I have now written to Captain Swinburne and enclosed a copy of the account, and requested him to be good enough to examine you on the subject. I have informed Mr. Morton that I cannot pay him till I hear from Capt. S. at the same time I have told him of the debts for the Mess which he had left unpaid and which were settled by the Captain.
Mr.Morton's bill charges you with Pocket Money. January 6th & 4th Feby: l/6d. expenses to Mycina 7/0½d. - June. Cash 10d. at Sunday times 2/6d. Pocket Money 4d. Horse hire 2/2d. June 8th . Mess. 2/2d. 18th ditto 2/2d. 21st Mess for April, May, June (with a tumbler and sugar basin) paid to Mr. Young £3.7.1. Breakages Dec; 3/3d. March 6d. Mess for December, Jany, Feby and March: £1.0.0. - £1.1.8. - £1.1.8. - £1.1.8 - Marine Nov: & Dec: 8/8d. Jany: 4/4d. Febys 4/4d. for cleaning your clothes. March & April 8/8d. May 4/4d. Rum in Febry: I/-, Clews l/6d. Nov:26. Waterman 1/-. April 5th . Hat at Malta 2/6d. Shoes 4/-». June 10th. Mr. McDowal's bill 18/4d. June 15th. Shoes 4/4d. June 20th. 3 pair of Shoes at 4/4d. each - 13/-. Washing for all the time £1.14.9½; he has given each Washing bill.
Now my dear William, you must very carefully examine the above items and let the Captain and me know if they are correct: remembering not to be positive where your memory or the want of proofs fail, as I would rather pay Mr. M. a pound more than defraud him of one penny through your want of recollection. You now see the fault you have committed in not obeying my directions in keeping an account of all your expenses - this you ought to have done, and I expect you will never fail to note down every farthing you expend; and when you write, which I wish you to do at least every quarter, if any opportunity offers, send me a copy of the expenses. I have twice sent ten pounds to the Captain's Agents, but you must, my dear William be as careful as possible of your things, and take care of your chest. I expect a very great reduction of my pay will be made, and it will only be from your economy that I shall be able to keep you at Sea.
I hope you attend well, at least as much as you can to Navigation, in order that you may be qualified for Master's Assistant. I wrote to the Admiralty for you to be removed into the 1st Class, but it could not be granted. As there is no chance of War, you are better where you are, for every Officer says that the Volunteers of the 2nd Class, if they conduct themselves as young gentlemen ought to do, and get a good character from their officers, they will be sure of promotion. We were all delighted on learning that you were in good health.
All parts of England are in a disturbed state, many families are ruined by their farms having been burnt by the revolted peasants. Old Gran, and Walkers, and Tom's family have been bothering me for relief. Your Mother, Mary Ann and Frank, as well as myself, are in good health; and we all unite in prayers to God for your health, and preservation from all dangers. Frank grows a fine fellow and can say anything. We are very comfortable here.
God bless you,
My dear William,
J. Hall.
My dear William,
Father having a little spare paper I take the opportunity of writing a few lines to you to let you know we are all in good health. We are removed from the Ganges to the Temeraire, Sheerness, which change I can assure you was not very acceptable. Our Captain is a very strange man but we are obliged to make the best of him. Sheerness is not such a pretty place as Portsmouth. Frank grows as fat and pretty as ever but he is as impudent as he is high. Mother sends her love and is glad to hear such a good an account of you from Captain Swinburne. We are just going ashore so must excuse me writing any more and Father is in a hurry to close the letter. So believe me, My dear Brother,
Your affectionate Sister,
Mary Anne
Sheerness Ordinary
July 12th. 1831,
My dear William,
We were all much pleased with your letter written from Malta in April and which we received in May. You say you have done something wrong; I am sure I have not found fault with you. However you do not please me in one thing, you do not seem to be economical, nor to keep an account of all your expenses. I can assure you my dear boy, that it is with difficulty I can afford to allow you £10 a quarter, and whilst you have so much, your Sister cannot go to school. I hope and expect you will continue to conduct yourself well, that I may never have cause to repent that all my exertion to make you a good man, and establish you in the world have been fruitless. You please me much in your style of letter writing; in the writing itself, and more still in the progress you are making in learning your profession. Learn my dear William, whilst you have the means and opportunity, learn to depend more on your own exertions than on the support of friends; there is only one sincere friend of mankind, God. Be active, industrious, and good, and you will always triumph over difficulties. I wish you to keep an exact account of all your expenses, and an inventory of all you possess. I am anxiously looking forward for the completion of your two years, when I hope to hear of your being rated Master's Assistant.
Sir John Phillimore has been to the Admiralty trying to get you into the 1st Class, but could not effect it. Now no more of the 2nd.Class will be admitted, therefore it is a fortunate circumstance that you are already in. You now stand an excellent chance of being a Master in a few years, and then you will have half pay and be your own director. There is not, and will not be any chance of volunteers of the 1st Class ever being made Lieutenants unless a war arises, or they are the sons of nobility. Thus you see you are fortunate. I should send you some Papers, Drawing apparatus, and Norie, if I had an opportunity but here at Sheerness we have no opportunity. I am sorry to add also that by an unjust new regulation, the Admiralty have taken from the Surgeons of the Ordinary the time of Service, which was always allowed to reckon for Sea time. I have thus lost all the time I have served, and am also losing 4/- a day. I shall take the first good Ship I can get, and shall then secure a place as Master's Assistant for you.
I suppose you have seen the Ganges, and Mr.Pearce and Mr Sturdy. As soon as you get promoted, write by the *** and address to me always at Mr Stilwell, as I may not be much longer in Sheerness Ordinary. I have paid Mr. Morton's bill £8.14.0. and when you see Captain Swinburne present my compliments to him and inform him of this. Say also that I had the pleasure of writing to him some time ago.
Your Mother, Mary Ann, Frank and myself, are, thank God, in good health. As soon as you are rated, Mary Ann will resume her Music – Frank grows a fine fellow, and always in his prayers remembers you - James was well when I last heard from him. Mr. Murray is dead. Roach's are gone to St.Vincent. When you come home you shall take lessons in Mathematics and Drawing. Write to me by every Ship, of which you can get anyone to promise to put the letter into the post-office - for Packet letters cost 3/2d.
Your Mother and. Sister send their love and unite with me in praying the Lord to bless and protect you,
I remain,
My dear William,
Your affectionate father
James Hall
Sheerness Ordinary
July 12th. 1831,
My dear William,
We were all much pleased with your letter written from Malta in April and which we received in May. You say you have done something wrong; I am sure I have not found fault with you. However you do not please me in one thing, you do not seem to be economical, nor to keep an account of all your expenses. I can assure you my dear boy, that it is with difficulty I can afford to allow you £10 a quarter, and whilst you have so much, your Sister cannot go to school. I hope and expect you will continue to conduct yourself well, that I may never have cause to repent that all my exertion to make you a good man, and establish you in the world have been fruitless. You please me much in your style of letter writing; in the writing itself, and more still in the progress you are making in learning your profession. Learn my dear William, whilst you have the means and opportunity, learn to depend more on your own exertions than on the support of friends; there is only one sincere friend of mankind, God. Be active, industrious, and good, and you will always triumph over difficulties. I wish you to keep an exact account of all your expenses, and an inventory of all you possess. I am anxiously looking forward for the completion of your two years, when I hope to hear of your being rated Master's Assistant.
Sir John Phillimore has been to the Admiralty trying to get you into the 1st Class, but could not effect it. Now no more of the 2nd.Class will be admitted, therefore it is a fortunate circumstance that you are already in. You now stand an excellent chance of being a Master in a few years, and then you will have half pay and be your own director. There is not, and will not be any chance of volunteers of the 1st Class ever being made Lieutenants unless a war arises, or they are the sons of nobility. Thus you see you are fortunate. I should send you some Papers, Drawing apparatus, and Norie, if I had an opportunity but here at Sheerness we have no opportunity. I am sorry to add also that by an unjust new regulation, the Admiralty have taken from the Surgeons of the Ordinary the time of Service, which was always allowed to reckon for Sea time. I have thus lost all the time I have served, and am also losing 4/- a day. I shall take the first good Ship I can get, and shall then secure a place as Master's Assistant for you.
I suppose you have seen the Ganges, and Mr.Pearce and Mr Sturdy. As soon as you get promoted, write by the *** and address to me always at Mr Stilwell, as I may not be much longer in Sheerness Ordinary. I have paid Mr. Morton's bill £8.14.0. and when you see Captain Swinburne present my compliments to him and inform him of this. Say also that I had the pleasure of writing to him some time ago.
Your Mother, Mary Ann, Frank and myself, are, thank God, in good health. As soon as you are rated, Mary Ann will resume her Music – Frank grows a fine fellow, and always in his prayers remembers you - James was well when I last heard from him. Mr. Murray is dead. Roach's are gone to St.Vincent. When you come home you shall take lessons in Mathematics and Drawing. Write to me by every Ship, of which you can get anyone to promise to put the letter into the post-office - for Packet letters cost 3/2d.
Your Mother and Sister send their love and unite with me in praying the Lord to bless and protect you.
I remain, My dear William,
Your affectionate father
James Hall