Andromache,
Plymouth
October 22nd. 1833
My dear William,
Having heard that the Salamander is going to the Mediterranean, I write to inform you of our being all, thank God, as when I wrote a few weeks ago by the Packet. I suppose you have been surprised by my taking so small a ship; the reason was, that I was desirous of going with Captain Yeoman, he was living at Southsea, and we expected to have the North Star at Portsmouth, but were disappointed; to the great regret of all of us. The ship we have is a fine 28 of 715 tons, 150 feet long; carrying 32 pounders, of 6½ feet long; having 180 men. We do not know what Station we shall go on. There is nothing new, and we expect all chance of war, with Russia or Spain, has ceased; of course all prospect of promotion is very distant to every class of officer.
I have, my dearest William fully stated all my ideas to you on the subject of your quitting your present class; you have now arrived at an age, and have had sufficient experience of the Service to see to a distance before you, and therefore I now wish you to act as circumstances may arise that promise to be of advantage to your ultimate interest. Always remember that you are son of a poor man, whose fortune in the world has been. under the Blessing of God, the result of his own exertions: think of this my dear boy, build not vainly on the help of friends, for he who may this year be your friend may next year be in his grave, - or have then, no interest in the Service; reflect upon this, - if a long peace continue, as a Midshipman, or Mate you would find it difficult when once paid off, to get a Captain to take you; the Admiralty or some influential person fills up nearly all - well, would you like to be an old Mate in preference to being a Master, on the half-pay list: if you pass for 2nd. Master you have good pay, constant employment and if a war unexpectedly should arise, you might change to Midshipman if you should like, and get made Lieut; always remember my dear William, that my years are uncertain, and that after it shall please God to call me home, you have no relative to assist you; you see then how necessary it is for you to become independent.
Your Mother, Mary Ann, Frank and the little Fanny are all in good health. The Thunderer is going out to your Station, with Captain Wise, who will take the Malabar. Mr. Dickson, the Surgeon is my friend; he has promised to see you; he is a friend of Captain Wise, and is a very religious man; make friendship with him. I advise you to remain out my dear William, and pass - then I will send you my Watch, be very careful of your clothes and as economical as possible. Love and fear God, and remember His Commandments and do them, and may He bless and protect you in the daily prayer of your affectionate father,
James Hall,
Andromache,
At Devonport
December 27th. 1833.
My dear William,
A few days since I had the happiness to receive your letters dated, at Malta, November 26th, and the same post brought one from James dated. Bombay, July 17th. Yesterday I received yours of the 18th October, when you were about to sail for Napoli.
My dear William, your letters have given us all, I assure you, sorrow. Mr. Stilwell, I fear, will begin to doubt your prudence, as he perceives you are discontented in your Station - he desires you not to allow, he hopes, false notions of comfort, and rank to mar your own prospects in your profession - for he says very truly, "a rolling stone gathers no Moss" and my dear William, I am a proof of this truth. For your sake with that of your Sister, I am now serving at sea, but at an age, near 50, when a man ought to seek rest, after passing so many active and toilsome years at Sea, as I have done.
I have already promised you, that whenever I can, I will get you a Midshipman's Vacancy, but in the meantime you must be patient in the situation you are now in. Look round and see how much better provided you are than many; and let it never be for a moment forgotten by you, that all your hopes depend on my existence and employment on full pay. When you have the good fortune to pass and get appointed 2nd Master, you will be independent of casualties. And your passing and getting that step will not prevent your obtaining a Midshipman's situation in the event of War, and should no war take place, your situation as Master would be infinitely better than an Admiralty Mate without interest. What would you do were you now rated, Midshipman, if it should please God to Deprive you of your father? Stilwell would instantly stop paying your bills. No person would supply you; your Mother would only have her pension; - you say you could keep yourself on your pay, alas! you have given me much pain by informing me you are in debt at Malta; and that you were near being turned out of the ship - I cannot permit you to draw an extra £10. I am myself in debt with Stilwell and therefore you see it behoves you now, to seriously view your circumstances: your future prospects, your happiness in life, all depend on your present conduct; if you are steady, careful of your clothes, industrious, attentive to your profession, and civil and gentlemanly to all, your £40 will well keep you; you will be qualified to pass for 2nd Master, would soon receive an acting appointment, then in a short time be acting Master, return home, pass the Trinity board, get on the half pay list, then you might study the higher parts of your profession, acquire a high character, and rise to eminence; be the protector of your Mother and Sister &c. after my death: but if you, by ill management, lose your situation, or foolishly step aside into the other line, of Midshipman, (except my friend Capt. K., or a war, should favor our wishes), you will undo all that has been done; and bring heavy sorrow upon yourself and friends. I am very uneasy at the thought of your being turned out of the ship, it would ruin you at the Admiralty and Captain King would not notice you.
I am astonished at your saying it is difficult to pass for 2nd Master: you must pass as soon as you have served your time, and send an account of your success home to Stilwell and Capt. King: that will assure them that all they have heard of your abilities, as a Seaman, is true. Again, my dear William, remember you are a poor man's son; strive not to vie with other youths who are rich, or imprudent; neither envy the Midshipmen, your line is a certain one in peace, their's is not. Our Captain is very ill, and is going to resign the Ship, this will cause a turn out of all his followers.
Your old Ship mate Webster is here with other Mates, without any chance of promotion - one is going to quit the service, being quite tired - now our Master is a young man, who has got on without any friends; entirely by his own exertions and abilities; he is now provided for: the Mate has nothing new. I am sure you will be proud, and will thank God, when you shall find yourself independent, as a Master, you will then look with pity on the many old Mates around you. You will have half pay, may command a Merchant Ship - or get a Store Ship. in time a dock yard – the Master allowances will be increased. Think what distress you would suffer, supposing you were a Midshipman, and no Captain would take you; our Captain had no vacancy for his own relations. Besides, to say in a few words, you have now more pay than a Midshipman, and yet you cannot make £40 a year keep you – you have now destroyed all my hopes, and made Mr. Stilwell doubt your prudence. I cannot allow you more. There are several young men in your Class, whose fathers are on half pay, and cannot allow more than a few pounds a year. One named Bullen is on board the Alfred, he has only a Mother, the widow of a Lieutenant - she lives here, and informs me that her Son has written to say that he shall pass for 2nd Master, as soon as he has served his time - you must do the same and this will be the proof of your being studious and desirous of getting on in the Service. Once for all, I repeat that unless a War arises, you will be better in the line you are in; and with respect to the ship coming home, you must persevere your character as a clever, civil youth and get into some other Vessel: where you will require to spend less money.
With regard to the Bill at Malta, you must pay it by putting aside some of your quarterly money. If you are careful of your clothes , you will do well enough. Your Mother, Sister, Frank and infant, have been here for a few weeks, as I could not get leave, they are now at home, 51 Prince George Street, Portsea.
As our Captain's illness has made him give up, we are looking out for another. I am exceeding sorry my dear William, that it has appeared that our Ship is going on the East India Station, as it was my intention to have got an order for you to join my Ship. You are mistaken about a free passage home in a Steamer. I hope still to have you with me.
James, poor fellow, is in distress, he has lost his child and he begins now to repine at the line he is in - it is too late - if he had been industrious, and followed my advice, he would not now be as he is - do you take warning. Remember you may always make yourself respected in your line, by a gentlemanly conduct - if you had been turned out of the Barham Captain King would not take you, he will be able to do much for us all; his day is not yet come.
We are going to take Lord Napier's family and suite to Canton, and quite unexpected, I shall probably go to Bombay and see your dear brother. As soon as ever the Thunderer joins, go on board and ask to see my friend, Mr. Dickson, Surgeon - remember he is a religious man, and of course will expect to find you steady. Ask him to assist in getting you into a Ship to remain out. But mind, I will not have any excuse for your not passing as soon as you have served your time. I shall send you some of the questions asked, our Master says the examination is easy; you will pass, but of course you must be studious.
Your Mother, Mary Ann, Frank and Baby, thank God are as well as myself, in good health, and all send their love to you.
I do not think there is any chance of War. Pray be steady and rely on God's care of you.
Questions for you to learn well to answer - and which you must learn.
What are the Marks &c. of the Fork buoy.
Ans: The buoy is chequered Black and White, lies in 4 fathoms - Marks for it are Waldenham Monument on South, Deal Castle, West, a little northerly St.Lawrance Mill, just open to the Eastward of Ramsgate Pier lighthouse, bearing North,
Gull light ?
North Sand head light?
What are the anchoring marks in the Downs?
You part your cable in the Downs at night, wind S.E.
What are the marks to carry you clear of South Sand head?
What are the marks of South Sand head Buoy?
You are in Downs with wind S. Westerly, at what time of tide would you weigh?
What are the turning marks for the Gull Stream?
What are the marks for the Varne?
What are the marks for Ridge?
What depth of water between Varne and Ridge?
What depth of water would you stand into between Dover and Folkestone?
What are the marks for the Swallow Bank?
What are the marks for Stephenson Shoal?
What for the Sovereign Shoal?
What for the Southern Head?
December 30th. To my great astonishment I have this moment received a letter from you dated December 7th; this makes 9/- shillings for Postage you have cost me in one week. I am excessively angry at your restlessness and desire to leave the ship and especially at your saying you shall cash your Pay Ticket, for this belongs to Stilwell - I am sorry I ever allowed you to go to Sea; if you cannot be steady, content and economical, no more can be done; the fact is, you must instantly decide on doing as I wish - more money you cannot have: Stilwell will not pay any other than the regular bills of £10 quarterly, - nor will I, for I cannot :- you. must remain out - if you quit the Service you will be ruined ;- you must pass for 2nd Master, and get an appointment.
In hopes of your doing as I wish. I remain, My Dear William,
Your affectionate father
James Hall.
H.M.S. Andromache, at Madras.
13th December, 1834.
My dear William,
Not having had any intelligence from home since we sailed, and months ago knowing that the Barham had arrived I have been and am still in anxiety respecting you. As our 3rd Lieut. Mr. Tennant is going home invalided in the Magicienne, and has promised to call at your Mother's, if she is residing at Portsea, I am very glad of the opportunity of writing to you, lest My dear boy you should imagine I do not feel the anxiety for your welfare that I used to declare always dwelt in my breast.
Ignorant of what you are doing, I can only daily pray that you are steering a right course to that Port to which both young and old are, or ought to be earnestly navigating. But whilst on this course, my hopes are that the voyage of life be prosperous and that by a prudent care with compass and chart you may avoid all rocks and shoals. Much depends, my dear William, on your own wisdom and prudence, in directing you in those honest pursuits which require only industry and patient perseverance to make success sure. I cannot give you any advice as to what is best .
You well know my thoughts of the Navy. Webster is here, and may remain a Mate all his life, at all times liable to be turned adrift - for he has some bad habits, - I pray you may ever detest drunkenness. Till I return I can decide on nothing for you: it was most unfortunate that you did. not come home in the Rapid, for this Station is so distant, and the Ships all so scattered that we are at no time certain of receiving letters from England. It is an expensive Station for youngsters. Now you are in the line of Masters I wish you to study hard, and pass for 2nd. Master, after that please God, I shall be home, I hope and then we will consult together what next to do. My desire is to make you happy.
Your Mother has told you of the severe illness I suffered last July - the fever nearly destroyed me. Our Marine officer died and Mr. Tennant is now obliged to quit the country from the same cause. You have abundant reason to thank God for His mercy to you in preserving me. Poor James wept in rejoicing for my recovery. I had a letter from him 3 weeks ago, and expected to pass Christmas with him, but when we were near Bombay, the Admiral ordered us to part company and go to Madras, thence to Trincomalee, to refit, I then rejoin him - so that in Feb’y I hope to have the pleasure of seeing James, his wife and child.
We had a brush in China, in September; we were the aggressors, contrary to the Law's of the Chinese, Imogene and we passed up a river guarded by 5 forts, mounting 130 guns; if Europeans had been opposed to us, we should have been demolished, as it fell nearly calm and the winds light and contrary, when we lay with our Stern only 400 yards from a 40 gun battery our Bow exposed to another, and one abreast of us. We had four guns run out forward, and 5 astern; and were obliged to fire all these at the same time with our broadside, and thus we made the Chinese run from their guns into caves built in the forts. On our first day's action we fired an hour and a half - on the Second day we silenced a large fort in a quarter of an hour, as we had a breeze. Several shot struck us. One 9 pounder killed a boatswain's Mate on the Main deck - he was shot through the heart and bowels; four Men wounded; the Imogene had 1 killed, the Captain of the forecastle had the top of his head shot off; 3 wounded. We killed about 100 of the Chinese and much damaged the forts. But our exploit did no good, for the Chinese would not allow Lord Napier to violate their regulations: and they kept him prisoner at Canton till he had promised that our Ships should leave Canton River.
In the meantime they stopped all supplies - cut off all communication between him and us – blocked the river - surrounded us by troops, and prepared fire rafts to burn us - We were obliged to row guard all night. Thus we were compelled to retreat - and Napier took ill, and died and we left China - without having done any good. Our Captain thinks we shall have war with China, not I, - we can do them no harm - they are so numerous, and so poor. The Rapid would destroy all their fleets as their men of war only carry 4 or 6 guns.
The Melville will leave Bombay as soon as Admiral Capel comes, and by her our late first Lieut Hill will take letters for your Mother, and also some parcels for her, Captain King, and Sir Theophilus Lee: as I was ill nearly all the time in China, I did not go on shore which prevented me buying any suitable present for you. However My dear William you are now a young man and require something more useful than trifles. Poor Mary Ann, I have not been able to spend much for her. Should you receive this I wish you to write me a long letter, and give me your opinion of Mary Ann's progress and of Frank's, and whether he improves, how you like the house, how Miss Fanny grows; and whether your Mother and all the family seem happy and comfortable, and enjoy good health. I shall judge by your letter of your capability to act for me in domestic businesses. James has become lost to me - I now depend on you to protect your Mother, brother and sisters, and look after my interests in my absence.
Be extremely cautious in introducing Mess-mates and strangers to your home; for besides being expensive, they often bring trouble to a family - never allow your Sister to go out alone, nor with any young man - you yourself by this time know the evil of young men: and of all things in a Sea Port town nothing is so dangerous. If any Gentleman wishes to be introduced to your Sister - learn well first his character and connexions (sic), and then make him declare the purpose of his wishes, but trust nobody.
God bless you. My dear William; I hope by and bye to be able to do something for your advancement in life. I hope you read much, and dear William, remain your affectionate father.
James Hall.
Kiss dear little Fanny for me. God bless you