Chatham
Wednesday, July 25th 1838
My dear William,
I have infinite pleasure in writing to say that after many trips up and down to town, I have at last got my appointment. [PAGE2541] I am much afraid my office will not continue longer than October; to be renewed in the Spring, if Emigration be not discontinued. The appointment is the best I ever have held and I pray to God it may be kept up, at least for a year.
If this should fortunately happen, please God, I may be able to assist you in clearing off your debts. I shall never be easy whilst I know you are in the power of any man to say that you owe him a pound. Indeed you ought not, and must not be careless of money for as we shall probably in future reside in Ireland on half pay, you would be put to great expense in being paid off, whether by crossing to us, or going into lodgings. I am a vast loser by my patients, many of whom will never pay, and the sale of our furniture will inflict a great loss of money.
I came to Chatham last night, and shall return to town in the evening. I am now waiting the arrival of your Mother and Frank; when we shall proceed by Steamer to town, in order to fit him, to enter the Naval School. Your sister remains at Cranbrook. Fanny is here.
I shall, please God, embark on Saturday; by a Cork Steamer commence my route, and on arriving at that city, proceed to Limerick where my duty will commence. The expenses in travelling, for myself and the family when they shall set out to join me will be very great, so that you may perceive that I could, not benefit myself by a few months only of full pay.
I shall write to you often. I say more than it is necessary to say now. This injunction only I impose on you, pray to God to prosper us all, and walk as your own good sense will admonish you. God bless you I remain, My dear William,
Your affectionate Father,
James Hall.
Mrs.G. & Gell send their kind regards; and thanks for the pictures. 22, Arundel Street,
January 29th, 1839.
My dear William,
As you have doubtless received the letter your Sister wrote from Cork at the commencement of this month. Last week I received Orders to come to London, and here I arrived on the 24th, to-morrow I shall receive my Instructions, and then return to Ireland. I have read that the Salamander is going out to Spain, and I suppose it is to relieve the Gorgon.
Your Mother was not well when I left, but Mary Ann and little Fanny were quite well. I have seen dear Frank, he is growing a fine boy, and I hope he will be a clever one. I am, thank God, in tolerable good health, but my tremors of hand, and pain in my liver remain, and distress me. I hope my dear William, that your health and spirits are good, and that you have strictly attended to the subjects I have often mentioned. Your letters give me great joy, in observing how you continue to preserve the esteem of your Captain, in this you must persevere, as your fortune depends on it. You must keep up your name at the Admiralty, as it will enable me to do something for you by and bye. I have consulted Stilwells, Mr Jennings and other sensible friends whether I might with safety get Mr Price to ask for your promotion, and they all say, not yet, as there is a regulation that no one shall be made under two years after passing, and that I should now be throwing away my interest. But you must be constantly serving after passing to entitle you to promotion. Should. I hold my appointment a few months longer and Mr. Price be in office, I shall certainly ask him plainly to write to whoever may be First Lord. But wish you to get a recommendation from Captain Dacres stating his opinion of you as a practical Seaman, and officer; stating also your knowledge of Steam Machinery and if Capt. D. could get a recommendation from Lord John Hay, or any other officer of note, it will do good. Send these, as soon as you have been more than two years passed, and let it be stated how long you have been in the Service. When you have left them at Stilwells, write to me, and tell me so. Many men of rank cannot get promotion, yet they have passed 5 years.
I was put on reduced pay some weeks ago, but now I hope to be put upon full pay. However, my dear William, I am about to pay Bowie £5 on your account, so that you see I am willing to do all I can to assist you when I have the power. But owing to the agitated state of Ireland our stay there is very uncertain, therefore I must lay by every pound I can save to meet our future wants. My situation is, thank God, at this time good, but as it is not a fixed one, we must be very careful of our money, and you must do the same. Avoid all useless correspondence and for the life of you abstain from all foolish love intimacies, if any thing will ruin all the bright prospects of a clever young zealous officer like you, who has only his own hands and. sword to depend on, it would be an early marriage. Push on My dear boy, put aside all obstacles, listen to no croakers, no gamblers, work hard, be zealous, be true to your duty, keep up your high character, save your money, and with the blessing of God, you will be Blue at the Mizen.
Capt. Walker is posted, and going to command under the Turkish Admiral -the Russians will not, I am sure, allow him to remain. No one should enter but he who has half pay.
God bless you My dear William,
I remain,
Your affectionate father,
J. Hall.
22, North Earl Street, Dublin,
May 23rd 1839
My dear William,
Immediately we received your letter I wrote to Captain Stewart, and begged him to inform me if he had applied for you. Of course we waited for his reply before we could properly write to you. After a few days we saw the appointment of Mr. H. Hall. Mate to the Benbow - we thought you were the person meant, and that the printer had made a mistake. Thus weeks have passed; and now I have resolved on writing direct to you, as I apprehend that some of the letters I have written have never reached you. I should have been glad to have seen you appointed to the Benbow as I think it might have made you as smart about your person as you formerly were when on board the Barham; but now I fear lest you may settle down into the dirty slovenly habits of the Old Mates of the old School.
Rather than see you as one of that class, as the Jack of all work of a Man of War, as the Mate of the Hold or lower deck, for I always have seen such unfortunate young men, looked down on, made the Slaves of the Ship and called a good fellow by all, but respected by no one; and never thought deserving of notice as a Gentleman; and as being a poor destitute creature, not worthy the rank of Lieutenant. Sooner than see you such a one. My dear William I would rather see you earning your bread as Mate of a Merchant Ship. You must stick to the Quarter Deck, or cut the Service, - for you certainly never will be made if you allow yourself to be the constant Mate of the lower deck - I am quite shocked, by your statement of the ragged Shirts and Socks you wear. I cannot understand how. My dear William, your stock is In such a reduced state. You have for a long time been serving in small vessels, where your expenses are, or might be small, especially as your [end of page, words missing] you must be the leader and master of the Mess. - I am sorry, my dear William that I did not write immediately I received your letter; but as you desired me to address Captain Stewart, and relying on the hopes you had formed that he would have you with him, I was anxious to send you his answer. Therefore, My dear William, do not think that we ever forget you, or are unwilling to do all in our power; but you must I earnestly entreat you always bear this in mind; how would you manage should it please God to call me from this world.
You have got your desire, you said your pay would keep you, and yet you report yourself in such a state of destitution that I am quite shocked at the condition you are in, and at the low opinion your Captain and officers must entertain of you. Send me an instant account of all your debts, and a list of all you want, that we may not have the pain of thinking you are in rags! To aid you your Sisters must suffer, but something must be done, and if the Service cannot keep you, you had better enter the Merchant Service at once, than be an old Mate and destitute.
I advise you to be silent with every one on the subject of politics, and Government as the late changes have, I fear, done much ill to persons who spoke freely. You must write immediately, attending very particularly to all I have said, and I hope you will never give me occasion to repeat them, as my opinions will not alter, on the necessity of your never being the dirty drudge of the Ship; as promotion must come from the Quarter Deck but never will from the lower Deck or Hold.
God bless you My dear William, and I remain,
Your affectionate father,
James Hall.
As with previous letter written in November 1837 Mary Anne and her father have shared the same piece of paper, writing at right angles to each other. On this occasion Mary Anne has written over her father, though once again his ink appears to be stronger than hers.
Dublin
23 May 1839
My dear William,
As you told me when at Cranbrook, that I was fond of shewing my pretty hand writing to every one but yourself, to convince you to the contrary and to be sure you that altho' we have been silent we have still been doing our utmost to gain the object you have in view, I now Intend as usual to finish this letter; And give you some little descriptions of our journey from Cork.
We left last Wednesday morning for Cahir, a small village in Tipperary a poor little place where there is a Castle, the residence of Lord Glengale, finding little to Interest us there we determined on making the best of our way on to Dublin - which to accomplish compelled us to remain a night at Kilkenny. We arrived there in the evening and started for this place at five the next morning, so that I can say but little respecting it, but to all appearance it seemed a very bustling town. I fancy you will say that we are certainly amusing ourselves, but the fact is when we possibly can manage it we find it much cheaper to be all living together, than to have two Separate expenses. We are now settled here for a few months but being rather an expensive place I do not think it improbable when the winter comes at which time Emigrants are not selected, that we shall find out a cheaper place of residence for we wish if possible to save a little money for a rainy day, therefore I do hope my dear William that after you have had assistance with a fit out that you will endeavour to live without getting in debt.
I cannot think how you can bear it - for as for myself I should be wretched to think that I owed so much that time only would enable me to pay it. Now do for the future be more careful - I am afraid you will say I have varnished the picture which Father has drawn, but little; however I am sure you have sense enough to know that whatever I have said is entirely for your good - Now then for a more agreeable topic - Gele when last we heard was a little better. I should like her to come here as the change might benefit her. You used to tell her that she might find a better looking fellow, but a more affectionate one she could not. Do you not think she could find one less ragged? I hope, when you get whole shirts - socks, etc., you will take great pains in keeping yourself respectable – and look like an officer.
We expect Frank home in three weeks. Miss Fanny is at a day school and is much improved. I heard from Oceana a month or two since. They were all as usual. I am not surprised about Sam - as I think he had an inclination that way.
Having filled my paper I must conclude Mother and Fanny unite with me in kindest love to you - with hopes of your success and Improvement.
And believe me to remain My dear William,
Your affectionate sister,
Mary Ann
Emigration Office, Dublin 14th June, 1839.
My dear Boy,
Your letter has arrived to me, at Waterford, this day, and given me great joy. I hasten, as you see, to write, in order to cheer up your spirits and efface from your memory whatever cause for grief or vexation my former letter conveyed. From your infancy up to manhood I have always loved you too much to desire to rebuke you; and whenever I have had to perform the painful duty of reproving you, I have discharged the office incumbent on me as a father, who feels for his Son's welfare, with a sorrow that was solaced only by the reflection that your happiness in the next world, and prosperity in this, were the objects of my solicitude. To youth the world is Smiling; friends apparently spring up in every part of the compass; the voyage of life seems to require no chronometer, but when the Vessel meets adverse gales, then regrets arise because the faithful Monitor that would only have needed a little observation on your part to have given you a knowledge of the error of your reckoning, had been considered an unnecessary companion.
I, my dear William, have struggled hard, and my sorrow's have been vastly more than you shall ever know, or than you can conceive; but thanks be to God who has ever corrected me for my admonition, and with his own Almighty power has brought me out of all difficulties, and shewn me that on Him alone must all our hopes for success in this life, and salvation hereafter be founded. If, therefore, My dear boy, I admonish, remember my Love; my constant solicitude for your welfare; and learn that my prayer to God is, daily, that you may be promoted. I am extremely thankful that you are endowed with a proper feeling of the love and fear of God, as it gives me positive assurance that He will continue to reward all your honest and noble exertions, if you have never failing faith in Him.
Your Sister, Dear Girl, and your Mother, are ever observant of their duties towards God; and as I daily see them retire separately to their devotions, I feel an inward delight. Dear Frank and Fanny pay much attention to the reading of the Bible. And now My dear William cannot you take courage from all these remarks and effacing all remorse because of passed vexation, shew yourself with that countenance that shall continue to attach to your interest all who are able to forward it. I am sorry I inflicted pain on you, especially as you now appear to have merited the highest praise from me, for your steady and officer like conduct. I am also more sorry by learning that you were then actually enduring pain from an injury! I hope I shall have a speedy and a long letter announcing your perfect recovery from all ill effects of the accident, and, also, that you are happy.
I am rejoiced at your having joined the Benbow, and have reason for being proud that I have a son who is respected by all his Superiors. Be not impatient. My Dear William, for your promotion, but I fear I may not be able to urge for it, till you can add a Certificate from Captain Stewart, by and bye. However, I shall watch, and seize every favourable moment that presents itself, as soon as I get all your Certificates. You had better take copies of them, and then send them in a Packet by Steam Boat, addressed to me at No. 22, North-East Street, Dublin; put them up carefully, and Book them and send the Parcel by such route as you think best.
Now My Dear William I must come to what you doubtlessly will consider the best part of this letter, that is, to the business part - You may draw on me at thirty days after date for £15.0.0. and you may write to Mr. Bowie or call on him and tell him to draw on me at three months after date for the sum of £18.0.0. thus My dear William you will be enabled to pay the Shoemaker and Tailors, and have money in your pocket, like a Gentleman. I am always alarmed lest your long absence from the Barham has erased from your memory the propriety of a Mate always being smart and well set up in his dress; for I know how often young, and also old officers acquire a habit of carelessness in their manners, and slovenliness in their dress by serving on board small Vessels. Your Mother used often, and also your Sister, to tell me how particular you were about your person and dress when you belonged to the Barham; and thinking on this, when I read your own description of "Socks without feet, and "Shirts without tails," I drew to my view pictures that memory furnished, of old Mates who wore worsted Stockings without toes or heels; ragged jackets, dirty shirts, and were always the Slaves of the Ship. You must therefore blame yourself a little, for the Lecture you received.
Push on. My dear William, continue steady and be assured so long as you forget not yourself, so long will I do all in my power to help you on through life. What I am now able to do for you shews you how much my circumstances have improved, for besides in having discharged large debts, I have now £100 in the 3 per Cents. But as my expenses are great; my health infirm at times, age advancing, and appointment uncertain in its duration, you will admit that we are all bound to practise economy.
Mary Ann is now finishing in Music and learning Singing, as she will then, at all events be enabled to get her living; and have a claim to a respectable man as a husband. Frank and Dear little Fanny must all be educated. After this year, if I hold my situation, I mean to allow you £10. a year for linen and washing, unless you prefer any other mode of receiving that amount; that is to say, you shall have that Sum yearly; but good clean linen and a well brushed coat denote the gentleman.
Pray avoid borrowing, read what Proverbs say for the reason: always be ready to pay your Mess bill and washing bill, promptly and honorably; keep the key of your chest, and an Inventory of all it contains, and if possible, do without all things that are not wanted; and avoid running Into debt.
If Spencer is not gone, he can take your Certificates - remember me kindly to him and the ladies. I am here waiting to see off a party of Emigrants; and on the 25th shall be, I hope in Dublin, then go on to Roscommon and Cavan. I am thank God. in good, health and I pray He may bless you with the same and that we all may meet again.
Your dear Mother, Mary Ann and Fanny are well, and dear Frank will to-morrow embark on board the Thames Steamer at London.
And now I conclude. My dear William, by congratulating you on having joined the Benbow, and hoping I shall have the joy of learning that you are In good health, and happy: if the Thames calls at Portsmouth, look out for dear Frank.
I remain
My dear William,
Your affectionate Father,
James Hall
P.S.
Present my best thanks to Captain Stewart for his kindness in replying to my letter; and if you have any difficulty in getting the bill for £15, cashed, I will pay into his Bankers, through the Bank in Dublin the amount, if he will cash it for you, or lend the sum. J.H.
Waterford
Friday the 14th. I think you had better tell Bowie to draw at six months.
Limerick
29th September, 1839.
My Dear William,
Your letter from Lisbon gave us much joy, by assuring us that you were well in health. A strain of restlessness runs through it, however, which I advise you to guard against, as you must be sensible that to accident, as it is termed, and to time will depend the arrival of your promotion. All you have to do is to go on steadily earning it, and not giving occasion to your Captain ever to cease feeling an interest in your welfare, for be assured that whenever your ship is paid off, if you keep his friendship, he will get you made; and even then you would be called fortunate by hundreds of Mates. But whilst I exhort you to patience in waiting for promotion, and perseverance in uniform good conduct, quarrelling with no one, doing your own duty well, and not censuring your superiors, nor the crew, because they fall below your own notion of discipline, still I wish you not to discard the hope, as it will be pleasing to hold on by it, that every opportunity that I may meet with, shall be seized that may obtain it.
As for your remarks about the Arms, etc., I shall bear them in remembrance, but altho' such an appendage is worth much in the eye of the world, and among Officers it is essential; and until you have it, I advise you to use a small well cut, neat initial - and refrain from writing much to Superiors, without using your own crest, for remember when you write such without it, what I believe I have told you I witnessed, at the Palace, when the late King, then Duke, found a number of letters waiting for him; and taking up one at a time, looked at the Seal alone, and then dropped the letter; exclaiming, “O, a begging letter.” You must remember, however; that it would cost £100 to procure the said crest and arms and therefore all you have to do is to take care of your money, that you may help me to get it; as it would not now be of any value to me in my old age, and I have not laid anything in reserve beyond what we shall want to purchase furniture, etc, with, as soon as we get settled in a house.
My expenses are enormous, from moving about, far beyond my allowances, and what is worse, all this service depends entirely on the sale of the Crown lands in the Colony. Owing to the funds there being low, my duty will sooner cease this year than it otherwise would, as instead of 8 Ships I shall only send away 6, my last Ship, Adam Lodge is now fitting at Liverpool and I am selecting Irish people for her. I arrived here yesterday and shall return to Dublin on the 5th.
Your Mother, Mary Ann and Fanny are well, and all unite in love to you. Mary Ann plays beautifully on the Piano, I have now done with the expense of Masters for her, as she has had a first rate one in Dublin for 3 months. Our lodgings there are obliged to be superior, because persons of rank call on me on duty, of course we pay high. As soon as the duty is over, we shall go to Scotland, Glasgow for the winter to economise, for the Steamers will take us there for less than it costs us to travel 100 Miles in this country. Therefore you had better always direct your letters to the care of Messrs. Stilwell; and always let me hear from you once a quarter at least.
I am now very busy in selecting Emigrants and must conclude this letter as I have to send it off to Stilwell -Angelica is now with us in Dublin.
God bless you I remain.
My Dear William,
Your Affectionate father,
J. Hall.
198 Buchanan St, Glasgow
16th December 1839
My dear William,
Mary Ann having told you all domestic news, I have now my dear William to exhort you in my usual way to pursue a steady course of conduct, and never allow impatience to dwell on your mind, as it would sour your feelings, embitter your enjoyment, roughen your temper and all combined might, as I often have witnessed in young Officers, offend those who are above you, on whose good opinion probably depends your promotion. And having by a hasty expression springing from impatience and disappointed expectations, lost their good will, although notmade sensible to you; promotion is retarded if not lost. Lieut. Vassal, I think his name, had the watch when Lord Nelson then Rear - Admiral was in search of the Nile fleet, the Ship was close on a vessel, the Admiral full of anxiety to find the French, thought the Yards were not braced up enough; he said so to the Lieutenant, who unguardedly forgot himself, and in an impertinent manner called to the watch to come and spring the yard; - he never was promoted -. So also Hill lost his promotion when in Andromache.
Now my dear William, let these examples sink deep in your memory, and determine you never, never, never utter expressions of dislike to the Services, of contempt of any superior; Impatience for promotion, because all these will keep it back; the opposite to these must as effect follows cause, advance it. When most distant to the mind, it may be at hand in reality. I am confident you will be promoted if you follow my counsel. Providence has wonderfully aided all our family - Shipwreck and a loss of all would have ere now ensued, if our vessel had remained where you left her moored. We have, however many objects to attain, and these can only be procured slowly; therefore we are all acting as patiently as possible, as necessity indeed compels us to save every Shilling that is not absolutely wanted for the purposes necessary to our new condition.
Exteriorly we are, from my situation obliged, to incur many expenses otherwise not required; but within doors we are as economical as we can be. It is never an act of wisdom to seem poor to the world. – seem above its pity and its need, independent of each, and you will always have both ready for you. The reason of my coming here is not from ambition, but from a regard to advance all our interests hereafter should the Almighty spare me. All I live for is for the welfare of you, your brother and Sisters, and in the endeavour to accomplish this end, I am sure you will second my efforts by your steady conduct, and prudent economy. As soon as I receive an answer from More O’Ferrall, I will write to you; but keep this matter to your own bosom, as others knowing it might act on it, and spoil your interest - never tell where your interest lies.......
I am informed that many Mates have been appointed to the Coast Guard, instead of Lieutenants, on same pay, 9/s per diem. They are all of 5 years passed, and such will never be made. This is good for all who remain, as a promotion must take in some who have no great interest. I feel very sanguine of your promotion sooner or later, and I hope to see you a Captain - you do all you can, and I will pick up all the Irish interest in my power. I wish you, as I told you years ago, to make yourself a good linguist, as this alone will be a powerful help to you in obtaining promotion, and a name at the Admiralty; also learn well the anchorages, etc., and let me know what you do in these matters; you may write in Italian or French.
I abstain from all politics, as it is best to do so, and I advise you never to be of any party - always in reply to a question as to your politics, say, a Naval Officer's duty is “to serve his country nobly, and know only one side, his duty !” We sent you an Irish Paper lately, and I shall write as soon as I receive any news. Parliament will meet on the 16th and there will be some promotion. God bless you. I remain,
my dear William,
Your affectionate father,
James Hall.
198 Buchanan Street, Glasgow,
Dec 16th, 1839
What in the name of fortune My dear William has become of you? Are you determined to exhaust our patience by your long silence? Daily for the last month or six weeks we have been looking for some tidings to arrive from you, and I am sorry to say we still remain in ignorance of the cause which has occasioned you to become so negligent a correspondent. Of course if sickness has prevented your writing (which we trust has not been the case) that will be a sufficient apology, but if not I really think you are very unkind to leave us so long without a letter. Perhaps you think we equally deserve censure, but when you take into consideration that our time of late has been so much taken up with changing our quarters, winding up the Emigration affairs for the year, etc. you will I am sure confess that ours altho’ perhaps an excuse, is a just one.
At the same time, my dear William, we have not been unmindful of the one great object in view, your promotion, and I have written on a foolscap sheet that I may be able to give you the entire correspondence that has passed respecting it. The first is to the O'Connor Don member for Roscommon (who being a Whig, naturally possesses at present some influence) with his answer and the second letter is to Mr. More O’Ferrall Secretary at the Admiralty whose reply we are daily expecting, and doubtlessly shall receive before we close this. He represents the County of Kildare; and altho not personally known to Father yet, when the selection for Emigrants was going on in that part of Ireland. Mr. M.O.F sent him some introductory letters to gentlemen in his neighbourhood, who were to render him any assistance in the discharge of his duties that he might require. We therefore are in hopes that from this circumstance he will exert his interest in your behalf.
I suppose you are at a loss to imagine the excuse of our taking up our abode in Scotland for the winter, but the fact is now we have it in our power Father is desirous if possible of obtaining his degree as M.D., and the Emigration commencing in the Spring now is the only time he has to spare. I only wish you were as sure of your Commission as he is of his Diploma. He will dine on Saturday next in company with a Dr. McKechnie who has just received I believe his appointment as Surgeon to your ship - we thought at first of asking him to be the bearer of this - but on reconsideration perhaps it is much better to send it through the post (particularly as a decrease has now taken place) as letters by private hand are often mislaid. We have been here about three weeks and now begin to like the place much more than we did at first, and notwithstanding we have but few acquaintances, the days we find pass very swiftly rendered pleasant by various little pursuits such as music, reading, etc... Angelica left us a short time before we left Dublin, and as you may suppose quite broken hearted at parting with us; she crossed over in Mr Spencer's Steamer and as there was not any Train, left Liverpool on the Sunday was compelled to remain with them until the next day.
They were very kind to her, but she felt rather annoyed with them as did we for their shabby behaviour to us. You will be better able to judge whether we had a reason for being so when I tell you how they acted towards us. You must know they have two bed-rooms and a drawing-room, but as there was another chamber in the house vacant (even had they been obliged to pay extra for a day or two) it was, of course at their service. They had been constantly (been) sending messages by their Papa for me to spend a fortnight with them, and he at the same time insisted that while Father came here to look for Lodgings we should go and remain at Liverpool, adding that it would be hard indeed if they could not manage to accommodate us when they had it in their power to obtain an extra bed-room (which had just been vacated by some gentleman lodger). Besides which he said I do not forget how kind you were to us and had no more house room than we have at present; for you know the whole five were with us for a week.
As he was so pressing that we should go there and giving us to understand that he could take us all across free, as the other Lieutenants did their friends, we thought it would exactly suit our arrangements, and the next time he came we told him our intentions, expecting naturally enough that he would be pleased to hear that we intended to pay them a visit - When would you believe he almost began to make excuses by saying that he dare say he could take us free by putting himself under the obligation of asking – directly we saw his tone was altered we were so annoyed that we begged he would not think of doing that on our account, and that if we went to Liverpool for the week only, we should prefer taking lodgings - he said that was nonsense, but that if we insisted on it there were some he believed to let in the house they were in. The next time he came when Gell was to go - he brought a note from Oceana in which she said that if I did not mind sleeping three in a bed they should be very happy to see me and likewise Mother, but they could not accommodate her with a bed (notwithstanding their Papa had mentioned the vacant room). Of course as we wished to be perfectly independent we declined going altogether. I think Sam was very much annoyed but we know with whom all the fault rested. I have not patience with their meanness, but they do not know that we were so much annoyed.
I am afraid my dear William you will be tired of perusing such nonsense - but as you always beg of me to give you all the domestic intelligence I can collect with the hope of amusing you therefore I have done it. Oceana told me that Louisa was really engaged to Mr. Voyles and that her Papa had been introduced to his relations, while on the other hand Sam knows (or pretends to) nothing about it. I am afraid he is getting too fond of his glass.
I am compelled to finish this letter at the window notwithstanding it is mid-day as there is such a dense fog which frequently happens here. We have not yet received, any communication from More O’Ferrall and conclude he mast be absent - as now is the time of year when everyone wishes to have a little release from business. We have on hire a very nice toned piano, and. I generally practise an hour at least every day. Do you not think some of Straus's waltzs are beautiful - I have several sets, and like them exceedingly. I am sure you will think my playing much improved from my late Instruction. I am sorry that space does not admit of my writing the correspondence as I at first intended, but should we get any satisfactory communication from Town you may depend we shall lose no time in letting you now of it; as necessity compels me to close I shall conclude by wishing you a merry Christmas and happy New Year in which Fanny and her Mama join me And believe me to remain My dear William,
Your very affectionate Sister,
Mary Ann.
Dublin.
7th May, 1840.
My dear William
To-day I have had the pleasure of receiving your letter of April 9th. I am sorry you had not then received my last letter which I wrote about the beginning of April from Liverpool, and which your Mother put into the Post, paying as we always do the Packet postage. In that letter my dear William, 1 told you that if any one of the ward room officers would advance you £10, I would pay the same to their Order. You now inform me that my friend Smith is Surgeon of the Benbow, remember me kindly to him and perhaps he will oblige me by giving you the ten pounds, if no one have yet lent you this sum. You must not imagine that we forget to write to you, as we do not; but it is evident many letters miscarry.
But now I must be very serious and assure you that you must not calculate on any annual allowance from me, as my means are now more circumscribed; Frank and Fanny require to be educated; - I am daily expecting to be discharged, the Emigration has stopped for want of funds; indeed there has not yet been any, and report says there will be none this year. So that all looks very gloomy. We are truly thankful that I was not discharged last Christmas. As long as I have the happiness to hold any situation that will enable me to assist you a little at any time, my heart will always be ready to show you its affection. But as my affairs are uncertain you must now always act as if dependent on yourself alone.
I have been very ill for 5 weeks having had an abscess of my liver, which fortunately broke into the intestines. I was obliged to call in Sir A. Clarke, a physician here. Thanks to God I am now convalescent. With regard to Captain S. I do not know that he wrote as he did not inform me he had, and therefore I cannot write to him, as it would be improper. You can say what you please in my name; and tell him that 2 Members waited on Lord Minto, who made a note that they had asked for your promotion; and the objection was made that you are not long enough passed compared with many others. Therefore you must remain contented and do all in your power to please your Captain, and Superiors. Above all things do not find fault, nor make observations on their conduct. It is quite enough for you to know that you are a favourite, and that he has interest.
Do not join in abusing the Government, for they are in great embarrassment for want of money. If the Tories were to come into office it would be an injury to me and to you. As you will have seen the Report, I need only say that my opinion is this, that the pay of the Mates, and that the Yellow Flag, and the Assistant Surgeons, are the subjects that will be attended to. I advise you my dear William, to take the utmost care of your money and clothes, avoid all debts, and consider yourself entirely as dependent on yourself; for my health is, I fear, broken up by my Indian diseases, I am now very weak, and your Mother is now ill, and has a blister on her side. Mary Ann is at Liverpool staying with Spencer. Fanny is at School in this house as we have taken lodgings at a School from motives of economy. Frank always enquires after you. We shall have him home in June, and. his journeys from, and to, School are expensive. I send you now a Glasgow Paper and you will see my name at the top of the List of Doctors, it was an expensive job, but it was required as it may enable Sir W. Burnett to do something for me when removed from this. I am much obliged to you for all your warlike services, but I do not think your fleet will have anything to do, as all the powers are jealous of each other and afraid of war. I shall write again in June and now I must conclude.
Your Mother and Fanny send their love to you and we all pray to God to bless you.
I remain,
My dear William,
Your Affectionate Father,
James Hall.
Dublin
2nd June, 1840.
My Dear William,
I promised, to write to you at the beginning of the month, and. I now have the pleasure of doing it. I apprehend that many of our letters are lost; as you ought long ago to have replied to the letter I wrote to you at Liverpool. Every day I have been expecting to receive a demand for the ten pounds I promised to let you have. I have often, my dear William, cautioned you not to expect any assistance from me unless my circumstances enabled me to afford it. In this case my heart has always been disposed to yield to the affection I have felt for you, from your birth to the present hour. And I am sure you can never justly say, or conceive in mind, that at any time I have neglected you. Now, however, the time has, I fear, arrived when my means for assisting you in a pecuniary way must cease, till it shall please the Lord to enable me again to prove the desire of my heart to make you happy, by supplying to your own, too well known to me, narrow income. May God grant that you may not require such aid, in consequence of promotion, or that I may be again placed in a situation that will permit to enjoy the satisfaction of supplying to your wishes.
As several of my letters have conveyed to you my fears that my situation would be done away: And now I lament, in unfeigned grief, I inform you that I have received a letter telling me that it is probable my office will cease for want of funds. If this notice is preparatory to my dismissal, which I presume will be at the close of this quarter. Dr. Suches who held a like appointment for England has been appointed to the Ocean. As for me, nothing remains but half pay - my health very unsteady, and no hopes of doing anything in private practice except that of running into debt and suffering torment as when at Cranbrook. Many of my then patients have not, nor will they ever pay me. I got my Diploma in order the better to enable me to hold the situation of Medical Attendant to any Nobleman, through the aid of Sir W. Bennett's connections; to him I must now apply for such a thing. We are all full of sorrow. What grieves me is that poor Frank must quit the Naval School.
It is very fortunate that the Government will adopt some of the recommendations of the Naval Report on the beginning of July, among which will be no doubt, the addition of ten pounds a year to your pay. I shall write a Memorial to Lord Minto, and ask for your promotion immediately.
We must all exert ourselves to the utmost, whilst I am living to educate your dear brother and sister as whenever it shall please God to call me, you, my dear boy, will be the Guardian Angel, to all the dear creatures whom I may leave for you to protect.
You will now in future, my dear William, act as if you had no one to depend on for money but yourself, and square your wants and expenses by your own purse. Do this manfully, and you will be always happy, because you will not be in debt, and if poor, you will be contented and independent. I am happy to say we are all well, but full of sorrow. I expect we shall leave Ireland, in a few days for London, but where we shall fix ourselves, I know not: my heart is full of gratitude to God for His goodness in having enabled me by this appointment to discharge all my debts and to afford you some assistance and I fervently pray that the ability to do it again may continue.
Mary Ann is at Spencers at Liverpool. I hope you are in good health and continue a favourite with all on board. All, all your prosperity depends on your own good conduct in the Service. I shall now conclude with telling you one more melancholy fact, poor Lieut. Sturget, once our friend, is dead. A numerous unprovided family mourn his loss.
Your Mother, sister and myself unite in love for you, and pray the Lord to bless you. I remain, My dear William,
Your loving Father,
James Hall.
P.S. Pray to God for our prosperity.
Direct to me at Stilwells.
Dublin
1st August, 1840.
My dear William,
We are all extremely uneasy from not having had a letter from you since April; we feel persuaded that illness has not affected you, for bad news always hastens, therefore we suppose that you have committed your letters to private hands, and these have neglected to deliver them. Every day we expect to hear from you. We have written every month this year and paid the postage. Of course our letters must have reached you and they will have told you all matters concerning us.
Poor Frank wrote to you in July: he was desirous of having a letter arrive from you before his departure. To-day he embarked on board a Steamer for London. He has all your manners, but differs from you in not having so much courage - he has your very stout, round face, and rosy cheeked, resembling you when you were of his age. He is intelligent, but will not reflect, hence he has not made such progress at School as he ought to have made. He is only in the lower form. He has not yet manifested a predilection for any particular profession.
Fanny grows a fine girl, she is very docile, and of sweet temper. I told you in my former letters that we are lodging at a school. I do not remember having told you about lodgings in this country, so that I may now do it - they are extremely dear, and cannot be got at all decent under £2 a week for 4 rooms.
Poor Mary Ann has begun to think seriously of her condition, two supposed Beaux have appeared and have taken their departure, for in the present day, especially in this country, girls require to have a character of being in possession of a fortune. She consoles herself, as a good maiden ought, by reading her Bible; and amusing herself at the Piano, on which she executes with style and spirit.
Your Mother always has something to do amongst us all, and. our days, thanks to God for His goodness, pass in tranquillity. We have incurred much expense that might have been spared us, if we could have learned how long our situation would continue. But this not having been known, we have been obliged to live in lodgings.
I bless God that I am still here yet. I live in dread, of daily being informed that my duties are ended. Dr. Boyten, who had Scotland to select in, and Dr. Tucker who was in England, each has been paid off, so that I may consider myself very fortunate in being still employed. Spencer is very often here; his daughters are as when you left. We have had the Inconstant at Kingstown, and all the world went to visit her; on one day 6000 persons visited her. I do not know exactly the cause of her coming here; perhaps to get volunteers; and also to help the Railway Company, which has been losing for a time. I though her a fine Ship, but nothing superior to other ships.
I saw your old ship Mate Mattacott, and we had a talk about you; all in your praise. I did not consider him courteous: perhaps he thought I ought to have called earlier on him. A few days ago I met my old friend Arrons, and highly delighted I was to hear him speak of your Merits as an Officer and Seaman. This character, my dear William, you must cherish., for it must in time reward you. I admit it is a painful thing to do, be constantly looking for promotion, and not meeting it, yet we must consider that there are many fine young men of high connexions in a like situation. All my advice is, be ever vigilant to seize every occasion of distinguishing yourself and promotion must come. Be obedient, but maintain a high independent spirit. Your increased pay will be a good help to you.
We have not had any migration this year, so that I am not able to use any Parliamentary Influence; but whenever I see an opportunity, I shall use it in urging for your promotion. Parliament will soon be prorogued, and nothing more will be done for the Navy, indeed the Government cannot get money, and O'Connel keeps this country in agitation in order to prevent the Tories coming into office. At present France is angry about the Eastern question, but as the great powers are afraid of a war, things will go on for a time as they now do, till some French ship of War adds a glaring insult to our Navy, and then there will arise a disturbance.
Your Mother and Mary Ann, and Fanny unite in prayers with me for every blessing for you; and should we be so fortunate as to retain this appointment till you return, we shall have great happiness in entertaining you here, and bringing you over at free cost. I am happy in saying that my health has much improved. Praying God to watch over you, we all join in affection for you, and whilst anxiously waiting a letter from you.
I remain, My dear William,
Your fond Father,
James Hall.