Item 1 - Letter from Henry Waterhouse to Thomas Moore, 20th October 1804

Dear Sir,
I was much oblig'd by your letter by the Calcutta - & Capt. Woodruffe informs me he has the Log at
Portsmouth - for which accept my thanks as likewise the seed by the Venus whaler the Log & Dove I
was not so fortunate in but am nevertheless obliged. Andrew has been constantly well, & far from
what you suppose of a delicate Constitution, & I hope his improvement will meet yours & his
Mother's approbation, he writes to you by this conveyance. He has been several times down with
Mr. White during the holidays who informs me he has always made him write to you -I was much
pleased with the newspaper you sent me, & may I beg you will send me any spare ones you may
have -I have as usual sent the papers under cover to Captn. Rowley which are for your perusal as
well as his as I have not two sets to send - You will find Capt. McArthur has sold his commission, &
goes out as a settler, Capt. Townson has sold his Commission & is going out as a settler. Captain
Prentice is on half pay & means to return to New South Wales, indeed things are at such a pitch here
that it is next to impossible to live here - I wish I was back again. I understand numbers of familys of
from four to five hundred a year are making application to Government for encouragement to go to
N.S. Wales & only wait some alteration in the mode of the Laws to embark. Balmain died about the
time I wrote last, as did Mr. Beckwith in a garret without a rag to cover him. I have not heard
anything of Mr. Johnston the Clergyman since the death of his Daughter. Mr. Thompson the Surgeon
is trying to get out again. - Capt Hunter commands the Venerable a 74, & I hope soon to get a ship...
The newspapers will give you an account of this country - I can only say we are in the same state we
were a year ago expecting an invasion that England is a perfect garrison, well prepared to meet the
Enemy - sanguine as the new Emperor seems to be, it is supposed he will attempt some blow, but
that he has delayed it too long - I am very sorry to hear so bad an account of my farm - as it is all I
have to leave my little Girl who is very well. I have lost enough by Mr. Cox - I know I need not say if
you can assist Capt. Rowley in doing any thing to better my concerns in the Colony, I shall feel very
much oblig'd, & will thankfully repay any expences [sic] that if you can you will do it. The Spanish
wool & some of the wools of N.S. Wales I believe will shortly be an object of attention to
Government, from which I think you may profit, by keeping your wool &c &c. I hope to hear from
you by ships coming to this Country, & be assured I shall not forget the promise I made you when I
received him from you nor will my family should I be absent in attending to the welfare of Andrew -
remember me kindly to Mrs. Moore.
I am
Yours truly
H. Waterhouse
Oct 20th 1804
Remember me to all my friends.