128. Capel Lofft to Robert Bloomfield, 9 May 1804* 

Dear Sir,

I have just received your obliging Letter I like the Alteration in the pathetic Description of the Funeral exceedingly

I would transpose two lines to avoid an anti-climax thus

The Conclusion is very beautiful, appropriate & characteristic

I still wish some little suitable ornament by way of vignette: but perhaps the Time is too short. 'crown' seems in haste to have been copied for 'crowns their'

Hastily as I am obliged to write I am very sorry if I created you so much trouble by a strange omission. I said, or should have said, Frank Capell Esq., Nottingham Str: Marylebone nr. the Church.

Many thanks for procuring me the seal at Bentley's with the head of Dr Priestley. With regard to Rousseau it would be too expensive to have a seal made on purpose. I fear at Wedgewood & Bentleys it will not be found in the seal prices [2] 

Shall I send Mr Bowdens poem [3]  to Messrs Vernor & Hood for Mr Hill or to you or how? I wrote to Mr Hill but have not yet his answer. My Proposals for the Author are these if they will print & publish the First Edition at their own risque clear of Expense to the Author allowing him half or not less than a third of the Net profits of that Edition to be open to a New Agreement between the Parties for the 2d or any subsequent edition

I must finish now in haste: and indeed I have scarce fairly time to write this.

I am very glad your Poem is to be printed I mean the Farmers Boy in stereotype. But as the nature of that method of printing while it excludes the risque of Error in one impression which existed not in a former, more particularly calls for original typographical correctnes I should be glad to revise the Proofs for that Edition.

I thank Mr Hood for what he has said relative to Mr Bowden's poem. I faithfully comply with the wish of the Author in thinking of him as publisher.

With our united remembrances to yourself Mrs Bloomfield & Family,

I am Dear Sir,

Yrs most sincly

Capel Lofft

To Mr Bloomfield / Troston / 9 May 1804

1/2 p. 11 at night.

Not Country Hours. yet I am a Potatoe Farmer as far as one Field: but am in some dread for my success.

How vain this tribute; vain, this lowly lay;

Yet nought is vain which gratitude inspires!