187. Robert Bloomfield to Mary Lloyd Baker, 2 June 1806* 

City Road June 2. 1806

To Mrs L Baker

Dear Madam

It happened that I wrote to your good cousin on the very day on which you date yours from Fullham. With respect to Miss Sharp's communication from Wicken, I made a delay and delay caused a blunder &c. &c. &c.—to be accounted for hereafter either to that lady or to you. But so it is that I have sent the Books required not to Northampton shire but to Clare Hall! I cannot help it, it is done! Your copy is amongst them—but now I am going to broach another subject for I am quite ashamed of this.—For your criticism I thank you and I find so much difficulty in even approaching to what pleases my self in Blank verse that you have no need to fear my relinquishing my jingle. Tell your good father that I have made some progress in the Wars of Troy, but that I shall want the Vollm the best part of the summer if he can spare it. It is all novelty, all charms, only a little too much blood. There's a critique upon Homer! What do you think of me!! I hope to see your scetches of Forest Trees, and if I might see your short poems scribbled in blank verse, though I know for a certainty that M.S. poetry is not read with the same advantage with that which is printed, I should feel highly honourd. If I exhibit my 'first view of the sea' it will be an effort on my part, for though it is actually printed in the 'Monthly Mirror,' I have such a distaste towards it as you can hardly conceive. [1]  it is very unequal to the subject, what is the use of a man's saying that the Church in which Nelson was buried is bigger that [sic] the church at Fullham ? Let him tell how big it is! This I could not do, and therefore do not like the piece, any more than you would a picture in which in the outline you had spoiled the perspective.

If I understand you right you will probably be disengaged on Saturday afternoon, and if I understand myself right, I mean certainly to make my way to Fullham some time on that day, and to leave you on Monday or Tuesday at furthest. I feel just now as if I had a vast deal to talk about, but if I put it into a letter it will encroach on my teatime.

Can I conclude this hasty epistle without doing justice to my own feelings, and to the condescencion of the venerable landlord of my uncle the farmer, in saying that about an hour ago I had the Duke of Grafton in my little parlour, who with one of his sons calld on me during their morning ride.

More of all these matters anon—

Love to yours and to you

R Bloomfield

Shepherd & Shepherdess City Road

Address: Mrs L Baker. / Wm Sharp's Esq. / Fullham. Midd.