Letter 247 - The Letters of Robert Bloomfield

247. Robert Bloomfield to Mary Lloyd Baker, 9 January—12 January 1810*

Jan 9. 1810

Dear Madam

By way of amusement I remark thus some of your judicious observations, the rest are replied to in the paper to Catharine [1]

	1. —	Certainly never saw them or heard of them, let this teach you candour, and forgiveness, two things which some Criticks know very little about when they talk of immitations.
	2. —	This is very good—but as the tale is nearly all personified by Characters Catherine has only her share.
	3. —	See No. 5 in Catherine's
	7. —	Mrs Woodly is, in many features, my Mother, and her Husband my Brother Isaac.
	8. —	I understand a fine Horse to mean in a degree a Spirited Horse. Ask Mr Baker.
	9. —	You have a better heart than belly, but how would a servant be justified in giving without orders Ask your sister Critick.
	10. —	Here I am beaten down flat, and by a Lady too! it is unanswerable.
	11. —	Gone to lock the Cupboard from whence she took Davy's Cheese Cake, = N.B. Not a word about this adventure in Sister Critick!!!!!
	13. —	Very true—but the man here is in character, the woman not so much. See back to No. 7. —
	15. —	Here you misunderstand me, by strange I did not mean that it was reprehensible or unnatural but the direct contrary, and only strange because it was unusual.
	17. —	Aye but mine was written years ago and what you allude to the other day—now if you were a true Critick i.e. troubled with a disorder calld the snarles, you would, (had Davy been publishd) have asserted that Robin thieved from David.
	18. —	This is true criticism because, because, of what? why because it is true.
	19. —	I must have pride here for the Father, but to the Boy it does not apply so as to signify what I mean.
	20. —	See here now! 'two of a Trade &c.' Miss S. kicks him out, and you keep in in! poor fellow!—I have no particular veneration for him and therefore hoping that you may make somthing of him, I leave him between you.—

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I believe you know that I never write nonsense, (at least not of this sort) when I am unwell, and therefore let this sheet speak for itself.

I can now walk and work, and laugh and sing. I am indeed much better.—Give my particular respects to Mr Baker and Seniors. And with love and pleasant recollections of your three eldest, and hopes for the stranger, I am

Madam

Yours

R Bloomfield

Jan 12

Recieving your last has enabled me to take a later peep at the group at Stouts Hill. Miss Ansted is better than she has lately been, but she has suffered much. The newspaper of Fullham is highly satisfactory. I thank you for your trouble in writing for you certainly must have interruptions, and so have I. My little jabbering Boy is going on at a high rate; The Emperor of France would be proud of such a fightable spirit.—All well besides.—I still feel a gradual return of pristine strength and of spirits myself and hope for the best.

Yours Madam.—&c.—

R.B.

247. Robert Bloomfield to Mary Lloyd Baker, 9 January—12 January 1810*

Notes