319. Robert Bloomfield to Charles Bloomfield, 3 August 1817*
Sunday. 3 Aug. 1817
My Dear Charles,
I know well what it is to write a letter one day and expect news
the next, and then have to write again, and perhaps still in uncertainty. This
is somthing like your present situation.
I received yours by Mr
Inskip, last night, and am glad to hear that you are well. I think you
have done perfectly right in going to Putney; I wanted news from that quarter sadly. You will not receive
or read this perhaps till Monday evening when you will have
posted one to me!! This is vexatious, but we cannot help it now, or at any other
times if circumstances turn out so as to acquire a quick interchange of
letters.
On the very day that you saw Inskip, I waited on Mr West at Noon,
I there found that he had several written applications for
the situation, and that he had waited, (or said he had waited) for our
determination!—We then positively agreed to wait for my
final answer till next Thursday the 7th, and I was going
instantly to write to you on the subject, but he saved me the trouble by sending
me, in less than three hours after I had left him, the following note.
'Sir
Considering after you was gone it would be very inconvenient for me to wait till
next week before an answer would be given whither Mr Charles could come or
not, and as I have, in waiting hitherto neglected my pupils, (having more than I
am able to attend to myself) I must therefore treat with one of the applicants
whose assistance I can have immediately. I sincerely beg your pardon for making
such imprudent propositions, and hope you will experience no inconvenience
therefrom.'
Yours &c—
Now the propositions were, as to time of answer, as I have before stated, and the
terms were, Board and Lodging, and Twenty pounds a year!
But you see by what I now write that all connection with the Compton job is
entirely cut off. You have nothing to do with it in your wishes nor in your
calculations, and therefore I am glad that you have an inclination to persue
what you are now engaged in for some time longer. I am at the same time aware
that tomorrow (Monday) will be a hard day with you if Mr Sanderland and Mr
Johnson should meet!! Let them only be just and important and in whatever you
are most deficient, that you must the more assiduously try
to mend. I begin to think that you will get a right ernest
school before many years go over your head,—and then if all your boys are as
sleepy as I am now, you must either make a confounded noise, or go to sleep
yourself in your own defence.
Love to self and sisters
Your Dad.
Rob Bloomfield
Address: Mr C Bloomfield, / 12 Welington Square, / the Foundling Hospital, / London.