341. Robert Bloomfield to Hannah
Bloomfield, 8 September 1819*
Wednesday Sep 8. 1819
My Dear Hannah
Once more I write almost on the same topics; Uncle Nat was a little better on
Sunday and Monday and ate some plum pudding and the fat of Roast pork, and for
the first time regained the sense of tasting, but yesterday
he was bad again in the same old way, and is now in as doubtful a state as ever
his patience has lasted out wonderfully, but he now wants to go to an hospital,
where great cures are performed, or any where out of the way. He is perfectly
sensible and fond of conversation but plagues himself about his work both
sleeping and waking.
On Saturday I rode to Paddington and had a long intensive search
for a dwelling but about there the houses are large and very dear. I find I
still like the City Road, but that is undergoing a great change for the large
gardens on each side by the Old Turnpike are cutting up to form a Basin for the
Regents canal.
Baldwin's reply was in these words
'We thank you for giving us the first offer of your new poem, and shall be happy
to see it whenever you please. There is no doubt but we shall be willing to treat for the purchase of either of the half or the whole,
and I should hope that nothing would occur on either part to obstruct the
completion of an arrangement to our mutual satisfaction.'
In consequence of this I leave the M.S. with him to day, and
shall soon hear from him I hope. I dined yesterday at Sutterby's and met Mr Park and Mr Holloway &c—James seemd disappointed to find
no mention of himself in your last, and said at parting that he wants you to
write 'ducidly': he is not so well this hot weather, and if
he could he would go to Margate by the steam packet, but will wait till you
come, this he said more from his wishes than his hopes, and was quite himself
before we parted. Write to him for he enjoys it. Charlotte was well on
Saturday, and I am quite well in spite of this distressing double anxiety on
my Brothers account, and on my
own. I think of your dull situation almost every hour, and of Charles's suspense but I
have heard nothing further from Mr Judkins, my mind is indeed too full, but I
must very soon be able to guess at what I may expect for my poems, and then, and
not till then I can properly know what to be at.—
I learnd yesterday that 'Hayleys life of Cowper,' brought him, in
a short time, six thousand pounds, and he afterwards sold
his right for five thousand more! [1] But don't
let this lift up your hopes and your ambition to break your necks in the coming
down, I know how to hope within compass, but will get what I can.
I will write again on Monday, perhaps I shall have heard from
Baldwin? When you make a
parcel send back a canvas wrapper which was borrowd to send the Oysters, and
send a bundle of the small useless children's books which Rob is too old to read;
they will do for Betsey's children. Love and health
Yours ever
Robt Bloomfield
Address: Miss Bloomfield, / Shefford, / Beds.