Shefford May 25, 1821
Dear Sir
If my eyes will let me I will reply to your letter briefly, a
letter which gave me pleasure and pain at the same moment. I am glad to hear of
my old friends at any time, but I am sorry to hear of their coolling without
sufficient information.—But who are those who have coold?
Who withheld their accustom'd support &c
&c—I have no accustom'd support but the Duke of Grafton's £15 per
year, and the ten pounds per ann {for six years} procured by Mrs Andrews Sharp.
All the rest has been casual as chance has directed it
When my subscription was going on many worthy hands assisted; the
Earl of Lonsdale, Mr Rogers, Lord Holland, and people of the most opposite opinions.
In the year 1800, (one and twenty years ago) I found that I must
unavoidably be brought before the public, raw and uncouth as I was, and I then
made the resolution—that I never would in public writing or
intimate correspondence enter into disputation or disquisition on the two
grand subjects which keep the world in agitation, Religion and
politics. I have kept my word or vow, and you will find that I can keep
it.—
I have been surrounded by Catholics, Deists, Quakers, Unitarians,
Methodists, Calvinists and all the rest, but I am here at last, and perhaps as
good as half of them.
As to what you may have heard of me from this vile little town I can assure you that trade is so very bad, so very dull, that the people are obliged to seek new employment, or to improve the old ones, they therefore don't forget slander.—
I have been miserably ill, or unhealthy, during the last
twelvemonths, and quite as bad in spirits.—I thank you for your £5 Note, and remain Dear Sir with love to all who have not been alienated by false reports, or even by fair ones, your very Humble Servt
Robt Bloomfield
Address: T. J. L. Baker Esq. / Revd Mr Ross's, / Mauldon, nr Ampthill, / Beds.