76. Robert Bloomfield to Elizabeth Glover, 31 January 1802* 

London Jany 31st 1802

Dear Mother

When I sent the Books to George, I could not write to you or to Kitty. I have been full employ'd, and I have written down the principle occurrence of each day in the enclosed Diary where if you can read hasty and bad writing, you will find that I had little time to make shoes. But it realy takes so much time to copy letters that I don't see it possible to make you so fuly acquainted with my affairs as I wish I could. I have Letters from Mr Fox, and from Lord Buchan, which I hope you will one day see.—From Dr Drake of Hadleigh, Mr Smith, and Mr Mills of Bury, Mr Gilchrist of Stamford and others, all relating to my new vollumn, and all in high commendation. I sell a great many books myself, on which I have a good profit. I yesterday received from Mrs. Philips £3.11s. for Books she has sold for me; and left with her others to the amount of £8 and upwards; and, calling on Mr. Stonhewer, he insisted on paying me for a large copy by giving me a £5 note. The publick interest and admiration seems to be as much raised by this publication as by the first; and in my own mind, and in the common and moderate way of reconing, I shall at least have to receive in the next 2 years, 8 or 9 hundred pounds. I have left near 2 Hundred due to me on the Books, arising from the first 4 Editions, and I have to receive the half profits of ten thousand copies of the Farmer's Boy, being the 5th and 6th editions; the last is now printed; to which must be added my whole expectations on this second work, of which 7000 copies are printed and an other Edition will certainly be wanted. this statement though true I do not wish to be made publick, which you and Kitty and all of you will remember. God grant that you may live long enough to be essentialy benefited by a part of it. this is not counting any chickens before they are hatched; they actually are hatched, but not all brought to market.—

I send you a One pound Note. George will buy you a Bottle of Rum or Brandy at Bury, and send you the change.—

I can say no more now, I must write largely to George, and to Mr Lofft, and to Kitty and Isaac.

Our best respects to my Father

We have the satisfaction of saying that we are all well Nats family the same

And remain with true affection Dear Mother Yours

R Bloomfield

PS If my last Northamton Journal be with you, pray let George have it to send to me, I want it. [1] 

Monday night

Since writing the above, I have had a letter from Mr Lofft at Yarmouth; it contained a one pound note for me, a present from Mr Green of Ipswich, for the pleasure he found in reading Richard and Kate. This identical note I send for you, so that its ride from Ipswich to Yarmouth and from Yarmouth to London, and from London to you, only proves that, as a Suffolk Ballad made it mine, it ought to be spent in Suffolk.

Address: Mrs Glover / Honington