99. Robert Bloomfield to George
Bloomfield, 6 November 1802*
Saturday Nov 6th 1802
Dear George
Another of Nat's
Children have fallen a victim to that raging Fiend which God has permitted to be
amongst us under the name of Smalpox! The boy George was taken ill on Sunday;
the disorder appeard on Tuesday night and his short sufferings were over
yesterday morning!
The parents are most pitiably wounded in their minds and we have
no comfort to give. The Vaccine inoculation had been talkd of, and intended some
time past; the Infant three weeks old has now the smallpox irruption, but
slightly. Bet came here
to bring little Tom out of the way, who have thus escaped, and we hope still to
give him the Vaccine and to preserve him. I am inexpressibly hurt and confounded
at this stroke; and it shall operate as a powerful stimulous on my Mind in
persuit of that great and Momentous Subject.—
I wrote yesterday to Mr
Lofft, and Mention'd his illness. He was then dead but his Father could not tell me
so!
Farewell—
Robert