The Farmers Boy | Page 8

some of them whose
liberal and zealous attention had excited those feelings in the heart of
his Brother, and have fill'd his with sentiments of thankfulness. The
Duke of GRAFTON has every way shewn himself attentive to the
Genius, the Worth, of Mr. BLOOMFIELD. He has essentially added to
his comforts. His R. H. the Duke of YORK, by Capt. BUNBURY, has
made a liberal present, as an acknowledgment of the pleasure receiv'd
from the perusal of his excellent Poem. This attention of his R. H.
liberal and amiable in itself, has been the cause of like liberality in
others. It suggested to Dr. DRAKE, and other Gentlemen at
HADLEIGH, the idea of a local subscription of a Guinea each in that
Town and Neighbourhood. This has been carried into effect by himself
and eleven other Friends, who may be said in this instance to sustain, in
a manner, the honorable function of a kind of LITERARY JURY. The
Names who have given this testimony of their high esteem to the
character of Mr. BLOOMFIELD, and of the pleasure they have
received from the perusal of his Poem, are:
THOMAS SHERLOCKE GOOCH, Esq.
Major POCKLINGTON,

Dr. GIBBONS, M.D.
The Rev. J. PLAMPIN,
The Rev. T.

KNOTTESFORD,
The Rev. R. PRITCHETT,
ABRAHAM REEVE,
Esq.
GEO. ARCHER, Esq.
J. MILLS, Esq.
Mrs. TRAIL,
Mrs.
LEAKE,
NATHAN DRAKE, M.D.
I have transcribed the names in the order in which they were
transmitted to me. With a large proportion of those who have thus
stood forth the Friends of Genius and Worth I have the pleasure of
being acquainted. It gives me much satisfaction to mention this notice:
welcome to the Author as a Gift; and far more so as a testimony of
good opinion unexpectedly offer'd. Several instances of similar
attention to the disproportion between the circumstances of the Author
and the excellence of his poetical Talents and moral Qualities have
spontaneously manifested themselves from different quarters. Those, as
the separate act of individuals, I have not particularized otherwise than
by this general acknowledgment: though many such have been
mention'd to me by the Author. This, as a collective act, I hope I may
be allow'd the gratification of thus noticing.
Sir CHARLES BUNBURY has warmly expressed his approbation of
the Poem; as not only excellent for a Farmer's Boy, but such as would
do honour to any person, whatever his education: and he also has much
contributed to make it early and advantageously known. Mr. GREEN
of IPSWICH has spoken of it as a charming composition: reflecting, in
a very natural and vivid manner, the series of interesting images which
touch'd the sensibility of a young, an artless, but a most intelligent
observer of Nature; plac'd in a situation highly favourable to
observation, though in fact not often productive of it. That Originality
in such a subject is invaluable: and that this Poem appears to him (I
know few men so qualified to judge on such a point) throughout
original. And literary characters who have earnt to themselves much of
true Praise by their own Productions, Mr. DYER and Dr. DRAKE of
HADLEIGH, have given full and appropriate encomium to the
excellence both in Plan and Execution, of this admirable RURAL
PORM. My Friend Mr. BLACK of Woodbridge, has notic'd it in a very
pleasing and characteristic Letter address'd to me in verse. I believe I
shall not be just to the FARMER's BOY if I omit to notice that the
Taste and Genius of Mrs. OPIE, born to do honour to every department

of the Fine Arts, have given her an high sentiment of its merits. And a
LADY at BURY, whom I wish I were permitted to name, has most
truly characteriz'd it by remarking, that "the descriptions of Country
scenes, occupations, customs, and manners, are as natural as possible:
and that the justness, virtue, and tenderness of the sentiments are to be
equally admired." Were I to name all the Friends and Admirers of the
POEM and of the simple and amiable manners and character of the
AUTHOR, I should name, I believe, nearly every person in this Island
whom I respect, esteem, and admire.
It would be highly gratifying to me could I now transcribe those
testimonies to which I have generally referr'd:... but I abstain here from
this: and the rather, as I believe Mr. DYER will probably soon express,
in a Publication of his own, his sentiments on this Work; and as Dr.
DRAKE, I know, has been so struck with it as to intend to appropriate
to an investigation of its peculiar merit the concluding part of an
enlarg'd Edition of his LITERARY HOURS.[Footnote: This has been
since excellently perform'd by him. See the APPENDIX.]
The mention already made of the FARMER'S BOY in the NEW
LONDON REVIEW and in the MONTHLY MIRROR I have seen with
pleasure.