182 
tieian, aud: coitribated “ad great many 
papers, which’ at an eatly speridd, tended 
to establish tie reputation of the Phild- 
sophical Magazive.. He was a man of 
true piety, and real practical religiou! 
For his’ exertions in the abolition of the 
slave-trade, he obtained, through the in- 
fluence of Mr. Wilberforce, a situation 
in the Mint; though the salary was 
moderate, by strict economy he contrived 
to save a considerable sum of money, 
and, though to: himself severe, ‘his purse 
was always open to his friends, and many 
of his young countrymen were relieved 
from temporary distress ‘from>his slender 
funds, He had retired from active em- 
ployment for some years; he expressed in 
his willa: singular wish, that if he were 
the survivor, he should be laid in the 
same grave with his friend and coadjutor, 
the respectable Clarkson, 
-In lis apartments, Lambeth-road, 82, 
Wiikam Coombe, es. who originally ex- 
cited great attention in the fashionable 
world by a poem entitled, ‘The Dia- 
boliad,’ the hero of which was geuevrally 
understood to be a nobleman lately 
deceased. Many other poems issued from 
his pen, but none ever bore the stamp of 
fiis name, Within the last few years, 
under the liberal patronage of Mr. 
Ackermann, who continued to bea 
generous friend to him till his last moments, 
he brought forth a work which became 
very popular and’ attractive, under the 
title of ‘The Tour of Dr. Syntax im 
search of the Picturesque.” This work, 
which he extended to a ‘Second and a 
Third Tour,’ with nearly the same spirit 
and humour as characterized the first, 
will for ever rank among the most 
humorous preductions of British lite- 
rature. He afterwards produced poems 
entitled ‘The English Dance of Death,’ 
and ‘The Danee of Life,’ which were 
written with the same spirit, humour, 
and knowledge of mankind, tat marked 
his other: works. His last poem was 
«Fhe History of Jobuny Que Genus, the 
Litile Poundling of the late Dr. Syntax,’ 
All these works were illustrated by some 
admirable prints, from the designs of 
Mr. Rowlandson. Among the other 
works of this gentleman was ‘The 
Devil upon Two Sticks in England, in 
which “many very distinguished — cha- 
racters at that. period were intro- 
_dticed, and the whole fairly entitles 
him to the name-of the English Le Sage. 
He was the anthor also of several political 
pamphlets, which made a considerable 
impression on the public, among which 
were ‘The Royal Interview,’ ‘A Letter 
froma Country Gentleman to his Vnend 
int Town,” ©A Word” in (Season, aad 
many otliéss. “He also wrote those 
letters; winch -appeat tuider ‘the -tifle 
Deaths in and near Londons 
[Septe, 
of * Letters of the lete Lord Littleton’ 
—Mr. Coombe began life under the miost 
favourable auspices, . He was :educated” 
at Eton and Oxford. He possessed great 
talents, anda very fine person; as. well 
as_a good fortune, which, unhappily, he’ 
soon dissipated among the high connec- 
tions to which his talents and attainments 
introduced him, and he subsequently 
passed through many vicissitudes of life, 
which at length compelled . him to resort 
to literature for support, Innumerable 
are the works of taste and science which 
were. submitted to. his revision, and “of 
which others had the reputation, A love 
of show and dress, but neither gaming 
nor drinking, was the source of his em- 
barrassments. He was, indeed, remark- 
ably abstemions, drinking nothing but 
water till the last few weeks of his lite, 
when wine was recommended to him asa 
medicine; but, though a mere water- 
drinker, his spirit at the “social board 
kept pace with that of the company. He 
possessed musical knowledge and ‘taste, 
and formerly sung in a very agreeable 
manner, is conversation was always 
entertaining and’ instructive, and «he 
possessed a calm temper with very 
agreeable manuers. He was twice mar- 
ried. His second wife, who is now 
alive, is the sister of Mrs, Cosway, and 
ossessed of cougenial taste and talents. » 
:AtShefiord, 57, Mr. Xobert Bloomfield, 
author of the Farmer’s Boy, once very po- 
pular, and of other poems. He was the 
son of a poor taylor in Suffolk, origiually 
employed as a farmet’s boy, and afterwards 
followéd the employment of a shoeanaker. 
Having, about i800, finished his four Poems 
on the rural employments of the séasons, 
he brouglit then: to London to endeavour 
to get them publisied. His first applica- 
tion was to Mr. Charles Dilly, who reeom- 
mended him to ihe editor of the Monthly 
Magazine. He brought his Poeinus tour 
office; and, though his unpolished appear- 
ance, his coarse hand-writing, and wretched 
orthography, afforded no prospect that his 
production could be printed, yet he found 
attention by bis repeated calls, and by the 
humility of his expectations, which were 
limited to, halfa-dozen copies of the Maga- 
zine. At length, on his name being an- 
* nounced when a literary gentleman, parti- 
ctlarly conversant in rural economy, hap- 
pened to be present, the poem was for- 
mally re-examined, and its general’ aspect 
excited the risibility of that gentleman in 
80 pointed a manner, that Bloontield was 
called into the room, and exhorted not to 
waste his time, and neglect his employ- 
nicnt, in niaking vail attempis, and particu- 
larly in treadg on the ground which 
Thomson had sanctified, Tiis earnestness 
and confidence; however, led the editor to. 
advise bim to consult lis country ie 
rape 
