y[] MELAIS-CHOLT HOUES. 351 



discontent which prejs on the vitals, and soon produces 

 untimely mortalitj. A sentiment like this has, no 

 loubt, often actuated "beings who attracted notice, per- 

 haps, while they lived, only by their singularity, and 

 who were forgotten almost ere their parent earth had 

 closed over their heads — beings who lived but to mourn 

 and to languish fur what they were never destined to 

 enjoy, and whose exalted endowments were buried with 

 them in their graves, by the want of a little of that 

 superfluity which serves to pamper the debased appetites 

 of the enervated sons of luxury and sloth. 



The present age, however, has furnished us with two 

 illustrious instances of poverty bursting through the cloud 

 of surrounding impediments, into the full blaze of no- 

 *toriety and eminence. I allude to the two Bloomfields 

 — bards who may challenge a comparison with the most 

 distinguished favourites of the Muse, and who both 

 passed the day-spring of life in labour, indigence, and 

 obscurity. 



The author of the " Farmer's Boy" hath already re- 

 ceived the applause he justly deserved. It yet remains 

 for the " Essay on War" to enjoy all the distinction it 

 so richly merits, as well from its sterling worth, as from 

 the circumstances of its author. Whether the present 

 age will be inclined to do it full justice, may indeed be 

 feared. Had Mr Xathaniel Bloomfield made his appear- 

 ance in the horizon of letters prior to his brother, he 

 would undoubtedly have been considered as a meteor of 

 uncommon attraction ; the critics would have admired, 

 because it would have been the fashion to admire. But 

 it is to be apprehended that our countrymen become 

 inured to phenomena : — it is to be apprehended that the 

 frivolity of the age cannot endure a repetition of the un- 

 common — that it will no longer be the rage to patronize 

 indigent merit — that the heau monde will therefore 

 neglect, and that, by a necessary consequence, the critics 

 will sneer ! 



Nevertheless, sooner or later, merit will meet with its 

 reward ; and though the popularity of Mr Bloomfield 

 may be delayed, he must, at one time or other, receive 



