assistance in placing him out. George, in reply, offered to take his brother, and find him board and lodging, while Nathaniel engaged to clothe him. His mother herself accompanied Robert to London, observing that she should never be happy, if she did not herself put him into his brother's hands. She charged her son George, as he valued a mother's blessing, to watch over his little brother, to set him a good example, and never to forget that he had lost his father; a solemn and pa ⚫thetic adjuration which seems to have been religiously at⚫ tended to. Little I thought,' says his brother, that that ⚫ fatherless boy would one day be known and esteemed by the most learned, the most respected, the wisest and the best men of the kingdom."

The Farmer's Boy now found himself transferred to a garret in Pitcher's Court, Bell Alley, Coleman-street; as regarded health, an unfavourable exchange. Robert waited on his brothers, learned to assist them in their jobs, read the newspaperto them aloud, or some magazine or folio weekly number taken in by his brothers or the other journeymen. In this way, he spent as many hours in reading as other boys spent in play.

At that time his brother George took in the London Magazine, in which publication about two sheets were appropriated to a review. Robert was always eager to read this review. Here he could see what literary men were doing, and could learn to judge in some measure of the merits of various works as they appeared. The poetry, too, always commanded his attention. Observing this circumstance, and hearing him with some surprise one day repeat a song which he had composed to an old tune, his brother George persuaded him to try if the editor of their paper would give his verses a place. He did so; and thus was kindled the flame of ambition in the youthful poet's breast. This, the first offspring of Robert Bloomfield's muse that appeared in print, was called "The Milk-Maid, or the First of May." Emboldened by his success, he soon produced another little piece, to which he gave the name of "The Sailor's Return;" which was also published in the same newspaper. Indeed, he had so generally and diligently improved himself, that although only sixteen or seventeen years of age, his brother George and his fellow-workmen began to be instructed by his conversation. pp. 109, 10.

About the same period, Robert made an acquaintance with a Scotchman who had many books, and, among others, Thomson's Seasons and Paradise Lost, which he lent to him; and Robert spent all his leisure hours in reading the Seasons, which he was now capable of understanding. Another circumstance must not be passed over, which occurred soon after he came to London.

One Sunday, after strolling the whole day in the country, the brothers went by accident into a meeting-house in the Old Jewry, where a dissenting minister was lecturing. This preacher, whose name was Fawcett, and whose language and action were very rhetorical, although his discourse was sound and rational, filled Robert with astonishment. He was so delighted, indeed, that he thenceforward 2 attended the lecture whenever he could; and, although the meetinghouse was so crowded with the most respectable persons that Robert was compelled to stand in the aisle, he always quickened his pace, in order to reach town on a Sunday evening in time to be present. Of this gentleman, Robert soon learned to accent what he called "hard words;" and in other respects greatly to improve himself.".

In the year 1784, a dispute among the journeyman-shoemakers, rendered it expedient for Robert to return for a season to Suffolk, and Mr. Austin kindly bade him make Sapiston his home. He remained here two months, during which time, with his mind warm from the perusal of Thomson, he ret aced with new sensations the scene of his early occupation as the farmer's boy, and imbibed that enthusiastic love of rural quiet and nature, by which he became distinguished. He at length returned to London, and resumed his craft.

When Robert was between nineteen and twenty years of age, by which time he could work very expertly at his trade, that of a ladies' shoemaker, his brother George left London. After that period he studied music and became a good player on the violin. His brother Nathaniel had married a Woolwich woman: and it happened that Robert took a fancy to a comely young girl of that town, Mary Anne Church, who was the daughter of a boat-builder in the govern. ment yard; and whom he married on the 12th of December, 1790. Like most poor men, he got a wife first, and had to procure household stuff afterwards. It took him some years to work himself out of ready-furnished lodgings. At length, by dint of hard labour, he was enabled to purchase a bed of his own: and he then hired a room up one pair of stairs, at No. 14, Bell Alley, Coleman street; the landlord of the house kindly giving him leave to sit and work in the light garret, two pair of stairs higher. In that garret, amidst six or seven other workmen, his active mind employed itself in composing" The Farmer's Boy.""

Bloomfield composed the latter part of his " Autumn," and the whole of his " Winter," without committing a single line to paper. When completed and transferred to paper, which was in the year 1798, he felt a strong anxiety that it should meet his mother's eye in print. Stimulated by this idea, he offered his manuscript to several London publishers, but in vain. Foiled, yet not disheartened, he now transmitted the poem in its manuscript state to Suffolk, for the inspection of his mother and his friends. At the suggestion VOL. XXI. N.S. 2 E

of some of these, George Bloomfield was induced to submit his brother's production to Mr. Capel Lofft, who not only pronounced a highly favourable judgement on its merits, but exerted himself most strenuously to obtain the speedy publication of the poem. It appeared with what is in this Memoir termed, an able and elegant preface from the friendly pen of 'Mr. Lofft.' It was, in fact, neither elegant nor able, but it was kindly meant, and at the time serviceable; and there can be no doubt that to Mr. Lofft's exertions the Author was chiefly indebted for the auspicious commencement of his poeti. cal career. The publication was completely successful, and the Farmer's Boy became a general favourite.

Among the distinguished individuals who expressed the gratification which the perusal of "The Farmer's Boy" had afforded them, one of the earliest was His Royal Highness the Duke of York, who made the poet a liberal present in testimony of his approbation. The late Duke of Grafton also had him to Whittlebury Forest, of which His Grace was the ranger; and settled upon him a gratuity of a shilling a day; and, about two years after his first appearance as an author, gave him the appointment of Under Sealer, in the Seal Office; a situation which his declining health compelled him subsequently to relinquish the private allowance, however, after the death of His Grace, was generously continued by the present Duke. Local subscriptions were also entered into at Hadleigh, and elsewhere, for the purpose of testifying the high and general esteem entertained for Robert Bloomfield's poetical talents and personal virtues. But his greatest emoluments were derived from the sale of his work, of which, in a comparatively short space of time, above forty thousand copies were disposed of.

Mr. Bloomfield's finances having thus improved, he removed to better lodgings, and eventually took a cottage, near the Shepherd and Shepherdess, in the City Road. Here he worked for some years at his trade, and also made admirable Æolian harps; of which latter circumstance many liberal persons availed themselves, by purchasing harps at large prices, and thus delicately diminishing the obligation which a pecuniary gift might have been supposed to create.' p. 121.

In 1802, appeared the pleasing little collection of poems entitled "Rural Tales, Ballads, and Songs." It did not excite an equal degree of attention with his first performance, but it was received with considerable favour, and did not merit it less. In 1804, Bloomfield published a poem designed to celebrate the then newly introduced practice of vaccination, under the title of "Good Tidings, or News from the Farm." Two years afterwards, appeared" Wild Flowers, or Pastoral and Local Poetry." In the summer of 1807, he had the high gratification of accompanying a party of friends down the Wye, and through part of South Wales. This gave rise to his de

scriptive poem entitled "The Banks of the Wye," which appeared in the year 1811.

Unfortunately, Bloomfield's health began now to fail him. Never of a robust habit, his constitution had received several severe shocks long before he became known to the public. That heartless disease, the dropsy, gained upon him. It happened, also, in the natural course of events, that newer objects of attraction began in some measure to withdraw the public attention from him and his works; and that his income was thereby materially diminished. Under all these circumstances, he was induced to remove into Bedfordshire; principally, however, in the hope that the country air might be beneficial to him. He chose his place of abode at Shefford, in the neighbourhood of the late Mr. Whitbread, who had always treated him with great kindness, at whose table he was a welcome guest, and whose death was a severe affliction to him.

In his latter years, he became unable to work; and was nearly blind from frequent and violent headaches. To his bodily sufferings were added pecuniary embarrassments. The generosity of his friends and of the public was excited in his behalf some years since, but not efficiently; and,-it is most painful to say,-towards the close of life, his distresses accumulated upon him. In 1822, he published, " May Day with the Muses," written, as he pathetically observes, "in anxiety, and a wretched state of health.” His last work was, "Hazle. wood Hall," a village drama, in three acts, the preface of which is dated so late as April 12, 1823.

The question here naturally arises-how was it that a man who, for a time at least, floated on the full tide of worldly success, had not sufficient prudence to make some provision for his declining years? The fact is, that Robert Bloomfield was a most kind, generous, affectionate, warm-hearted being; and that his liberality constantly drained his purse. He was a man who went about in secret doing good; he gave to him that asked, and from him that would borrow he turned not away. Then his relations were all in needy circumstances. To insure a home to his aged and revered mother, and her husband, he bought the cottage which was his birth-place, repaired it at a great expense, and gave it to the old folks to live in. His brothers were all married, and had large families, which they were ill able to support. George, the eldest, a very estimable man, and whose affectionate treatment of Robert in his boyhood made an indelible impression on the mind of the latter, had ten children, and experienced many troubles. Nathaniel had twelve children, and was also frequently driven to great straits. To both these brothers the poet's hand was open on every emergency; and the pecuniary aid for which, at various times, necessity compelled them to call upon him, was very considerable. He had another brother, whose name was Isaac, a journeyman bricklayer, who lived at Honington, and who was seldom employed, except in the summer months. Robert took Isaac, his wife, and family, to London, and placed them in a general shop, or chandler's shop, as it is called. That not answering, he sent them

back to Honington, having incurred an expense on their account of above a hundred pounds; and on the death of Isaac, which took place ten years ago, Robert assisted his widow and nine children, to the utmost of his power. Added to all this, he lost a large sum of money, amounting to some hundreds of pounds, which he had lent to a relation of his wife's, who engaged in a building speculation that entirely failed.

Such were a few of the circumstances that conspired to render Robert Bloomfield a poor man. The moment, however, was rapidly approaching, when the evils of penury were to cease, and when the consolation arising from the retrospect of his exertions in behalf of others was to operate with unimpaired efficacy. Repeated accesses of his disorder left him more and more feeble. The last attack, his friends were apprehensive, if he survived it, would reduce him to a state of mental aberration worse than death. Happily it proved fatal; and on Tuesday, August 19, 1823, he expired, at Shefford, in the 57th year of his age. His remains were interred in a neighbouring churchyard; a spot having been selected for the purpose, with reference to the wish expressed in the concluding lines of his charming little poem, called "Love of the Country :".

"O Heaven! permit that I may lie

pp. 124-126.

Where o'er my corse green branches wave, And those who from life's tumults fly, With kindred feelings press my grave."' Bloomfield has left a widow and four children; three are grown up. The eldest daughter, who has been well educated, was her father's constant companion, his reader and amanuensis since the failure of his sight, and his assistant on every occasion. If any further memoir of her father is to appear, we hope that it will be only from her pen.

Art. VII. Professional Christianity; or Considerations urging the Importance of Religious Influence on the Medical Character. By a Medical Practitioner. 12mo. pp. 72. London. 1824.

WE E are at a loss to conjecture what motive can have prompted the writer of this strange rhapsody. For the profession it cannot be designed, because the calumnies which it contains, could excite only contempt or indignation in professional men. And if meant for the public in general, as a caveat against employing irreligious surgeons and apothecaries, it comes with an ill grace from a medical practitioner, and has too much the air of an advertisement. Whatever be the writer's design, a more crude and injudicious performance we have seldom met with, or one more likely to prejudice the cause it advocates. The style is an exaggeration-we were