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. I rejoice in that Fame
which is just to living Merit, and waits not for the Tomb to present the
tardy and then unvalued Wreath: I rejoice in the sense express'd not only
of his Genius, but of his pure, benevolent, amiable Virtue, his
affectionate Veneration to the DEITY, and his good Will to all....
Obscurity and Adversity have not broken; Fame and Prosperity, I am
persuaded, will not corrupt him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account