en in, say, that he had been a
Taylor, a Shrimp, and a Tom-tit. It is from these causes, as well as
from the habits and appearance contracted by a recluse and sedentary
Life, that, in the enlighten'd, as well as the ignorant, the ideas of
Taylor and Insignificance are inseparably link'd together."

I prevail'd, notwithstanding, that this word, whose anti-poetic
influence is so dreaded, should be in the Book. About half a Century
ago, there seem'd a degree of incredulity as to the possibility of
Courage in a Taylor. ELLIOT'S LIGHT HORSE, at that time compos'd of
Taylor-Volunteers. effectually overcame that prejudice. It remain'd
to dissolve another still more irrational prepossession, that a Taylor
cannot be a Poet. And this Volume will be a victorious Host against an
Army of such Prejudices. Indeed the Force is greater than such a Combat
requires: for stubborn as other Prejudices may still be, our litterary
Prejudices have, in this Age, been rapidly giving way to Candour,
Reason, Common-Sense, and the Evidence of Fact. We have long known that
a Scotch Plough-Boy and a Milk-Woman[7] could still be Poets of high
and almost singular Excellence. And if Improbability were any thing
against Fact, it would be far more improbable, that two Brothers should
be such Poets as ROBERT and NATHANIEL BLOOMFIELD are, than that a Taylor
should be a Poet. It remains then for Prejudice to vanish like Mists
before the Sun: while the two BROTHERS sociably ascend PARNASSUS
together; higher than ever Brothers have climbed before: I might add,
each of them to an height which but few have ever reach'd[8].

CAPEL LOFFT.

Troston-Hall, 2 Jan: 1803.

[Footnote 1: I had said, and certainly upon full authority, 23rd April;
which the Author his-self believ'd to be the Day: and had remarked
accordingly it was a Day distinguish'd by the Birth and Death
of SHAKESPERE. But Mr. N. BLOOMFIELD discover'd and immediately
communicated the mistake as to the Day. Thus we lose an interesting
coincidence: but we gain what is of greater value; a just and prompt
sacrifice to truth and candor. C.L.]

[Footnote 2: Who is mention'd in the Preface to the Farmer's Boy.
C.L.]

[Footnote 3: If "_True natural Greatness all consists in height_," the
Family of the _Bloomfields_, is most unfortunate. The Father Mr. _George
Bloomfield_ had 2 Inches less of this Greatness.]

[Footnote 4: I had a hint from both the Brothers, GEORGE and ROBERT,
that NATHANIEL had a turn