SOURCE: Review of Wild Flowers; or, Pastoral and Local Poetry, by Robert Bloomfield. Literary Journal, a Review 2, no. 2 (July 1806): 61-65.

In the following excerpted review, the author values Bloomfield for his lack of pretension and for his generosity toward his subjects.

Mr. Bloomfield's poetry, when connected with the remarkable particulars of his story, possessed irresistible attractions for the public curiosity; but even had he possessed every opportunity which the young poet can require to awake his fancy and improve his taste, his poetry would have acquired him a just reputation. His writings, with very few exceptions, have nothing in them which could disparage the scholar and the man of taste: his poetry is easy, natural, and perfectly free from affectation; and he has the good sense to employ himself in describing those scenes and manners which have fallen particularly under his own observation. Instead, therefore, of being a...