5-14-55MFP English PREFACE. THE Hiftory of Letters affords not a more striking inftance of that caprice, by which the public are frequently actuated in regard to their encouragement of men of genius, than the neglect, which the poetical productions of the late Mr. Robert Lloyd have met with, from the time of his decease. The circumftance of feeing the remaining copies of his fubfcription poems, in Quarto, lately difpofed of at an inconfiderable value, could not fail to excite in a fpectator, poffeffed of any portion of taste, a kind of indignation at the groffness of popular inattention to fuch diftinguished merit. The indignation thus cafually roused, could as little fail to be increased by the remarkable applaufe, at the fame time, lavishly beftowed on very inferiour writers. VOL. I. a On |