He is an imitator, or rather an _antithesizer_ of Goldsmith, if such a word may be coined for the occasion.

His merit is precisely the same as Goldsmith's--that of describing things clearly and strikingly; but there is a wide difference between the colouring of the two poets.

Goldsmith threw a sunshine over all his pictures, like that of one of our water-colour artists when he paints for ladies--a light and a beauty not to be found in Nature, though not more brilliant or beautiful than what Nature really affords; Crabbe's have a gloom which is also not in Nature--not the shade of a heavy day, of mist, or of clouds, but the dark and overcharged shadows of one who paints by lamplight--whose very lights have a gloominess.

In part this is explained by his history." Southey's letter was written in September 1808, before either _The Borough_ or the _Tales_ was published, which may account for the inadequacy of his criticism on Crabbe's poetry.

But the above passage throws light upon a period in Crabbe's history to which his son naturally does little more than refer in general and guarded terms.