594 
which we are restrained. A short ex- 
ample will be sufficient. : 
“ It is probable that much oxygen en- 
ters the composition of glass, as thos¢ 
materials which promote vitrification 
contain so much of it, as minium and 
manganese; and that glass is hence a 
solid acid in the temperature of our at- 
mosphere, as water is a fluid one.” All 
future chemists will, we doubt not, hold 
themselves indebted to Dr. Darwin for 
informing them that an acid may be com- 
posed of siliceous earth, metallic oxyds 
and alkali, and that water and sulphuric 
acid are similar substances, though they 
have not a single characteristic property 
in common. 
We have already observed, that the 
poetry of this volume is by no means so 
deeply impressed with the characters of 
genius as the ‘Botanic Garden;”’ there 
are no passages to be compared with the 
splendid simile of the balloon, or the 
sublime description of the army of Cam- 
byses, in the African deserts, perishing 
by hunger and overwhelmed by sand. 
We are disgusted by perpetual repeti- 
tions, and no author ever so strikingly 
exemplified that odious tault of imitating 
himself: the structure of the verse too is 
remarkably monotonous, and destitute, 
in several instances, of that rich harmony 
which so eminently distinguishes the for- 
mer productions of Dr. Darwin. 
As pleasing exceptions, however, to 
these faults we shall quote two passages : 
the first of which is taken from the tri- 
umphal progress of Cupid and Psyche, 
in the second canto, and is exquisitely 
vo" 
POETRY. 
harmonious; the second describes the 
cavern of Oblivion. 
«« Pleased as they pass along the breezy shore, 
In twinkling shoals the scaly realms adore, 
Move on quick fin with undulating train, 
Or li‘t their slimy foreheads from the main. 
High o’er their heads on pinions broad dis- 
lay'd, 
The feather’d nations shed a floating shade ; 
Pair after pair enamour'd shoot along, 
And trill in air the gay impassion’d song. 
With busy hum in playful swarms around 
Emerging insects leave the peopled ground, 
Rise in dark clouds, and, borne in airy rings, 
Sport ‘round the car, and wave their golden 
Wilts. e 
Admiring Fauns pursue on dancing hoof, 
And bashful Dryads peep from shades aloof ; 
Emerging Neéreids rise from coral cells, 
Enamour’d ‘Tritons sound their twisted shells; 
From sparkling founts enchanted Naiads 
move, 
And swell the triumph of despotie Love.” 
* 4% 
<« Deep-whelin’d beneath, in vast sepulchral 
caves, 
Oblivion dwells, amid unlabell’d graves ; 
‘The storied tomb, the laurell’d bust o’erturns, 
And shakes their ashes from the mould’ring 
urns. 
No-vernal zephyr breathes, no sun-beams 
cheer, 
Nor song, nor simpef, ever enters here ; 
Over the green floor, and round the dew-damp 
wall . 
The slimy snail and bloated lizard crawl ; 
While on white heaps of intermingled bones 
The Muse of Melancholy sits and moans ; 
Showers her cold tears o’er Beauty's early 
wreck, ' 
Spreads her pale arms, and bends her marble 
neck.” 
