258 LIFE, TIMES, AND SCIENTIFIC LABOURS [1663. 



estimating it at not less than 400,000. Shortly after 

 the passing of this Act he published his ever memorable 

 and extremely curious and ingenious little work, entitled 

 U A Century of the names and scantlings of Inventions.&quot; 15 



* Mr. Thomas Baker, a talented engineer, and withal a poet, has very gracefully 

 epitomized the character of the Century in his poem on &quot; The Steam Engine ; or 

 the Powers of Flame,&quot; published in 1857. As the work is now extremely scarce, 

 and not likely to be met with by the general reader, the following extract may 

 prove acceptable : 



THE VISION OF THE MARQUIS OF WORCESTER. 



WITH hopes now high, now with despair oppress d, 



As Phoebus sunk, he also sunk to rest ; 



When lo ! uprose before his mental view 



A HUNDRED ENGINES of devices new ! 



In slow procession he their forms survey d ; 



In each recondite fabric were display d 



Rare works of art, and such as far surpass 



Ought erst beheld in iron, steel, or brass ; 



While gems with gold and silver s polished sheen 



Blended their hues in this artistic scene : 



# * * * * 



Resplendent seals were there in groups arranged, 

 Which by a touch their rare devices changed, 

 And secrets in all languages convey d 

 From man to man, nor once their trust betray d. 

 Such were the seals to Eastern Magi known, 

 By which of old their wond rous feats were shown. 



Nine engines next in slow succession came, 

 Explosive from the slightest touch of flame, 

 Replete with missiles, used in various ways : 



* * # * 



A floating garden, gay, with verdant bowers, 

 And redolent with blooming trees and flowers, 

 Drew its own moisture, moved its pleasing form, 

 Spontaneous met the sun, and shunn d the storm ; 

 Such scenes of fair delight, are wont to smile 

 From age to age in Hainan s palmy isle 1 



Nine splendid founts their varied forms display d, 

 Whence cooling streams, abstrusely winding, stray d ; 

 In one, tall jets bright Iris colours show d ; 

 In one, the waters ever ebb d and flow d : 



* 



Next there came forth a vast abstruse machine, 

 Where motions of ten thousand worlds were seen ; 

 TV sethereal vault around was wide display d, 

 As by bright Phoebus from his car survey d ; 



