t<j6 MEMOIRS op 



pared to the Olympic eagle, that bears the 

 lightning in it's talons. 



Dr. Darwin considers the difcovery of 

 the ufes of fire, as the earlieft and moft 

 important of the artificial comforts. Hence, 

 the Goddefs praifes her nymphs of that 

 element, as the primal inftruclers of 

 favage man. Its dangerous excellence is 

 illuftrated by the fevere beauty of the fer- 

 pent-haired Medufa, as it blazes on the 

 fhield of Minerva. 



They are next addreffed as the patron- 

 effes of chemiftry ; teaching the ufes of 

 gunpowder, and infpiring Captain Savery 

 with the invention of the fteam- engine. 

 The unpoetical name renders this intro- 

 duction of a real perfbn amidft allegoric 

 beings, unhappy ; efpecially fince no dra- 

 matic circumftance in his deftiny recom- 

 penfes the infelicity. A defcription of that 

 eminently-ufeful machine is given with 



the 



