364 MEMOIRS OP 



The Sylphs are now applauded by their 

 Queen for having inftrufted Torricelli and 

 Boyle, concerning the properties of air, 

 it's preflure and elafticity. The operations 

 of the weather-glafs and air-pump are 

 defcribed with philofophic accuracy and 

 poetic elegance. Young Roffiere's dire 

 .fate, precipitated from his flaming mont- 

 golfier, comes forward here, and is pictured 

 \vith great poetic ftrength ; nor is the il- 

 luftration of that lamentable event, by the 

 fable of Icarus, lefs happy in it's novel and 

 mournful graces ; his faithlefs and fcattered 

 plumage dancing on the wave ; the Mer- 

 maids decking his watry tomb, ftrewing 

 over his corfe the pearly fea-flowers, and 

 {hiking, in the coral towers, the paufing 

 bell, which echos through the caves of 

 Ocean ! Surely it is not poffible to admire 

 too fondly the beautiful and exhauftlefs 

 varieties of this darling Bard of Fancy. 



Critics have aflerted, that the poetic 



mind 



