DR. DARWIN. 315 



characters; imperifhable, at leaft, during 

 the reign of Time. Yes, it was the en- 

 couragement given by that art to the fci- 

 ences, which enabled this Bard to throw 

 over them all his fplendid robe of defcrip- 

 tive poefy. The venerable and celebrated 

 Mrs. Delany, fometime deceafed, and her 

 miraculous Hortus Siccus, are here intro- 

 duced as a fimile to Papyra ; but defcrib- 

 ing a totally different art from hers, even 

 that of a mere artificial flower- maker, this 

 fimile, which bears fb little refemblance to 

 writing and printing, forms one of the 

 moft cenfurable paflages in the whole poem. 

 Mrs.Delany, in her reprefentation of plants 

 and flowers, native and exotic, and w r hich 

 fill ten immenfe folio volumes, ufed nei- 

 ther the wax, mofs, or wire, attributed to 

 her in this entirely falfe defcription of her 

 art. She employed no material but paper, 

 which flie herfelf, from her knowledge of 

 chemiftry, was enabled to dye of all hues, 



and 



