GRAMTOGONY, 



THE BIRTH OF GRANITE. 



The Granitogony was written in 1811, when the author was on a visit at 

 Derby, the former residence of Dr. Darwin. In the company of a few sci- 

 entific friends it was siig:g'ested, that, if the Doctor had lived to see the 

 progress of Geology, he would have favoured the world with another poem, 

 " The Loves of the IVlountains." Impressed with this idea, the author, on 

 the (bllowing day, to amuse a long^ and solitary walk in December, compos- 

 ed the annexed verses, studio minuenle laborem. They were written and 

 shown on his return, and the Moral was afterwards added. The reason 

 for the present publication is given in the Preface. At the period when 

 this poem was composed, the author was more disposed to adopt the theory 

 of those philosophers who assert that the world has been baked, than that of 

 the German Geogonists, who assert that it has only been boiled. He now 

 inclines to a midway faith ; and is disposed to believe that the crust of our 

 planet has been stewed, fire and water being equally operative in its forma- 

 tion. 



In ancient time, ere Granite' first had birth. 



And form'd the solid pavement of the earth, 



Stern Silex^ reign'd, and felt the strong desire 



To have a son, the semblance of the sire. 



To soft Alumina^ his court he paid, 



But tried in vain to win the gentle maid ; 



Till to caloric and the spirits of flame 



He sued for aid — nor sued for aid in vain : 



They v\'arm'd her heart, the bridal couch they spread, 



And Felspar* was the offspring of their bed : 



1 Granite. — This rock is essentially composed of three minerals, Quartz, 

 P\^lspar, and Mica united, without any cement, or without interstices be- 

 tween them ; frequently the three, minerals appear to penetrate each oth- 

 er. Hence it has been supposed that these minerals were crystallized and 

 united when the mass was in a state of fusion. 



2 Silex. — This earth is one of the principal constituent elements of the 

 three minerals that form Granite. Quartz is nearly pure Silex ; it is more 

 imperishable than Felspar or Mica. 



3 Alumina. — This earth is soft and unctuous when moist. It is a constit- 

 uent part of Felspar, in which it is combined with a large portion of Silex, 

 and with other ingredients. As Silex and Alumina cannot be made to com- 

 bine chemically by water, the Muse has properly sought aid from caloric to 

 promote their union. 



4 Felspar, when crystalline, is distinguished by its laminar structure and 

 smooth shining face. 



