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Show [ xviii ] 1778. The Egyptians were polfeifed of many difcovcries in philofophy and chemifiry before the invention of letters ; thefe were then expre1fed in hieroglyphic paintings of men and animals ; which after the difcovery of the alphabet were defcribed and animated by the poets, and became firfi the deities of Egypt, and afterwards of Greece and Rome. Allufions to thofe fables were therefore thought proper ornaments to a philofophical poem, and are occafionally introduced either as reprefentecl by the poets, or preferved on the numerous gems and medallions of antiquity. xix Argument of the Firfl Canto, THE Genius of the place invites the Goddefs of Botany. 1. She defcends, is received by Spring, and the Elements, 59· Addreffes the Nymphs of Fire. Star-light Night feen in the Camera Obfcura, 8 I • I. Love created the U ni verfe. Chaos explodes. All the Stars revolve. God. 97· II. Shooting Stars. Lightning. Rainbow. Colours of the Morning and Eveping Skies. Exterior Atmofphere of inflammable Air. Twilight. Fire-balls. Aurora Borealis. Planets. Comets. Fixed Stars. Sun's Orb, 1 IS· III. 1. Fires at the Earth's Centre. Animal Incubation, r 37· 2. Volcanic Mountains. Venus vifits the Cyclops, I 49· IV. Heat confined on the Earth by the Air. Phofphoric lights in the Evening. Bolognian Stone. Calcined SheJls. Memnon's Harp, 17 3· Ignis fatuus. Luminous Flowers. Glow-\vorm. Fire-fly. Luminous Sea-infects. Electric Eel. Eagle armed with Lightning, I 89. V. 1. Difcovery of Fire. Medufa, 209. 2. The chemical Properties of Fire. Phofphorus. Lady in Love, 223. 3· Gunpowder, 237· VI. Steam-engine applied to Pumps, Bellows, Water-engines, Corn-mills, Coining, Barges, Waggons, Flyingchariots, 253· Labours of Hercules. Abyla and Calpe, 297· VII. I. Electric Machine. Hefperian Dragon. Electric Kifs. H .. Ilo round the heads of Saints. Eleel:ric Shock. Fairy-rings, 335. .z. Death of Profeifor Richman, 371. 3· Franklin dra\.\'s Lightning |
