In human hearts what bolder thought can rise Than man's presumption on to-morrow's dawn? For numbers this is certain, the reverse As on a rock of adamant, we build ; Another, and the last poetic work of Dr. Darwin, is now in the press. The Temple of Nature. His memorialist, on these pages, has not seen a line of the composition. The curiosity of the ingenious must be ardently excited to view the setting emanation of this brilliant day-star; they must hope that neither age, disease, nor the dread calamity he had endured, in December 1799, shed mist or cloud upon its rays. Dr..Darwin died in his sixty-ninth year. This Tract is presented to the Public beneath its author's idea, that it may probably displease two classes of readers, should it attract their notice; the dazzled idolaters of the late Dr. Darwin, who will not allow that there were any spots in his sun; and that much larger class, who, from party prejudice, religious zeal, or literary envy, or a combination of all those motives, are unjust to his claims; 1 at least as a Philosopher and Poet. There is another class of readers, who, if these faithful records shall be honoured by their perusal, will feel gratified to see one distinguished character of these times, neither varnished by partiality, nor darkened by prejudice. They must be conscious that human beings, whatever may have been their talents, whatever their good qualities, are seldom found perfect, except on the pages of their eulogists; conscious also, that, while the intellectual powers of the wise and the renowned, excite admiration, their errors may not less usefully be contemplated as warnings, than their virtues as examples. LICHFIELD, THE END.. |