Clothed thee with verdure, or the eagles made
Thy cave their aëry: so in after time
Long shalt thou rest unalter'd mid the wreck
Of all the mightiness of human works;
For not the lightning nor the whirlwind's force,
Nor all the waves of ocean, shall prevail
Against thy giant strength—and thou shalt stand
Till the Almighty voice which bade thee rise
Shall bid thee fall."
Amongst Davy's letters to Mr. Gilbert, in the years 1804 and 1805, I find several upon the subject of the elastic force of steam, at different temperatures, with reference to Mr. Trevitheck's improvements in the steam-engine; in one of which he says, "I shall be extremely happy to hear of the results of your enquiries, and I hope you will not confine them to your friends, but make them public. Whenever speculative leads to practical discovery, it ought to be well remembered, and generally known: one of the most common arguments against the philosophical exercise of the understanding is, Cui bono? It is an absurd argument, and every fact against it ought to be carefully registered. Trevitheck's engine will not be forgotten; but it ought to be known and remembered that your reasonings and mathematical enquiries led to the discovery."