The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

560 PHENOM ENTA OF THE UNIVERSE.
ihe experiments of the arts; but it acts in what- remarked or asserted, (whatever men may pretend
ever class are worthy of commemoration. But respecting the power of matter being equally prothe history of species which at present exists, as portioned to its forms,) that out of that quantum
of animals, metals, and fossils, is tumid and im-. of matter more or less is contained under the same
pertinent; the history of prodigies vain and dimensions of space, according to the difference
grounded upon slight reports; the history of ex- of the bodies by which they are occupied, of
periments -imperfect, tried by parts, treated neg- which some are very evidently found to be more
ligently, and made entirely with a view to action compact, others more extended or diffused. For
and not philosophy. It is, therefore, my design a vessel or a cavity filled with water and air canto contract the history of species, to examine and not receive the same portion of matter, but the one
revise the history of prodigies, and to put forth more and the other less. If, therefore, any one
my principal labours upon experiments mechanical were to assert that from an equal quantity of air
and artificial, and upon the subjection of nature to an equal quantity of water could be produced, it
the hand of man. For what are the sports and would be the same with asserting that something
wantonings, as it were, of nature to us l that is, could be produced out of nothing. For that must,
those trifling differences of species according to of course, be supplied out of nothing which is
their forms, which are of no service to our pur- supposed to be wanting in matter. Again, if it
suits. and with which natural history, neverthe- were asserted that an equal quantity of water
less, teems. The knowledge of things wonder- could be turned into the same quantity of air, it
ful is, indeed, pleasant to us, if freed from the would be the same with asserting that something
fabulous, but on what account does it afford us could be reduced to nothing. For the superfluous
pleasure? not from any delight that is in admira- matter must, of course, have vanished into notion itself, but because it frequently intimates to thing. And I do not doubt that this will admit
art its office, that from the knowledge of nature it of calculation imperceptible in some respects, hut
may lead it whither it sometimes preceded it by definite and certain, and known to nature. As, if
its own unassisted power. To artificial experi- one were to say, that a body of gold compared
ments we entirely attribute the first place in with a body of spirit of wine were a collection of
kindlino the light of nature, not so much because matter exceeding in a ratio of twenty to one, or
they are highly useful of themselves, but because thereabout, he would speak the truth. In setting
they are the most faithful interpreters of natural forth, therefore, that history which I have spoken
occurrences. XVould any one, for instance, have of respecting the quantity and paucity of matter,
so clearly explained the nature of lightning or of and the union and expansion of matter, from which
the rainbow, before the reason of both was de- those notions of density and rarity (if rightly conmonstrated, of the one through the instruments sidered) have their rise, I shall preserve this orof war, of the other through the artificial resem- der; in the first place, to give an account of the
blances of the rainbow on the wall. But if they relative proportions of different bodies, (as of gold,
are faithful interpreters of causes, they will also water, oil, fire,) and having examined the ratios
be, certain and successful signs of their effects and of different bodies, I will afterwards treat of the
operations. And I shall not depart from this retirings and excursions of the same body, with
threefold division of my history to treat each calculations or proportions. For the same body,
subject separately, but shall mix the kinds them- without accession or subtraction, or with the
selves, natural with artificial, ordinary with extra- smallest possible degree of either, from various
ordinary, and keeping close to every subject in impulses both external and internal is able to gaproportion to its utility. ther itself into a greater and lesser sphere. For
It is usual to begin with the phenomena of the sometimes the body endeavours to return to its
air. But in strict adherence to my object, I former sphere, and sometimes evidently exceeds
should prefer those phenomena which constitute it. In the first place, then, I will enumerate the
and produce a more common nature of which both courses, differences, and proportions of any natuglobes partake. We will begin, therefore with ral body, (in relation to its extent,) comparing
the history of bodies according to that distinction them with its interstices or pores, that is, its pulwhich appears the simplest, that is, the quantity or verizations, calcinations, vitrifications, dissolupaucity of matter contained and extended within tions, distillations, vapours, exhalations, and inthe same space or the same boundaries. For as no flammations. In the next place, I shall lay down
axiom in nature is more certain than that twofold the actions and motions themselves, the extent
one, that out of nothing, nothing comes, and that and bounds of the contraction and dilatation, and
there is not any thing which can be reduced to no- when the bodies return to themselves, and when
thing, but that the quantum itself of nature, or the they exceed according to the measure of their exuniversal sum of matter, is ever the same, admitting tent; but I shall note particularly the efficients
neither of increase nor of diminution; so it is not and means through which this kind of contractions
less certain, although it has not been so clearly and dilatations of bodies follow, and, in the mean