The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

BooR II. NOVUM ORGANUM. 419
proper alternation, series, and succession of all Any bodies, however, can easily be suspended
these, or at least of some of them. under some such vessel as we have mentioned,
I. With regard to the first; common air, which which has occasioned our remarks upon the expeis always at hand, and forces its admission, as riment.
also the rays of the heavenly bodies, create much Another advantage of the careful and hermetidisturbance. Whatever, therefore, tends to ex- cal closing of bodies is this; not only the admiselude them, may well be considered as generally sion of external air is prevented, (of which we
useful. The substance and thickness of vessels have treated,) but the spirit of bodies also is prein which bodies are placed when prepared for vented from making its escape, which is an interoperations may be referred to this head. So, nal operation. For any one operating on natural
also, may the accurate methods of closing vessels bodies must be certain as to their quantity, and
by consolidation, or the luctm sapientix, as the that nothing has evaporated or escaped; since
chymists call it. The exclusion of air by means profound alterations take place in bodies, when
of liquids at the extremity, is also very useful; art prevents the loss or escape of any portion,
as, when they pour oil on wine, or the juices of whilst nature prevents their annihilation. With
herbs, which, by spreading itself upon the top, regard to this circumstance, a false idea has prelike a cover, preserves them uninjured from the vailed, (which, if true, would make us despair of
air. Powders, also, are serviceable, for, although preserving quantity without diminution,) namely,
they contain air mixed up in them, yet they ward that the spirit of bodies, and air when rarefied by a
off the power of the mass of circumambient air, great degree of heat, cannot be so kept in by being
which is seen in the preservation of grapes, and enclosed in any vessel, as not to escape by the
other fruits, in sand and flour. Wax, honey, small pores. Men are led into this idea by comrnpitch, and other resinous bodies, are well used in mon experiments of a cup inverted over water,
order to make the exclusion more perfect, and to with a candle or piece of lighted paper in it, by
remove the air and celestial influence. We have which the water is drawn up, and of those cups
sometimes made an experiment, by placing a ves- which when heated draw up the flesh. For they
sel or other bodies in quicksilver, the most dense think that in each experiment the rarefied air
of all substances capable of being poured round escapes, and that its quantity is therefore dimiothers. Grottos and subterraneous caves are of nished, by which means the water or flesh rises
great use in keeping off the effects of the sun, by the motion of connexion. This is, however,
and the predatory action of air, and, in the north most incorrect. For the air is not diminished in
of Germany, are used for granaries. The depo- quantity, but contracted in dimensions,* nor does
siting of bodies at the bottom of water may be this motion of the rising of the water begin till
also mentioned here, and I remember having heard the flame is extinguished, or the air cooled, so that
of some bottles of wine being let down into a physicians place cold sponges, moistened with
deep well in order to cool them, but left there by water, on the cups, in order to increase their
chance, carelessness, and forgetfulness, for seve- attraction. There is, therefore, no reason why
ral years, and then taken out; by which means, men should fear much from the ready escape of
the wine not only escaped becoming flat or dead, air: for, although it be true that the most solid
but was much more excellent in flavour; arising bodies have their pores, yet neither air nor spirit
(as it appears) from a more complete mixture of readily suffers itself to be rarefied to such an
its parts. But, if the case require that bodies extreme degree; just as water will not escape by
should be sunk to the bottom of water, as in a small chink.
rivers, or the sea, and yet should not touch the II. With regard to the second of the seven
water, nor be enclosed in sealed vessels, but sur- above mentioned methods, we must especially
rounded only by air, it would be right to use that observe, that compression and similar violence
vessel which has been sometimes employed under have a most powerful effect either in producing
water, above ships that have sunk, in order to locomotion, and other motions of the same nature,
enable the divers to remain below and breathe oc- as may be observed in engines and projectiles, or
casionally by turns. It was of the following in destroying the organic body and those qualities
nature. A hollow tub of metal was formed, and which consist entirely in motion, (for all life,
sunk so as to have its b.ottom parallel with the and every description of flame and ignition are
surface of the water; it thus carried down with destroyed by compression, which also injures
it to the bottoma of the sea all the air contained in and deranges every machine;) or in destroying
the tub. It stood upon three feet, (like a tripod,) those qualities which consist in position and a
being of rather less height than a man, so that coarse difference of parts, as in colours; for the
when the diver was in want of breath, he could
put his head into the hollow of the tub, breathe, ~ Part of the air is expanded and escapes, and part is coJiw
and then continue his work. We hear that some sumed by the flame. When condensed, therefore, by the
sort of boat or vessel has now been invented, ca- cold application, it cannot offer sufficient resistance to the
external atmosphere to prevent the liquid or flesh from being
pable of carrying men some distance under water. forced into the glass.