The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

NATURAL HISTORY OF WINDS. 457
three chief heads and fountains of its impulsion, sail as much as they can which is opposite against
or driving forward, from whence it flows and the wind: and by that means they set in the wind
derives; whence also precepts may be taken to into that part where it should blow. And this
increase and strengthen it. they do and intend. But, in the mean season,
2. The first spring comes from the quantity of this follows, (which, peradventure, they do not
the wind which is received; for questionless perceive,) that the wind is more contracted, and
more wind helps more than less; wherefore the strikes more sharply.
quantity of wind must be carefully procured, 9. What may be added to human industry in
which will be done if, like wise householders, we this, I cannot perceive, unless the figure of the
be good husbands, and take care nothing be stolen sails be changed, and some sails be made which
from us. Wherefore we must be very careful shall not swell round, but, like a spur or a trianthat no wind may be lost. gle, with a mast or piece of timber in that corner
3. The wind blows either above the ships or of the top, that they may contract the wind more
below them, to the very superficies and surface sharply, and cut the outward air more powerfuilly.
of the sea; and as provident men use to look And that angle (as we suppose) must not be altomost after the least things, (for the greater no man gether sharp, but like a short obtuse triangle,
can choose but look after,) so we will first look that it may have some breadth. Neither do we
after these lower winds, which questionless cannot know what good it would do, if there were, as it
perform so much as the higher. were, a sail made in a sail; if, in the middle of
4. As concerning the winds which blow chiefly a greater sail, there were a kind of a purse, not
about the sides of the ships, and under their sails, altogether loose, of canvass, but with ribs of
it is the office of the main boarsprit-sail, which wood, which should take up the wind in the
lies low and sloping, to gather them into it, that middle of the sail, and bring it into a sharpness.
there may be no waste nor loss of wind; and this 10. The third fountain or original of impulof itself does good, and hinders not the wind sion, is in the place where the wind hits, and
which fills the other sails. And about this I do that is twofold; for, from the fore side of the ship
not see what can be done more by the industry the impulsion is easier and stronger than on the
of mlan, unless they should perchance fix such hinder part; and from the upper part of the mast
low sails out of the middle of the ship, like and sail than from the lower part.
wings or feathers, two on each side when the 11. Neither seems the industry of man to have
wind blows right. been ignorant of this, when, in a fore-wind, their
5. But, concerning the bewaring of being rob- greatest hopes have been in their foremasts, and
bed, which happens when the hinder sails (in a in calms they have have not been careless in
fore-right wind) steal the wind away from the hoisting up of their topsails. Neither, for the
foresails, (for in a side wind all the sails are set present, do we find what may be added to human
a-work,) I know not what can be added to the industry in this point, unless concerning the first
care man hath already taken to prevent it, unless we should set up two or three foremasts, (the
when there is a fore wind, there may be made a first upright and the rest sloping,) whose sails
kind of stairs, or scale of sails, that the hinder- shall hang downward; and, as for the second,
most sails of the mnizzenmast may be the lowest, that the foresails should be enlarged at the top,
the middle ones at the mainmast a little higher, and made less sharp than they usually are: but,
the foremast, at the foremast, highest of all, that in both, we must take heed of the inconvenience
one sail may not hinder but rather help the other, of danger, in sinking the ship too much.
delivering and passing over the wind from one to
another. And let so much be observed of the of Winds i ot Egines ef
first fountain of impulsion.
6. The second fountain of impulsion consists 1. The motion of windmills hath no subtilty
in the manner of striking the sail with the wind, I at all in it; and yet, usually, it is not well exwhich, if through the contraction of the wind it plained nor demonstrated. The sails are set
be acute and swift, will move more; if obtuse right and direct opposite against the wind which
and languishing, less. bloweth. One side of the sail lies to the wind,
7. As concerning this, it is of great moment, the other side by little and little bends itself, and
and much to the purpose, to let the sails have a gets itself away from the wind. But the turning
reasonable extension and swelling; for if they be and continuance of the motion is always caused
stretched out stiff, they will, like a wall, beat by the lower part, namely, that which is farthest
back the wind; if they be too loose, there will from the wind. But the wind, overcasting itself
be a weak impulsion. against the engine, is contracted and restrained
8. Touching this, humanindustry hath behaved by the four sails, and is constrained to take its
itself well in some things, though it was more way in four spaces. The wind doth not well
by chance than out of any good judgment. For, endure that compression; wherefore, of necessity
in a side wind, they gather up that part of the it must, as it were, with its elbow hit the sides
VoL. III.-58 O Q