The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

. I:T1 ERPRETaT~I N0 0 OF NATURE. 555
lyses and divides experience, and by proper ultimate efficients, or to matter taken generically,
limitations and rejections comes to necessary con- (such as are discussed in the disputations of the
clusions. Now the popular induction (from schools,) but to proximate efficients and preparawhich the proofs of principles themselves are tions of matter. Lest men should labour in these,
attempted) is but a puerile toy, concluding at however, by a vain repetition and refining of
random, and perpetually in risk of being exploded experiments, we shall in this part introduce the
by contradictory instances: insomuch that the doctrine of discovering latent processes. Now,
dialecticians seem never once to have thought of we give the name of latent process to a certain
the subject in earnest, turning from it in a sort of series and gradation of changes, formed by the
disdain, and hurrying on to other things. Mean- action of an efficient and the motion of parts in
timne this is manifest, that the conclusions which matter subjected to that action. The varying of
are attained by any species of induction are at the inquiry as it respects its subjects is derived
once both discovered and attested, and do not from two states of things, either from their eledepend on axioms and middle truths, but stand mentary or compound character, (for there is one
on their own weight of evidence, and require no modification of the inquiry adapted to things
extrinsic proof. Much more then is it necessary simple, another to things compound, or decomthat those axioms which are raised according to posed, or ambiguous,) or from the copiousness
the true form of induction, should be of self-con- or poverty of the natural history which may have
tuined proof, surer and more solid than what are been collected to advance the inquiry. For when
tur.ned principles themselves; and this kind of the history is rich in facts, the progress of the
induction is what we have been wont to term the inquisition is prompt; when limited, it is labour
formula of interpretation. Therefore it is, that we in shackles, and demands manifold assiduity and
desire to be careful and luminous, in exposition, skill. So, then, by handling the points we have
above all other topics, of the construction of the now recounted, we shall have, as it seems to us,
axiom and the formula of interpretation. There sufficiently discussed the varying of the inquiry.
remain, however, subservient to this end, three There remains the contracting of the inquiry,
things of paramount importance, without explica- so as not only to demonstrate and make patent a
tion of which, the rule of inquisition, though po- way in places pathless before, but a short cut in
tent in the effect, may be regarded as operose in that way, and as it were a straight line of prothe application. These are the continiuing, vary- gression, which shall go direct through circuitous
ing, and contracting of the inquiry, so that no- and perplexed routes. Now this (like every
thing may be left in the art either half done, or other kind of abridging) consists mainly in the
inconsistent, or too much lengthened out for the selection of things. And we shall find that there
shortness of man's life. We shall therefore show are in things two prerogatives, so to speak, of
ill the first place the use of axioms (supposing sovereign efficacy in abridging investigation, the
them discovered by the formula,) for inquiring prerogative of the instance, and the prerogativ&
into and raising others higher and more general, of that which is inquired into. Wherefore, we
so that by a succession of firm and unbroken steps shall point out in the first place what those inin the ladder of ascent, we may arrive at the unity stances or experiments are, which are privileged
of nature. In this part, however, we shall add above the rest to give forth light, so that a few
the mode of examining and attesting these higher of them afford as much weight as a multitude of
axioms by the experimental results first obtained, others. For this both saves accumulation of the
lest we again fall down to conjectures, probabili- history and the toil of beating about indefinitely.
ties, and idol systems. And this is the method We shall, then, expound what are the subjects of
which we term the continuing of the inquiry. inquisition, from which the investigation ought
The varying of the inquisition accommodates to borrow its prelibation of omens, as those which
itself to the different nature, either of the causes being first disposed of, carry, as it were, a torch
to ascertain which the inquiry is set on foot, or before their successors, either by reason of their
of the things or subjects about which the inquiry own consummate certainty, or generic quality,
is occupied. Therefore, discarding final causes, or from their being indispensable to mechanical
~ which have hitherto utterly vitiated natural philo- trials. And here we close the ministration to
sophy, we shall commence with an inquiry, on reason regarded in its character of contemplative.
the plan of varying and adaptation, into forms, a The doctrine of the active part of reason and
branch which has hitherto been abandoned as its ministration, we shall comprehend in three
hopeless, and not unreasonably. For no one can directions, first, premising two admonitions to
be so privileged either in his powers of mind or open an entrance into the minds of men. The
in his good fortune, as to detect the form of any first of these is, that in the inquiry, proceeding
thing by means of presumptive conjectures and according to the formula laid down, the active
scholastic logic. Then follow the divers sorts part of reason should have a perpetual intercomof matter and of efficients. Now, when we use munion with the contemplativB. For the nature
the terms matter and efficients, we do not-point to of thinfgs constrains that the propositions and