enabled him to discover the satellites of Jupiter. Kepler was engaged in those discoveries which have immortalized him. The Algebra of the Greeks, introduced by the Arabs, was strikingly developed by Tartaglia, Cardan, and above all, by Vieta. Gilbert published his speculations on the magnet; mathematics were sedulously cultivated, and had already been applied to astronomy, mechanics, and physics; thus effectually ruining the authority of Aristotle and the Schoolmen. Those who have familiarized themselves with the luminous and profound classification of the sciences, operated by Auguste Comte in his great work,* will at once seize the historical importance of the epoch we are now speaking of; to those who are not in that condition, we can only say, that in this epoch there were the preparations for Bacon and Descartes. Elements were there at work which made the age ripe for the appearance of these two men, and rendered their speculations effective. Had either of these great men appeared earlier, his influence would have been comparatively trifling; but the age was ripe for them-the age wanted them-and the age adopted them.

And what was the special want of the age? A Method-and these men furnished it. Widely as the method of Bacon differs from the method of Descartes, the difference arises principally from one-sided views of the real nature of science; but united, they go very far towards a perfect method.

See Cours de Philosophie Positive, i. pp. 86-97; also p. 112. In default thereof, see our analysis of it in the last chapter of this series.

CHAP. III. HIS METHOD.

CHAP. IV. THE SPIRIT OF HIS WORKS.
CHAP. V.

WAS THE METHOD NEW, USEFUL, AND BACON'S OWN?

CHAPTER I.

THE LIFE OF BACON.

FRANCIS BACON was born on the 22nd January, 1561. Mr. Basil Montagu, the laborious and affectionate (we had almost said idolatrous) biographer of Bacon, wishes us to believe that the family was ancient and illustrious; and favours us with some flourishes about Bacon retiring to the "halls of his ancestors." This is somewhat different from the story of Bacon's grandfather having kept the sheep of the abbot of Bury.*

But although we can claim for Bacon no illustrious ancestry, we must not forget his excellent parentage. His father, Sir Nicholas, was generally considered as ranking next to the great Burleigh as a statesman. His mother, Anne, daughter of Sir Anthony Cooke, "was distinguished both as a linguist and as a theologian. She corresponded in Greek with Bishop Jewel, and translated his 'Apologia' from the Latin so correctly, that neither he nor Bishop Parker could suggest a single alteration."†

* See this question of lineage, and a great many other curious points, satisfactorily settled in an article on the Lives of Bacon, London Review, January, 1836.

+ Edin. Rev. July, 1837, p. 9. This is the brilliant article on Bacon, by Mr. Macaulay, which has excited so much attention. It is reprinted in his Essays; but not having these at hand, we shall always quote from the Review.

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It is not often that such remarkable parents have such a son. His health, however, was very delicate, as is not unfrequent with men of intellectual eminence. This delicacy made him sedentary and reflective. Of his youth we know little, but that little displays the reflective tendency of his mind. At the age of twelve he discussed the point as to how a juggler could tell the card of which a man thought: he at first ascribed it to a confederacy between the juggler and the servants, till he at last discovered the law of the mind on which the trick depends. We hear also of his leaving his playfellows to examine the cause of an echo which he had observed in a vault.

At thirteen he was entered at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he imbibed a profound contempt for the course of study pursued there, and an inveterate scorn for Aristotle and his followers. It is said that he there planned his 'Novum Organum;' but this is highly improbable. What he did was doubtless to sketch some new scheme of philosophical study, because of his contempt for that in vogue. There must, however, be a wide difference between the sketch of a boy, prompted by contempt for reigning opinions, and the wise maturity of his greatest work, the fruit of a life's meditations.

On leaving Cambridge, he visited Paris, from whence he was recalled on the sudden death of his father. "Being returned from travaile," says Dr. Rowley," he applyed himself to the study of the common law, which he took upon him to be his profession; in which he obtained to great excellency, though he made that (as himself said) but as an accessory, and not as his principall study."

But before betaking himself to this study he made an application to government for an office. His claims were great; but he had Burleigh for an opponent, and was defeated. He rose, however, rapidly into business, and had hopes of being called within the bar; but here also he was frustrated by Burleigh. The path of ambition was of no easy ascent; yet to such talents and such energy as his, few obstacles could be insuperable. He waited.

In 1593 he sat in parliament as member for Middlesex. He soon became distinguished as an orator and as a debater. We have the testimony of an admirable judge to assure us that Bacon's oratory was worthy of his other powers. Ben Jonson thus writes: "There happened, in my time, one noble speaker, who was full of gravity in his speaking. His language, where he could spare or pass by a jest, was nobly censorious. No man ever spoke more neatly, more pressly, more weightily, or suffered less emptiness, less idleness, in what he uttered. No member of his speech but consisted of his own graces. His hearers could not cough or look aside from him without loss. He commanded when he spoke, and had his judges angry or pleased at his devotion."*

Of his political bearing Mr. Macaulay thus speaks: "Bacon tried to play a very difficult game in politics. He wished to be at once a favourite at court and popular with the multitude. If any man could have succeeded in this attempt, a man of talents so rare, of judgments so prematurely ripe, of temper so calm, and of manners so plausible, might

Ben Jonson: Underwoods. In the Discoveries, Ben also speaks admiringly and affectionately of him.