Although it was not likely that such Luftre and Reputation would dazzle him, the Admirer of Phocion, who, when applauded, turned to one of his Friends and asked, "What have I said amifs ?" although popular Judgement was not likely to miflead him who concludes his Obfervations upon the Objections to Learning, and the Advantages of Knowledge, by saying, "Nevertheless, I do not pretend, and I know it will be impoffible for me, by any Pleading of mine, to reverse the Judgement either of Afop's Cock, that preferred the Barleycorn before the Gem; or of Midas, that being chofen Judge between Apollo, prefident of the Mufes, and Pan, God of the Flocks, judged for Plenty; or of Paris, that judged for Beauty and Love against Wisdom and Power. For these Things continue as they have been; but so will that also continue, whereupon Learning hath ever relied and which faileth not, Juftificata eft fapientia a filiis fuis:" yet he seems to have undervalued this little Work, which for two Centuries, has been favourably received by every Lover of Knowledge and of Beauty, and is now fo well appreciated that a celebrated Profeffor of our own Times truly says: "The fmall Volume to which he has given the Title of Effays,' the best known and the most popular of all his Works, is one of those where the fuperiority of his Genius appears to the greatest advantage, the novelty and depth of his Reflections often receiving a strong relief from the triteness of the fubject. It may be read from beginning to end in a few hours; and yet after the twentieth

Perufal one feldom fails to remark in it something overlooked before. This, indeed, is a Characteriftic of all Bacon's Writings, and is only to be accounted for by the inexhaustible Aliment they furnish to our own Thoughts and the fympathetic Activity they impart to our torpid Faculties."

During his Life fix or more Editions, which feem to have been pirated, were published; and after his Death, two spurious Effays, " Of Death," and "Of a King," the only authentic pofthumous Effay being the Fragment of an Essay on Fame, which was published by his Friend and Chaplain Dr. Rawley.

This Edition is a Tranfcript of the Edition of 1625, with the Pofthumous Effays. In the Life of Bacon* there is a minute Account of the different Editions of the Essays and of their Contents. They may shortly be stated as follows:

First Edition, 1597, genuine.

There are two Copies of this Edition in the Univerfity Library at Cambridge: and there is Archbishop Sancroft's Copy in Emanuel Library: there is a Copy in the Bodleian, and I have a Copy. Second Edition, 1598, genuine.

Third Edition, 1606, pirated.

Fourth Edition, entitled, "The Effaies of Sir Francis Bacon, Knight, the Kings Solliciter Generall. Imprinted at London by Iohn Beale, 1612,” genuine. It was the Intention of Sir Francis to have dedicated this Edition to Henry Prince of

* By B. Montagu. Appendix, note 3 I.

Wales; but he was prevented by the Death of the Prince on the 6th of November in that year. This appears by the following Letter:

To the most high and excellent Prince, Henry, Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chefter.

It may please your Highness,-Having divided my Life into the contemplative and active part, I am defirous to give his Majefty and your Highness of the Fruits of both, fimple though they be. To write juft Treatifes, requireth leisure in the Writer and leisure in the Reader, and therefore are not fo fit, neither in regard of your Highness's princely Affairs nor in regard of my continual Service; which is the cause that hath made me choose to write certain brief Notes, fet down rather fignificantly than curiously, which I have called Essays. The word is late, but the thing is ancient; for Seneca's Epiftles to Lucilius, if you mark them well, are but Essays, that is, dispersed Meditations though conveyed in the form of Epiftles. These Labours of mine, I know, cannot be worthy of your Highness, for what can be worthy of you? But my hope is, they may be as grains of Salt, that will rather give you an Appetite than offend you with Satiety. And although they handle those things wherein both Men's lives and their persons are most converfant; yet what I have attained I know not; but I have endeavoured to make them not vulgar, but of a nature whereof a Man shall find much in Experience and little in Books; so as they are nei

ther Repetitions nor Fancies. But, however, I shall most humbly defire your Highness to accept them in gracious part, and to conceive, that if I cannot rest but must shew my dutiful and devoted Affection to your Highness in these things which proceed from myself, I shall be much more ready to do it in Performance of any of your princely Commandments. And fo wishing your Highness all princely Felicity, I reft your Highness' moft humble Servant,

1612.

It was dedicated as follows:

FR. BACON.

To my loving Brother, Sir John Constable, Knt.

My laft Effaies I dedicated to my deare Brother Mafter Anthony Bacon, who is with God. Looking amongst my Papers this vacation, I found others of the fame nature: which if I myselfe shall not fuffer to be loft, it feemeth the World will not; by the often printing of the former. Miffing my Brother, I found you next; in refpect of bond both of neare Alliance, and of straight Friendship and Societie, and particularly of communication in Studies. Wherein I must acknowledge my felfe beholding to you. For as my Bufineffe found reft in my Contemplations; fo my Contemplations ever found reft in your loving Conference and Judgement. So wishing you all good, I remaine your louing Brother and Friend,

FRA. BACON.

Fifth Edition, 1612, pirated.

Sixth Edition,

1613, pirated. Seventh Edition, 1624, pirated. Eighth Edition, 1624, pirated. Ninth Edition, entitled, The Essayes or Covnfels, Civill and Morall, of Francis Lo. Verulam, Viscount St. Alban. Newly enlarged. London, Printed by Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret and Richard Whitaker, and are to be fold at the Signe of the King's Head in Paul's Churchyard. 1625, genuine.

This Edition is a fmall quarto of 340 pages; it clearly was published by Lord Bacon; and in the next year, 1626, Lord Bacon died. The Dedication is as follows, to the Duke of Buckingham :

To the Right Honorable my very good Lo. the Duke of Buckingham his Grace, Lo. High Admirall of England.

Excellent Lo.-Salomon faies, A good Name is as a precious Oyntment; and I affure myselfe, such wil your Grace's Name bee, with Pofteritie. For your Fortune and Merit both, haue beene eminent. And you haue planted things that are like to last. I doe now publish my Essayes; which, of all my other Workes, have beene most currant: for that, as it feemes, they come home to Mens Bufineffe and Bofomes. I haue enlarged them both in number and weight, fo that they are indeed a new Work. I thought it therefore agreeable to my Affection, and Obligation to your Grace, to prefix your Name before them, both in English and in Latine. For I doe conceiue, that the Latine Volume of them (being in the vniuersal language)