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influence of Bacon's Philosophical Writings, is from DEVEY'S Introduction to the Moral and Historical Works of Lord Bacon:

"The human mind had never been so profoundly stirred since the times of Archimedes and Aristotle, as on the day when this mighty magician spoke. The wheels of science which had stood still for two thousand years, impelled by his breath, began to move, and the spirit of Europe was evoked on all sides to impart to them accelerated velocity. Pascal and Torricelli, guided by his rules, established the properties of air, and Newton in the spirit of his method, and directed by his hints, threw back the curtain of the heavens, revealed the laws of light, explained the phenomena of the tides, and peopled space with worlds. Nurtured in his school, Boyle transformed hydrostatics from a loose assemblage of facts into a deductive science; Watt constructed the steam engine, which has annihilated space and economized the labor of millions; and Franklin rivalled the glories of the ancient Prometheus, in snatching the electric fire from heaven! Human reason, unshackled and independent, took her bent from his hands; and learned societies in every part of Europe, either rose up at his name, or reconstructed their plans after his direction. The collective wits of the brightest of European nations-as little inclined as the Greeks to look out of themselves for excellencies-have paid homage to him as the Solon of modern science, and founded upon his partition of the sciences an Encyclopedia,* which was once the marvel and the glory of literature. The tribes of every age and nation regard the father of modern philosophy with the reverence and devotion of children; and so loud and universal has been the acclaim, that the testimony of our own epoch falls on the ear like the voice of a child closing the shout of a multitude. He has established a school in metaphysics which, whatever may be its defects, keeps alive a due attention to facts in a science where they

*The great French Encyclopedia, edited by Diderot and D'Alembert, was arranged upon his scheme of the sciences.

are too apt to be neglected; while nearly all the practical improvements introduced into education, statesmanship and social policy, may be traced in a great degree to the philosophic tone he gave to the introduction of the same element. The politicians and legists, as well as philosophers, moulded by his counsels, have placed themselves at the head of their respective sciences in Europe; and the pedantic tyrants and corrupt ministers, before whom he crouched, have been removed by the works which they patronized, and a monarchy rendered impossible, otherwise than as the personification of the organized will and reason of the nation."

NOTE. The following Topics are assigned to the Student, as matter for examination, upon the previous Strictures in regard to Bacon's Philosophical Writings:

1. Hallam's account of the early reception of those writings, on the Continent and in England? What is said of the taste of studious men under the first Stuarts? What of the Royal Society? What of the editions of Bacon's works from the English press? When and where was the fashion introduced of eulogizing the Novum Organum? What is said of the readers of Bacon's philosophical writings? What of the efficacy of those writings in promoting scientific discovery?

2. What does Macauley say of the temperament of Bacon's mind? What of the peculiarity of his understanding? How does he illustrate this? What of the mode in which he communicated his thoughts? In what work has Bacon shown most brilliantly all the peculiarities of his genius? What does Macauley most admire in Bacon's intellectual greatness? To whom does he compare him?

3. What subjects of dispute since Bacon's time are said to have prevailed? What remark is made upon the Title and claims of the Novum Organum? The relation of Bacon's writings to the discoveries of such men as Galileo, &c.? What reasons for doubting whether Bacon's Novum Organum, even down to the present day, has affected in any material degree the progress of science. How far studied by men of science? On what chiefly has scientific discovery depended? The opinion expressed by Craik and McFarlane, in summing up their argument?

4. Whom do they pronounce to be the true father of modern natural philosophy? What was Bacon's province? What in reality was the subject of the Novum Organum? The precise character of all his writings? In what then did his greatness and glory consist? The bearing of his works on the progress of scientific discovery during the past two hundred years? By what name are the 'Advancement of Learning' and the 'Novum Organum! designated?

5. Where are we to look for one of the calmest and clearest statements of Bacon's philosophy? What does Mr. Hallam say of the extent to which Bacon turned his thoughts to physical philosophy? Of what department was he pre-eminer.tly the philosopher? In what does he excel Thucydides, Tacitus, Hume and others? What modern writer comes nearest to Bacon! 6. Describe the impulse which, according to Mr. Devey, Bacon gave to the human mind? What honored names in science and art felt the impulse of his genius? What compliment was paid to him by distinguished French philosophers? What besides improvement in metaphysical science may fairly be attributed to the influence of his various writings?

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CRITICAL ESTIMATES OF BACON'S ESSAYS.

THE term 'Essay,' as applied to a particular form of literary production owes it origin to modesty. "Those sages of antiquity" (as Vicesimus Knox remarks), “who, from their improvements in knowledge and virtue, had the least dubious claim to the appellation of wise men, were yet too modest to assume a name which had the appearance of ostentation, and rather chose to be called Philosophers, or Lovers of Wisdom. From similar motives, many of the moderns, who have written with great skill on subjects of morality and science, have entitled their productions 'Essays:' a name which, though it may now convey the idea of regular treatises and dissertations, is synonymous with the word 'Attempts,' and means no more than humble endeavors to instruct or to amuse. Many works, though distinguished by this unassuming title, have been well received, and have obtained an exalted place in the scale of literary honors."

The early history of Essay-writing, as briefly given us by JAMES BEATTIE, the celebrated Scotch poet and philosopher, here finds a fitting place, and will be read with interest :

"The popular Essay has flourished more in England than in any other country, but is not peculiar to England, some of Seneca's epistles being compositions of the same character. The first series of popular and periodical essays that appeared in England, the first at least of any great name, are those which we have under the name of the 'Tatler,' a paper of which the first number is dated in April 1709, and which was published thrice a week. It was projected and begun by Sir Richard Steele, who soon received a powerful coadjutor in Addison. The Tatler was followed by the 'Spectator,' one paper of which was published every morning, Sunday excepted, for about two years together. Steele and Addison were the principal writers of the Spectator

also, as well as of the 'Guardian' that succeeded it; but some materials were communicated by other authors, particularly Budgell, Pope, Lord Hardwicke, afterwards Chancellor of England, and Dr. Pearce, Bishop of Rochester. The next remarkable publication of this sort is the 'Rambler,' written by Dr. Johnson, and published on Tuesdays and Saturdays in 1750, 1751. This was followed by the 'Adventurer,' the work of Dr. Hawkesworth, Dr. Johnson, Mr. Watson, and others; and it was succeeded by the 'World.' All these, as well as the 'Idler,' by Dr. Johnson, and the 'Mirror' and 'Lounger,' which were written by Scotch authors, and have been very favorably received by the public, deserve an attentive perusal, as they contain much beautiful morality, sound criticism, delicate humor, and just satire on the follies of mankind. But of the whole set the Spectator seems to be the best; and of all our periodical writers, Addison, I think, deserves the preference, both for style and for matter. 'As a describer of life and manners, he must,' says Dr. Johnson, 'be allowed to stand perhaps the first of the first rank. His humor is so happily diffused as to give the grace of novelty to domestic scenes and daily occurrences. He never outsteps the modesty of nature nor raises merriment or wonder by the violation of truth. His figures neither divert by distortion, nor amuse by aggravation. He copies life with so much fidelity that he can hardly be said to invent; yet his exhibitions have an air so much original that it is difficult to suppose them merely the product of imagination. His prose is pure without scrupulosity, and exact without apparent elaboration; always equable, and always easy. Whoever wishes to attain an English style, familiar but not coarse, and elegant but not ostentatious, must give his days and nights to the volumes of Addison.'

"The Essays of Lord Verulam were among the first examples of the popular essay that appeared in England; and which, for sound philosophy and accurate observation, have not been exceeded, nor perhaps equalled. They deserve to be not only read but studied, being fraught with maxims of

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