199 SIR FRANCIS BACON, VISCOUNT ST. ALBANS, THE Prophet of Arts, which Newton was sent afterwards to reveal. It would be impertinent to the reader to enter into any account of this amazing genius, or his works3: both will be universally admired as long as Science exists.As long as ingratitude and adulation are despicable, so long shall we lament the depravity of this great man's heart!-Alas! that He who could command immortal fame, should have stooped to the little ambition of power4! [Yet Bacon was not merely a vox clamantis in deserto, says Pinkerton, but actually made many experiments to ascertain his own philosophy, to one of which he fell a martyr. Letters of Literature, p. 342.] [Dr. Johnson has been said to assert, that a dictionary of the English language might be compiled from Bacon's writings alone. See Boswell's Life, vol. ii. p. 583, 2d edit.] [The following verses addressed "to the lord Bacon, when falling from favour," are too good to be immured in the obscure little volume whence they are now extracted: "Dazel'd thus with height of place, While our hopes our wits beguile, [Though lord Orford considered any farther account of sir Francis Bacon as an unnecessary intrusion upon the reader, from the known celebrity of his illustrious talents; it can hardly be deemed respectful to his unblemished reputation as a writer3, not to give When friends fail and princes frown; Vertue is the roughest way, But proves at night a bed of down." Bacon's Felicity of Queen Elizabeth, &c. 1651, p. 158.] • There is a notice in the following paragraph which seems to have escaped lord Bacon's biographers. William Bagwell, in a preface to his Mystery of Astronomy, 1655, tells the reader that he had long wished for an opportunity to deposit his work in some university or college, and that he found none so acceptable as the erection of sir Francis Bacon's college intended to be established in Lambeth Marsh, near London, a worthy institution for the advancement of learning. 3 Howell stiles him "a man recondita scientia, et ad salutem literarum natus, and the eloquentest that was born in this isle.” Fam. Letters, p. 175, edit. 1737. some slight memorial of his works 3. Their dates of publication are thus enumerated in the British Museum, Bodleian and other printed catalogues. "Essaies," Lond. 1597, augmented in 1613, and lastly in 1625. "Meditationes Sacræ," 1597, in English 1613. "Of the Colours of Good and Evil," 1597. "Certain Considerations touching the better Pacification and Edification of the Church of England," 1604. Apologie in certaine Imputations concerning the late Earle of Essex," 1604. "Of the Advancement of Learning," 1605. "De Sapientia Veterum," 1609, in English 1619. "Charge concerning Duels, &c." 1614. "Instauratio Magna, sive Novum Organum 4," 1620; pars tertia, 1622. "Historia Naturalis," 1622, in English 1627. Apophthegmes," 1625. 66 "Hist. of King Henry VII." 1622. "An Offer to King James of a Digest to be made of the Lawe of England," 1629. "The Beginning of the Reign of K. Henry VIII.” 1629. "Considerations touching a Warre with Spaine," 1629. 3 His precious bequests to posterity paint the strength and extent of his genius stronger than can any other pen. Macauley's Hist. vol. i. p. 165. This is a book, says Aubrey, qui longum noto scriptori porriget ævum. "Certain miscellany Works," 1629. "The Elements of the Common Laws of England," 1630. “New Atalantis," 1635. "Sylva Sylvarum," 1635. "De Augmentis Scientiarum," 1635. 66 History of Life and Death," 1638. "Moralia et Civilia," 1638. "The Confession of Faith," 1641, 4to. "The Reading upon the Statute of Uses," 1642. "Remains," 1648. "The Felicity of Queen Elizabeth and her Times, with Apology for the Earl of Essex," 1651, 12mo. "Resuscitatio:" or bringing into publick light several pieces of his works, 1657. "Varia Posthuma," 1658. "Baconiana, or certain genuine Remains," 1679. From this extensive and multifarious list of lord Bacon's productions, the task of scanty selection becomes difficult and delicate; but as the sententious aphorisms of such a man are likely to be most generally acceptable, a portion of them is here given from "Baconiana." "Round dealing is the honour of man's nature; and a mixture of falshood is like allay in gold and silver, which may make the metal work the better, but it embaseth it. "Children increase the cares of life, but they mitigate the remembrance of death. "He that studieth revenge, keepeth his own wounds green. "That envy is most malignant which is like Cain's, who envyed his brother because his sacrifice was better accepted, when there was nobody but God to look on. "In great place, ask counsel of both times: of the ancient time what is best; and of the latter time what is fittest. "Without good nature, man is but a better kind of vermin. "God never wrought miracle to convince atheism, because his ordinary works convince it. "He that goeth into a country before he hath some entrance into the language, goeth to school and not to travel. "Those who want friends to whom to open their griefs, are canibals of their own hearts. "Suspicions among thoughts are like bats among birds, they ever fly by twilight. "Base natures, if they find themselves once suspected, will never be true. "Riches are the baggage of virtue, they can't be spar'd nor left behind, but they hinder the march. "A man's nature runs either to herbs or weeds, therefore let him seasonably water the one, and destroy the other. "Fame is like a river that beareth up things light and swollen, and drowns things weighty and solid. "The best governments are always subject to be like the fairest crystals, wherein every isicle or grain is seen; which in a fouler stone is never perceiv'd." Sir Richard Baker asserts, that lord Bacon has written in so sweet a style, that, like manna, it pleases |