374 - ON THE SCOPE AND INFLUENCE OF THE 
able books, and in the conversation of intelligent men, seem 
to involve no small portion both of error and misconcep- 
tion. It cannot be denied, indeed, that at the time when 
Bacon wrote, there was a growing tendency to abandon the 
ancient systems, and that some successful essays had been made 
in that course of inquiry which he recommended ; but, on the 
other hand, it appears to me equally clear, that his labours for 
the advancement of Science were of such peculiar importance, 
and attended with such extensive effects, as to entitle him to a 
pre-eminent station among its early reformers and promoters. 
It is the object of this paper to offer some remarks, and to 
collect some proofs, in support of these views; but, as much 
has been already written in illustration of the merits, and but 
little in illustration of the effects produced by his philosophical 
writings, I shall content myself, at present, with a slight indi- 
cation of their general scope, and shall devote the greater part 
of my paper to the proofs of their influence. Upon the latter 
point, indeed, there seems to exist more of doubt and of mis- 
apprehension than upon any other connected with his philo- 
sophy*. 
In 
tit, nisi, ut, qua ratione philosophari deberemus, eo tempore admoneret, quo Ga- 
ritzus eadem ipsa ratione philosophari jam in Italia coeperat, ac ceteris, ut idem 
facerent, non modo verbis, verum et rebus ipsis gravissimus auctor esset ?°—Fa- 
sroni, Vite Italorum doctrina excellentium qui secults xvii. et xvili. floruerunt, vol. i. 
p- 223. 
——“ C’est Gauiter,” says a French Philosopher of the present day, “* quia 
montré Vart de V’interroger par ’expérience. Ona souvent attribué cette gloirea 
Bacon; mais ceux qui lui en font honneur, ont été (a notre avis) un peu pro- 
digues d’un bien qu'il ne leur appartenait peut-étre pas de dispenser.” —Biogra- 
phie Universelle, Tom. xvi. p. 329, Art. Gauiteo; written by M. Brot. 
* There cannot be a stronger proof of the misapprehensions alluded to, than 
what is furnished in the following passage,’of the interesting article above 
mentioned. 
