596 ON THE SCOPE AND INFLUENCE OF THE 
* turn themselves into all shapes, so that we know not in what 
“ predicament to put their heat, or what genus to give it *.” 
That New Philosophy, which had already produced so muclt 
embarrassment among the followers of Aristorter, had already 
also led to the formation of a Philosophical Society, destined, 
at no distant day, to realize, in some sort, one of Bacon’s 
favourite projects. In his letter to King James, written on the 
publication of the Novum Organum, he states, that his chief 
object in publishing the work, before completing'it according 
to his original plan, was, to try to procure help towards com- 
piling an “ experimental history of Nature fT.” He more than 
once alludes, in the work itself, to the great things that might be 
accomplished in philosophical inquiries, by a conjunction of Ja- 
bours ; and in a romantic piece, called the New Atlantis, he gives 
an account of a feigned College or Society, magnificently endow- 
ed, and whose business was the improvement of all the depart- 
ments of physical knowledge. To this College he gives the 
name of Solomon’s House. The intention of this piece evidently 
was, to exhibit a grand and alluring representation of the ad- 
vantages that might be derived from the co-operation of num- 
bers in scientific pursuits, and of the renown that a Prince might 
acquire by forming an establishment directed to such purposes. 
These views and schemes were not forgotten by his followers. 
in the year 1645, a Society was formed in London, for the pur- 
pose of discussing subjects connected with Natural Philosophy, 
at. stated weekly meetings ; and the name first given to this So- 
ciety appears to have been that of the Philosophical College t. 
Some 
* Ross’s Arcana Microcosmi, or the hid secrets of Man’s body discovered ; 
with a refutation of Lord Bacon’s Natural History, p. 263, 264. 
‘+ Bacen’s Works, vol. iii p. 584. 
+ See Boyte’s Life, prefixed to his Works, p. 34. This Society was some- 
times called the Invistble College.—Ibid. p 40. 42. 
