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On certain Modified Forms assumed by the Inductive Process in 

 different Sciences ; being an attempt to elucidate and extend 

 some Doctrines of the Novum Organiim. By Robert Mor- 

 timer Glover, Esq. (Communicated by the Author.) 



Of late, great importance has been rightly attached to the 

 cultivation of those doctrines in primary philosophy, which 

 regulate the formation of our practical rules of scientific in- 

 quiry. Indeed, as the doctrines alluded to are axioms includ- 

 ing nearly all science in their relations, although in themselves 

 of an abstractedly simple nature, it is very needful for the no-' 

 tions entertained with regard to them to be explicit. The pro- 

 per functions of experiment and calculus, with other topics of 

 no secondary consequence, can be thoroughly understood, only 

 when investigated in their connexions with the theory of the 

 Inductive Logic. And the Novum Organum itself exists as 

 an everlasting memorial of the utility which may at any time 

 result from the attention of scientific men being directed to the 

 study of the laws that govern the mind in acquiring its know- 

 ledge, and the bearing of these upon actual inquiry : — for in 

 the work is displayed the mode in which its immortal author 

 was enabled to frame a code for future investigators, and per- 

 haps to alter the bent of the energies of his time, from having 

 conceived more enlarged views of the province appertaining to 

 induction, than those possessed by his predecessors. In the 

 present day, the light derived from numerous successful efforts 

 to explore nature, has been reflected upon the study of methods 

 and systems ; and many illustrious disciples of the Baconian 

 school in this country and abroad, have thus been able to re- 

 fine greatly the precepts of their master. It seems to be gene- 

 rally supposed, that the labours of Stewart, Playfair, Laplace, 

 the present Herschel, and others nearly equally eminent, who 

 have treated of the applications of the Baconian philosophy, 

 have almost exhausted the subject, and that if little can receive 

 further elucidation, still less remains to be explored. But we 

 believe, if the opinions of writers on induction be rigidly exa- 

 mined, a greater want of unanimity among them, even on very 



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