222 Notice of British Naturalists. 
to what then went under the title of Aristotelian philosophy. It 
was indeed little better than an eclectic system, passing under 
that great name, mingled with the dogmas of Popery, and was in 
a great measure devoted to the propagation and support of trivial 
arguments or positive error. Bacon was not unacquainted with 
the writings of Aristotle ; for in those days, to be well educated, 
was to be an adept in his system; but his acute discrimination 
soon perceived, that however well adapted, this system was to 
act.asa guide in some branches of knowledge; it was wholly 
unfit for the investigation of natural science ; and in this respect, 
was but the blind leading the blind. 
Bacon cannot indeed be said, in toto, to have originated the 
inductive philosophy, for Aristotle himself does both use it and 
recommend its adoption in certain cases. It is, in truth, founded 
in the very nature of man’s intellectual powers, in the very fit- 
ness of things. But he culled it forth from the mass of facts 
and speculations where, hitherto, it had lain concealed and neg 
‘lected; he applied it where it had never been applied before, 
and, in this respect, too great a degree of praise cannot be awarded 
to him. If not an inventor, he stands at least next to that place 
of honor; and we know not but that the new and just applica- 
tion of old and venerable principles to new positions, demands @ 
genius more energetic and more subtle than his who first struck 
upon the vein of thought. Few have power; fewer still have 
courage to interfere with opinions rendered venerable by ant- 
quity, or supported by high and noble names. It is by this 4 
plication of mind to matter, that mind becomes truly predomr 
nant, and claims to itself its high and commanding rank among 
created things, and its mastery over matter. 
Although Bacon pointed out to all succeeding naturalists the 
course which they ought to pursue in their researches, he was 
himself no naturalist. He was the commander of the host, but 
he did not himself march at their head: he was by far too ™ 
occupied with his investigations of the laws of mind and mattet 
to be able to pay any minute attention to the particulars ; ae 
what he has left behind under the name of “ Natural Bis 
is rather intended as an example to his successors, than as 4 ste 
of absolute profit. The great principle for which we are indeb 4 
to him, was from the observation of a large body of physical fae 
to deduce general laws, not by theorizing, but by steady a" 
stern induction. 
