382 Analyses of Books. [Nov, 



author's observations and experiments are of so miscellaneous a 

 nature, that we could scarcely make them intelligible to our 

 readers by abridgment : we must, therefore, refer them to the 

 paper itself. It is terminated by the description of an instru- 

 ment for measuring the elasticity of bodies, to which Dr. Brew- 

 ster has given the name of teinometer. 



V. Remarks illustrative of the Scope and Influence of the 

 philosophical Writings of Lord Bacon. By Macvey Napier, 

 Esq. F.R.S. Lond. and Edin. and F.A.S. Edin. Bacon is uni- 

 versally admitted to have first pointed out the importance of 

 induction in advancing the sciences,, and to have laid down the 

 laws according to which inductive philosophy is to be cultivated. 

 For manv years this method has been generally adopted, and 

 the progress of the sciences has accordingly been vast, and is 

 still continuing., It has been generally admitted that the com- 

 mencement of this great career was entirely owing to Bacon, 

 and that he of consequence may be considered as in some 

 measure the author of all the discoveries in science that have 

 been made since his time. But there are some individuals who 

 are of a contraiy opinion. According to them, Bacon's writings 

 had little effect, and indeed continued almost unknown till the 

 sciences had made very considerable progress. The object of 

 this very entertaining and judicious paper is to show that this 

 latter opinion is erroneous ; that Bacon's writings produced a 

 creat and immediate effect both in Britain and on the Continent ; 

 that both Newton and Boyle regulated themselves by his views, 

 and that they led to the establishment of the Royal Society, to 

 which the physical sciences lie under such obligation for their 

 progress. These important points are established by an in- 

 duction of particulars, which produces conviction, and which 

 furnishes a good example of that Baconian logic, the value of 

 which it is our author's object to establish. 



It is not easy for us at present to estimate the exact effects of 

 the Novum Organum ; but that they must have been great, is, I 

 think, undoubtedly true. In the present advanced state of the 

 sciences, however, I conceive that the young philosopher may 

 employ his time better than in studying the rules of Bacon's 

 logic. The inductive method is much more easily acquired by- 

 example than by precept. Let him select the best examples of 

 true inductive reasoning which are to be found, Newton's 

 Optics and Prmcipia for example, and let him study these so 

 thoroughly as to imbibe their true spirit. He will be better 

 qualified to advance the progress of any of the sciences than by 

 a life-time devoted to the perusal of Bacon. Among the men 

 of science in this country who have devoted considerable talents 

 and much industry to the prosecution of scientific investiga- 

 tions with very little benefit either to themselves or others, were 

 I to be asked to point out who have been most conspicuous, I 

 should without hesitation select those who have professed the^ 

 greatest admiration of the Baconian logic. 



