362 THE CAUSES OF THE XI 
and yet, so firmly rooted is this sort of impression, 
—I cannot call it an idea, or conception,—the 
thing is too absurd to be entertained—but so 
completely does it exist at the bottom of most 
men’s minds, that this has been a matter of ob- 
servation with me for many years past. There 
are many men who, though knowing absolutely” 
nothing of the subject with which they may be 
dealing, wish, nevertheless, to damage the author 
of some view with which they think fit to disagree. — 
What they do, then, is not to go and learn some. 
thing about the subject, which one would naturally - 
think the best way of fairly dealing with it; but 
they abuse the originator of the view they ques- 
tion, in a general manner, and wind up by saying” 
that, “After all, you know, the principles and 
method of this author are totally opposed to the 
canons of the Baconian philosophy.” Then every- 
body applauds, as a matter of course, and agrees 
that it must be so. But if you were to stop them 
all in the middle of their applause, you would — 
probably find that neither the speaker nor his 
-applauders could tell you how or in what way it 
was so; neither the one nor the other having the © 
slightest idea of what they mean when they speak — 
of the “ Baconian philosophy.” 
You will understand, I hope, that I have not 
the slightest desire to join in the outery against — 
either the morals, the intellect, or the great genius 
of Lord Chancellor Bacon. He was undoubtedly 
