NOVUM ORGANUM 179 



crete, of an apparently extravagant and separate nature, 

 agreeing but little with other things of the same species. 

 For, while the similar instances resemble each other, those 

 we now speak of are only like themselves. Their use is 

 much the same with that of clandestine instances: they 

 bring out and unite nature, and discover genera or common 

 natures, which must afterward be limited by real differ 

 ences. Nor should we desist from inquiry, until the prop 

 erties and qualities of those things, which may be deemed 

 miracles, as it were, of nature, be reduced to, and compre 

 hended in, some form or certain law; so that all irregularity 

 or singularity may be found to depend on some common 

 form; and the miracle only consists in accurate differences, 

 degree, and rare coincidence, not in the species itself. 

 Man s meditation proceeds no further at present, than 

 just to consider things of this kind as the secrets and vast 

 efforts of nature, without an assignable cause, and, as it 

 were, exceptions to general rules. 



As examples of singular instances, we have the sun and 

 moon among the heavenly bodies; the magnet among min 

 erals; quicksilver among metals; the elephant among quad 

 rupeds; the venereal sensation among the different kinds 

 of touch; the scent of sporting dogs among those of smell. 

 The letter S, too, is considered by the grammarians as sui 

 generis, from its easily uniting with double or triple con 

 sonants, which no other letter will. These instances are of 

 great value, because they excite and keep alive inquiry, 

 and correct an understanding depraved by habit and the 

 common course of things. 



XXIX. In the eighth rank of prerogative instances, we 

 will place deviating instances, such as the errors of nature, 

 or strange and monstrous objects, in which nature deviates 



