NOVUM ORGANUM. 99 



of three subdivisions into ministrations. 1. To the senses. 

 2. To the memory. 3. To the mind or reason. For we 

 must first prepare as a foundation for the whole a complete 

 and accurate natural and experimental history. We must 

 not imagine or invent, but discover the acts and properties 

 of nature. 



But natural and experimental history is so varied and 

 diffuse, that it confounds and distracts the understanding 

 unless it be fixed and exhibited in due order. We must, 

 therefore, form tables and coordinations of instances, upon 

 such a plan, and in such order, that the understanding may 

 be enabled to act upon them. 



Even when this is done the understanding, left to itself 

 and to its own operation, is incompetent and unfit to construct 

 its axioms without direction and support. Our third minis 

 tration, therefore, must be true and legitimate induction, 

 the very key of interpretation. We must begin, however, 

 at the end, and go back again to the others. 



11. The investigation of Forms proceeds thus : A nature 

 being given, we must first present to the understanding all 

 the known instances which agree in the same nature, al 

 though the* subject matter be considerably diversified. And 

 this collection must be made as a mere history, and without 

 any premature reflection, or too great degree of refinement. 

 For instance : take the investigation of the form of heat. 



Instances agreeing in the form of heat. 



1. The rays of the sun, particularly in summer, and at 

 noon. 



2. The same reflected and condensed, as between moun 

 tains, or along walls, and particularly in burning mirrors. 



3. Ignited meteors. 



4. Burning lightning. 



5. Eruptions of flames from the cavities of mountains, 

 fee. 



6. Flame of every kind. 



7. Ignited solids. 



8. Natural warm baths. 



9. Warm or heated liquids. 



10. Warm vapours and smoke: and the air itself, which 

 admits a most powerful and violent heat if confined, as in 

 reverberating furnaces. 



11. Damp hot weather, arising from the constitution of 

 the air, without any reference to the time of the year. 



12. Confined and subterraneous air in some caverns, 

 particularly in winter. 



