PREFACE. 



THE New Atlantis seems to have been written in 

 1624, and, though iiot_finished, to have been intend 

 ed for publication as it stands. It was published ac 

 cordingly by Dr. Rawley in 1627, at the end of the 

 volume containing the Sylva Sylvarum ; for which 

 place Bacon had himself designed it, the subjects of 

 the two being so near akin ; the one representing his 

 idea of what should be the end of the work which 

 the other he supposed himself to be beginning. For 

 the story of Solomon s House is nothing more than a 

 vision of the practical results which he anticipated 

 from the study of natural history diligently and sys 

 tematically carried on through successive generations. 



In this part of it, the work may probably be con 

 sidered as complete. Of the state of Solomon s House 

 he has told us all that he was as yet qualified to tell. 

 His own attempts to &quot; interpret nature &quot; suggested the 

 apparatus which was necessary for success : he had but 

 to furnish Solomon s House with the instruments and 

 preparations which he had himself felt the want of. 

 The difficulties which had baffled his single efforts to 

 provide that apparatus for himself suggested the con 

 stitution and regulations of a society formed to over 

 come them : he had but to furnish Solomon s House 



