INTERPRETATION OF NATURK. 113 



petent when it attempts to embrace the endless variety of 

 things, and, no less, that in the choosing out of such as 

 bear on some denned field of inquiry, it is unpractised and 

 unprepared. Now, as regards the former malady, the 

 mode of curing it is easy. It is performed by one remedial 

 rule, which is that no investigation or invention be enter 

 tained which is not drawn from a written statement of 

 results. For it were the same for one confident in the 

 strength of memory to try to grasp the whole interpretation 

 of nature on a given subject, as to endeavour to seize and 

 perform by rote the problems of astronomy. Besides it is 

 sufficiently apparent how small is the province we allot to 

 mere memory or discourse of reason, seeing we do not 

 authenticate discovery, even when detailed in writing, save 

 by digested tables. To the latter defect, therefore, we must 

 devote more attention. And, doubtless, after the subject 

 has been measured off and defined for inquiry, and stands 

 clear and unencumbered out of the mass of things, the 

 ministration to memory seems to consist of three operations 

 or offices. First, we shall show what those things are 

 which, in regard to the subject given or propounded seem, 

 on glancing over its history of facts, the proper points for 

 inquiry, which forms a kind of argument or topic. Secondly, 

 in what order these ought to be marshalled, and digested 

 in regular tables. Nevertheless, we expect not that the 

 true vein of the subject, being of the analogy of the universe, 

 can be discovered at the outset of the inquiry, so that the 

 division might follow from it, but only the apparent one, so 

 as to suggest some sort of partition of the subject. For 

 truth shall sooner emerge from falsehood than from disorder, 

 and reason more easily rectify the division, than penetrate 

 the unsubdued mass. Then, in the third place, we shall 

 show in what method and at what time the inquisition is 

 to be recommenced, and the charts or tables preceding to 

 be brought forward to new charts, and how often the in 

 quisition is to be repeated. For we intend the first series 

 of charts or results to form as it were moveable axes, and 

 to constitute only the verifying payt of the inquisition; 

 for we have no hope of the mind s ever pursuing and se 

 curing its rightful dominion over nature, unless by repeated 

 action. The ministration, therefore, to memory consists as 

 we have said in three doctrines, of the topics of discovery, 

 of the reduction into tables, and of the method of fully 

 establishing the inquiry. 



Ministration to reason remains, to which the two former 

 VOL. xv. i 



