116 .INTERPRETATION OF NATURE. 



ter and of efficients. Now when we use the terms matter 

 and efficients, we do not point to ultimate efficients, or to 

 matter taken generically (such as are discussed in the dis 

 putations of the schools), but to proximate efficients and 

 preparations of matter. Lest men should labour in these, 

 however, by a vain repetition and refining of experiments, 

 we shall in this part introduce the doctrine of discovering 

 latent processes. Now we give the name of latent process 

 to a certain series and gradation of changes, formed by the 

 action of an efficient and the motion of parts in matter 

 subjected to that action. The varying of the inquiry as it 

 respects its subjects is derived from two states of things, 

 either from their elementary or compound character, (tor 

 there is one modification of the inquiry adapted to things 

 simple, another to things compound, or decomposed, or 

 ambiguous), or from the copiousness or poverty of the 

 natural history which may have been collected to advance 

 the inquiry. For when the history is rich in facts the 

 progress of the inquisition is prompt ; when limited, it is 

 labour in shackles, and demands manifold assiduity and 

 skill. So then by handling the points we have now re 

 counted, we shall have, as it seems to us, sufficiently dis 

 cussed the varying of the inquiry. 



There remains the contracting of the inquiry, so as not 

 only to demonstrate and make patent a way in places path 

 less before, but a short cut in that way, and as it were a 

 straight line of progression, which shall go direct through 

 circuitous and perplexed routes. Now this (like every 

 other kind of abridging) consists mainly in the selection 

 of things. And we shall find that there are in things 

 two prerogatives, so to speak, of sovereign efficacy in 

 abridging investigation, the prerogative of the instance, 

 and the prerogative of that which is inquired into. Where 

 fore we shall point out in the first place what those in 

 stances or experiments are, which are privileged above the 

 rest to give forth light, so that a few of them afford as 

 much weight as a multitude of others. For this both 

 saves accumulation of the history and the toil of beating 

 about indefinitely. We shall then expound what are the 

 subjects of inquisition, from which the investigation ought 

 to borrow its prelibation of omens, as those which being 

 first disposed of, carry, as it were, a torch before their suc 

 cessors, either by reason of their own consummate cer 

 tainty, or generic quality, or from their being indispensable 

 to mechanical trials. And here we close the ministration 

 to reason regarded in its character of contemplative. 



