INTERPRETATION OF NATURE. 119 



prodigies of perversion, and laughing-stocks to intelligence, 

 \vhich they furnish. 



Yet it escapes us not that the mass of such errors is 

 too much consolidated to be at once overthrown; espe 

 cially as among learned men, it is no unusual or unheard of 

 arrogance, wilfully to reject opinions which they cannot 

 shake. Nor shall we otter aught too light or low for the 

 grandeur of the interest which is at stake, nor in this sort 

 of redargution attempt to make converts to our creed, 

 hoping only meantime to conciliate patience and candour, 

 and that only in minds of a more commanding and de 

 cisive order. For no one can betake himself to us, fresh 

 from the habitual and unceasing companionship of such 

 errors, with such openness and greatness of mind, as not 

 to retain some bias to his impressions and opinions in favour 

 of inveterate and established systems. You cannot in 

 scribe fresh characters on the writing-tablet without ex 

 punging the former ones; but, in the mind, you will 

 scarcely obliterate the first drawn characters, save by in 

 scribing others. 



This bias, as we think, ought to be counteracted, and 

 these our statements have this scope, (we speak it without 

 reserve), to lead men willing, not to drag them reluctant. 

 All forcing, (as we from the first professed), we would 

 banish: and as Borgia jestingly noted of the invasion of 

 Italy by Charles the Eighth, that the French had come 

 with chalk in their hands to mark the public-houses, not 

 arms to force their way through the land ; so we too anti 

 cipate a like pacific tone and result of our discoveries, 

 namely, that they shall segregate minds of large capacity 

 from the crowd, and into these shall make their way, 

 rather than be obnoxious to men of opposite opinions. 



But in this part of our subject, in which we now treat of 

 the redargution of the vulgar philosophies, our task hath 

 been happily lightened by a timely and extraordinary cir 

 cumstance. For while meditating these points, there came 

 to me a certain friend, then returning from France, of whom, 

 after due courtesy done, I inquired much, as he (in the 

 wont of intimate friends) of me, in regard of our various 

 affairs. &quot; But how do you employ,&quot; said he at length, 

 &quot; those intervals which are unoccupied with public busi 

 ness, or at least wherein its bustle abates.&quot; &quot; A question 

 in good time,&quot; I answered ; &quot; lest you should suppose I do 

 nothing at all in such hours, I must tell you, I now medi 

 tate a renovation of philosophy, which shall embrace no- 



