KING S COUNSEL. cix 



year, for special services received from his brother Anthony 

 Bacon and himself, (b) 



It must not be supposed that either political altercations 

 or legal promotions diverted his attention from the acqui 

 sition and diffusion of knowledge. He knew well the 

 relative worth of politics and philosophy. 



His love of knowledge was never checked, perhaps it 

 was increased by his occupations in active life. &quot; We 

 judge/ he says, &quot; that mankind may conceive some hopes 

 from our example, which we offer, not by way of ostenta 

 tion, but because it may be useful. If any one therefore 

 should despair, let him consider a man as much employed 

 in civil affairs as any other of his age, a man of no great 

 share of health, who must therefore have lost much time, 

 and yet, in this undertaking he is the first that leads the 

 way, unassisted by any mortal, and steadfastly entering 

 the true path that was absolutely untrod before, and sub 

 mitting his mind to things, may somewhat have advanced 

 the design.&quot; (d) Politics employed, but the love of know 

 ledge occupied his mind, (e) It advanced like the river, 

 which is said to flow without mingling her streams with 

 the waters of the lake through which it passes, (f) 



During the vacation of this year, he escaped from exer 

 tions respecting the Union, (g) to Eton, where he conversed 

 on the subject of education with his friend, Sir Henry 

 Saville, then provost of the college ; to whom, upon his 

 return, he wrote the following letter : 



To Sir Henry Saville. 



Coming back from your invitation at Eton, where I had 

 refreshed myself with company, which I loved ; I fell into 



(6) See note TTT at the end. (d) Nov. Org. Aph. v. 



(e) See a letter of Bp. Hall s on the Pleasure of Study and Contemplation, 



(y) Fuller s Holy State. Essay of Company, b. iii. c. 5. 



(g) See his letter to Sir Robert Cotton, dated 8th Sept. 1604, 



