CC lxXX -LIFE OF BACON. 



his mind, and such as really ought to be procured ; &quot; a 

 great and royal work, requiring the purse of a prince and 

 the assistance of a people.&quot; He therefore, in the dedication, 

 and in his presentation letter, urged the King to imitate 

 Solomon, by procuring the compilation and completion of 

 such a natural and experimental history as should be 

 serviceable for raising the superstructure of philosophy : 

 that, at length, after so many ages, philosophy and the 

 sciences may no longer be unsettled and speculative, but 

 fixed on the solid foundation of a varied and well considered 

 experience : (a) and in his reply to the King s acknow 

 ledgment of the receipt of the Novum Organum, he 

 repeats his hope that the King will aid him in employing 

 the community in collecting a natural and experimental 

 history, as &quot; basis totius negotii ;&quot; for who can tell, now 

 this mine of truth is opened, how the veins go, and what 

 lieth higher, and what lieth lower.&quot; (b) 



Such were the hopes in which he indulged. So difficult 

 is it to love and be wise. The King complimented him 

 upon his work, saying, that &quot; like the peace of God, it 

 passeth all understanding ;&quot;(c) but of a collection of natural 

 history &quot; ne verbum quidem.&quot; (d) 



Annexed to this doctrine of idols, there are some 

 inquiries into the signs of false philosophy ;(e) the causes 



(cr) Vol. ix. p. 1 50, and vol. xiv. p. 4. 



(6) Vol. ix. p. xvi. 



(c) Ante, p. Ixxxvi. 



(d} See vol. ix. preface, p. xxvi. 



(e) The signs of false philosophy are, he says,* 1. Their 

 origin. 2. Their fruit, whether barren or productive, whe 

 ther producing disputations, thistles and thorns, or grapes 

 and olives. 3. Their progress, whether being founded in 



* Aph. 71, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, vol. ix. p. 221 to 229; vol. xiv. p. 51 

 to 56. 



