NOTES XOU XOY. 



Ignorance of existing inventions. 



The celebrated John Hunter, who was almost self-educated, is said to have 

 jvoted much of his valuable time to the discovery of some truths that had been 

 lown for years. 



Bacon, in his Instances of Power, says, &quot; In the tenth place come instances 

 power ; or, as we sometimes call them, trophies or ensigns of power, inven- 

 is, or the works of men s hands ; that is, the most noble and perfect works, 

 and as it were the masterpiece in every art. For since the design is to bend 

 nature to things, and bring her to serve the turn of man, (a) it is absolutely 

 proper that the works already in men s possession should be enumerated and 

 set down, (as so many provinces already subdued and cultivated,) especially 

 such works as are best understood, and brought nearest to perfection; because 

 these afford a short and easy passage to further discoveries. 



Contracting inquiries within narrow limits. 

 This subject is considered in the Novum Orgauum. 



NOTE XOU. 



When a great outrage is committed by a lunatic, as Hadfield s attempting to 

 shoot the King, or Bellingham s shooting Mr. Percival, it is a common vulgar 

 feeling that the offender should be executed : and Bellingham was executed. 

 Q. 1. Does not this error originate in the supposition that insane minds can be 

 influenced by a calculation of the consequences of its actions ? Q. 2. Do not 

 punishments increase the offence, by awakening the morbid feeling? Q. 3. 

 Does not punishment originate in the alarm felt by the community at the 

 probable repetition of the offence. 



NOTE XOY. 



&quot; My very good Lord, I thank your lordship for your last loving 

 letter. I now write to give the King an account of a patent I have stayed 

 at the seal. It is of licence to give in mortmain eight hundred pounds 

 land, though it be in tenure in chief to Allen, that was the player, for an 

 hospital. I like well that Allen playeth the last act of his life so well; but 

 if his majesty give way thus to amortize his tenures, his courts of wards 

 will decay, which I had well hoped should improve. But that which 

 moved me chiefly is, that his majesty now lately did absolutely deny Sir 

 Henry Savile for two hundred pounds, and Sir Edwin Sandys for one 

 hundred pounds, to the perpetuating of two lectures, the one in Oxford, 

 the other in Cambridge, foundations of singular honour to his majesty (the 

 best learned of kings), and of which there is great want; whereas hospitals 

 abound, and beggars abound never a whit the less. If his majesty do like 

 to pass the book at all ; yet if he would be pleased to abridge the eight 

 hundred pounds to five hundred pounds, and then give way to the other 

 two books for the university, it were a princely work. And I would make 

 an humble suit to the King, and desire your lordship to join in it, that it 

 might be so. God ever preserve and prosper you. Your Lordship s 

 most obliged friend and faithful servant.&quot; 



In Herne s History of the Charter House, p. 107, after having stated 



(a) Let a clear and strong conception be had of the end in view ; which is 

 no less than to acquire such a command and mastery over nature, as that men 

 may use her like a ready instrument, or agent, in effecting the greatest works ; 

 such as lengthening life, ruling the weather, and the like, which to vulgar 

 philosophers appear impossibilities. 



