xii INTRODUCTION. 



scarcely detain any one very long. It is an illustration briefly 

 given of the first steps of the process as Bacon proposed it : 

 and if these Aphorisms did not contain some statements as to 

 the usage of the term Form, they would scarcely deserve any 

 recommendation for the subject of Heat is of course far 

 better treated in such works as Turner s Chemistry, or even 

 in Herschel s Discourse on the Study of Natural Philosophy. 



The First Book is almost entirely preparatory. From Aph. 

 i 37 we have some general introductory statements; from 

 Aph. 38 92 we are employed on the clearance of hindrances; 

 Aph. 93 115 give us the grounds of Hope;&quot; and Aph. 

 116 130 are employed in answering objections and doubts 

 which might be urged against the new Method. Then in 

 Book II. i 10 we have a very brief account of the ends pro 

 posed ; the discovery of Latent Process, Latent Structure, 

 and finally, (the crown of all) of Form. 



The student will do well first to read all this rapidly, and in 

 the English ; so as to obtain a general conception of Bacon s 

 style of thinking and of his object : then he may take the 

 Latin Text, (for no translation can do justice to it, or stand in 

 its stead) ; and read it carefully and thoughtfully. Bacon s 

 language, like the secret things of Nature, will not unfold all 

 its treasures to the hasty passer-by : he who will learn his full 

 meaning and worth must first sojourn with him and become 

 his friend. 



I know no better commentary on the Novum Organon than 

 Sir ,T. Herschel s Discourse. It provides frequent illustration 

 and example ; but, above all, it contains a fair and clear expo 

 sition of that modern method of interrogating Nature, which 

 has its origin in Bacon s writings ; though the growth of Na 

 tural Philosophy lias led men to abandon the pursuit of that 

 method which Bacon recommended to notice. In Playfair s 

 Dissertation in the Encycl. Brit. (Preliminary Volume) will be 

 found an analysis of the work, with many valuable observa 

 tions. There is also an account of the Nov. Org. published 



