by quickness in sei/.ing the principle running tlmmirh similar 

 cases : but I doubt whether any great discoverer has ever done 

 what Bacon seems to have thought would be done universally, 

 i.e. set before himself a regular process of successive steps, by 

 which to compel Nature to answer at his bidding. 



It is perhaps the case that each branch of knowledge has its 

 own Method, just as each has its own Instruments. The Astro 

 nomer, whose science obliges him to keep to Observation, ob 

 serves the planets and stars after a fixed rule. If he must 

 verify a calculation, he has a Method by which to do it. So 

 the Chemist analyses in certain ways ; but 1 doubt whether 

 Faraday has ever said to himself. &quot; Xow let me follow the great 

 Inductive Method.&quot; As the Astronomer has his telescope, and 

 his prepared papers, &c.. so the Chemist has his crucibles, his 

 retorts, his air pump. &,-., and their Methods differ just in the 

 same way. And the same seems to hold of other sciences: optics, 

 geology, mineralogy, and crystallography : so too, in their 

 way. it will be found to be the case with the investigation of 

 ethical questions, and of social and civil problems. The 

 Methods of Chemistry or Anatomy would fail, if applied, for 

 example, to the action of the Will, or to the study of Commer 

 cial problems: still these admit of Inductive treatment, within 

 due limits, and are gradually being discussed upon other than 

 a priori grounds. 



In a word, Modern Induction is distinguished by its lower 

 aim; for it disclaims all presumptuous discussion of Causes; by 

 its patience and fidelity of observation of facts ; by its judgment 

 in experiments; by its sagacity in choice of cases ; by its 

 genius in hypothesis ; in other words, by its absence of Method, 

 and its constant and humble appeal to Nature herself. 



The reader is referred to Dugald Stewart, Phil, of the Human 

 Mind. Part II. chap. iv. sect, i, 2; to Dr. Whcwell s History 

 of the Inductive Sciences, and to his pamphlet on Induction : 

 to Mills Logic. P,k. III.; to Coleridge s Friend, sect. II. essays 

 S. c; ; and to Sir .1. Herst licls Discourse on the Study of Natu 

 ral Philosophy. Part II, 



