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measured, in natural history ; indefinite and vague observation 

 produces fallacious and uncertain information. If this appear 

 strange, or our complaint somewhat too unjust (because Aris- 

 totle himself, so distinguished a man and supported by the 

 wealth of so great a king, has completed an accurate history of 

 animals, to which others with greater diligence but less noise 

 have made considerable additions, and others again have com- 

 posed copious histories and notices of plants, metals, and fos- 

 sils), it will arise from a want of sufficiently attending to and 

 comprehending our present observations ; for a natural history 

 compiled on its own account, and one collected for the mind's 

 information as a foundation for philosophy, are two different 

 things. They differ in several respects, but principally in this 

 the former contains only the varieties of natural species without 

 the experiments of mechanical arts ; for as in ordinary life 

 every person's disposition, and the concealed feelings of the 

 mind and passions are most drawn out when they are disturbed 

 so the secrets of nature betray themselves more readily when 

 tormented by art than when left to their own course. We must 

 begin, therefore, to entertain hopes of natural philosophy then 

 only, when we have a better compilation of natural history, its 

 real basis and support. 



99. Again, even in the abundance of mechanical experiments, 

 there is a very great scarcity of those which best inform and 

 assist the understanding. For the mechanic, little solicitous 

 about the investigation of truth, neither directs his attention, 

 nor applies his hand to anything that is not of service to his 

 business. But our hope of further progress in the sciences will 

 then only be well founded, when numerous experiments shall be 

 received and collected into natural history, which, though of 

 no use in themselves, assist materially in the discovery of causes 

 and axioms ; which experiments we have termed enlightening, 

 to distinguish them from those which are profitable. They 

 possess this wonderful property and nature, that they never de- 

 ceive or fail you ; for being used only to discover the natural 

 cause of some object, whatever be the result, they equally satisfy 

 your aim by deciding the question. 



100. We must not only search for, and procure a greater 

 number of experiments, but also introduce a completely differ- 

 ent method, order, and progress of continuing and promoting 

 experience. For vague and arbitrary experience is (as we have 

 observed), mere groping in the dark, and rather astonishes 

 than instructs. But when experience shall proceed regularly 

 and uninterruptedly by a determined rule, we may entertain 

 better hopes of the sciences. 



101. But after having collected and prepared an abundance 

 and store of natural history, and of the experience required for 



