Xll PREFACE. 



and importance. It is by the pursuit, discovery, and prac 

 tice of truth that man is enabled to approach the Infinite 

 Source of all Truth ; and they who understand not and love 

 not the great truths of Nature, so far understand not and 

 love not the Great Source of those truths. 



Although I am conscious that the task I have under- 

 taken of sketching an outline of a second Novum Organon 

 is very imperfectly performed, I hope that this essay may 

 be not only of some value to students who wish to engage 

 in original scientific research, but also of interest to 

 actual scientific investigators and philosophic thinkers ; 

 and it would, I consider, help the progress of scientific 

 discovery, if investigators in each of the sciences were to 

 publish a classified and illustrated list of all the special 

 methods of discovery employed in their respective subjects, 

 such as I have in these pages crudely attempted for those 

 of Physics and Chemistry. The sciences of mathematics, 

 geometry, crystallography, mineralogy, geology, geography, 

 meteorology, physical and mental physiology, &c., being 

 all of them amenable to experimental observation, might 

 be advantageously treated. 



A great many historical statements are made in this 

 book, and as it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, 

 to ascertain accurately the exact date and circumstances 

 of all of them, it is probable that, notwithstanding all the 

 care I have taken, some may be incorrect; I therefore 

 beg the especial indulgence of my readers on this point, 

 and I shall feel deeply indebted for any corrections which 

 may be suggested to me. Many remarks which do not 

 appear to be immediately related to the subject in hand 



