sicr. ii.] DISSERTATION SECOND. 61 



Af the time, therefore, when Bacon wrote, it might truly 

 be said, that a small portion even of the learned ages, and 

 of the abilities of learned men, had been dedicated to the 

 study of Natural Philosophy. This served, in his opi- 

 nion, to account for the imperfect state in which he found 

 human knowledge in general ; for he thought it certain, 

 that no part of knowledge could attain much excellence 

 without having its foundation laid in physical science. 



He goes on to observe, that the end and object of know- 

 ledge had been very generally mistaken ; that many, instead 

 of seeking through it to improve the condition of human 

 life, by new inventions and new resources, had aimed only 

 at popular applause, and had satisfied themselves with the 

 knowledge of words more than of things : while others, who 

 were exceptions to this rule, had gone still farther wrong, 

 by directing their pursuits to objects imaginary and unat- 

 tainable. The alchemists, for example, alternately the 

 dupes of their own credulity and of their own imposture, 

 had amazed and tormented the world with hopes which 

 were never to be realized. Others, if possible more visionary, 

 had promised to prolong life, to extinguish disease and in- 

 firmity, and to give man a command over the world of spir- 

 its, by means of mystick incantations. "All this," says 

 he, " is the mere boasting of ignorance ; for, when the 

 knowledge of nature shall be rightly pursued, it will lead to 

 discoveries that will as far excel the pretended powers of 

 magick, as the real exploits of Csesar and Alexander exceed 

 the fabulous adventures of Arthur of Britian or Amadis of 

 Gaul." ' 



Again, the reverence for antiquity, and the authority of 

 great names, have contributed much to retard the progress 

 of science. Indeed, the notion of antiquity which men 



'Nov, On?;. Lib. i. A ph. 87. 



