ixcv. ii.] DISSERTATION SECOND. 65 



phenomena of nature, which are uniform ; 2. Of the facts 

 which are anomalous or extraordinary ; 3. Of the processes 

 in Ihe different arts. 



We are not to wonder at finding the processes of the arts 

 thus enrolled among the materials of natural history. The 

 powers which act in the processes of nalure and in those 

 of art are precisely the same, and are only directed, in the 

 latter case, by the intention of man, toward particular ob- 

 jects. In art, as Bacon elsewhere observes, man does noth- 

 ing more than bring things nearer to one another, or carry 

 them farther off; the rest is performed by nature, and, on 

 most occasions, by means of which we are quite igno- 

 rant. 



Thus, when a man fires a pistol, he does nothing but 

 make apiece of flint approach a plate of hardened steel, with 

 a certain velocity. It is nature that does the rest ; — that 

 makes the small red hot and fluid globules of steel, which 

 the flint had struck off, communicate their fire to the gun- 

 powder, and, by a process but little understood, set loose 

 the elastick fluid contained in it ; so that an explosion is 

 produced, and the ball propelled with astonishing velocity. 

 It is obvious that, in this instance, art only gives certain 

 powers of nature a particular direction. 



To the rules which have been given from Bacon, for the 

 composition of natural history, I may be permitted to add 

 this other, — that theoretical language should, as much as 

 possible, be avoided. Appearances ought to be described 

 in terms which involve no opinion with respect to their 

 causes. These last are the objects of separate examination, 

 and will be best understood if the facts are given fairly, 

 without any dependence on what should yet be considered 

 as unknown. This rule is very essential where the facts 

 are in a certain degree complicated ; for it is then much 

 easier to describe with a reference to theory than without it. 



