112 NOTES TO PREFACE TO 



understand the legitimus lector of the fifth and sixth extract, as cor- 

 responding with the " animus capax et idoneus" of the eighth and 

 ninth ; and with the mind " chalked and marked up " by truth as 

 " capable to lodge and harbour it," of the second ; and we must not 

 suppose that the process of singling and adopting the fit reader was 

 to be effected by any restraint in communication, or any obscurity in 

 style, which should exclude others ; but by presenting the truth in 

 such a shape as should be least likely to shock prejudice or awaken 

 contradiction, and most likely to win its way into those minds which 

 were best disposed to receive it. The object was to propagate 

 knowledge so that it should grow and spread: the difficulty antici- 

 pated was not in excluding auditors, but in finding them. 1 



Thus I conceive that six out of the ten passages under consider- 

 ation must be set aside as not bearing at all upon the question at 

 issue. Of the four that remain, two must be set aside in like manner, 

 because though they directly allude to the practice of transmitting 

 knowledge as a secret from hand to hand, they contain no evidence 

 that Bacon approved of it. These are the third and the last, and 

 come respectively from the Advancement of Learning, one of his 

 earliest works, and from the De Augmentis Scientiarum, one of his 

 latest. In both these works the object being to show in what depart- 

 ments the stock of knowledge then existing was defective, the 

 various methods which have been or may be adopted for the trans- 

 mission of knowledge are pointed out as a fit subject of inquiry, and 

 the secret or enigmatical or acroamatic method is described among 

 the rest ; but it is described only, not recommended. 



There remain therefore only the first and the fourth extracts to be 

 considered : and it is true that in both of these Bacon intimates an 

 intention to reserve the communication of one part of his philosophy 

 the "formula ipsa interpretationis et inventa per eandem" to 

 certain fit and chosen persons. May we infer from the expressions 

 which he there uses, that his object was to prevent it from becoming 

 generally known, as being a treasure which would lose its value by 

 being divulged ? Such a supposition seems to me inconsistent not 

 only with all we know of his proceedings, purposes, and aspirations, 

 but with the very explanation with which he himself accompanies 

 the suggestion. The fruits which he anticipated from his philosophy 

 were not only intended for the benefit of all mankind, but were to be 



1 It may be worth while perhaps to compare with these passages an expression 

 which Bacon uses in his letter to Dr. Playfere, proposing to him to translate the 

 Advancement of Learning into Latin ; where a similar meaning is conveyed under 

 another image. * Wherefore since I have only taken upon me to ring a bell to call 

 other wits together, which is the meanest office, it cannot but be consonant to my 

 desire to have that bell heard as far as can be. And since they are but sparks which 

 can work but upon matter prepared, I have the more reason to wish that those sparks 

 may fly abroad, that they may the better find and light upon those minds and spirits that 

 are apt to be kindled." 



