223 Notice of British Naturalists. 



to what the7i went under the title of AristoteHan philosophy. It 

 was indeed little better than an eclectic system, passing under 

 that great name, mingled with the dogmas of Popery, and was in 

 a great measure devoted to the propagation and support of trivial 

 arguments or positive error. Bacon was not unacquainted with 

 the writings of Aristotle ; for in those days, to be well educated, 

 was to be an adept in his system ; but his acute discrimination 

 soon perceived, that however well adapted, this system was to 

 act as a guide in some branches of knowledge ; it was wholly 

 unfit for the investigation of natural science ; and in this respect, 

 was but the blind leading the blind. 



Bacon cannot indeed be said, w toto, to have originated the 

 inductive philosophy, for Aristotle himself does both use it and 

 recommend its adoption in certain cases. It is, in truth, founded 

 in the very nature of man's intellectual powers, in the very fit- 

 ness of things. But he culled it forth from the mass of facts 

 and speculations where, hitherto, it had lain concealed and neg- 

 lected ; he applied it where it had never been applied before, 

 and, in this respect, too great a degree of praise cannot be awarded 

 to him. If not an inventor, he stands at least next to that place 

 of honor ; and we know not but that the new and just applica- 

 tion of old and venerable principles to new positions, demands a 

 genius more energetic and more subtle than his who first struck 

 upon the vein of thought. Few have power ; fewer still have 

 courage to interfere with opinions rendered venerable by anti- 

 quity, or supported by high and noble names. It is by this ap- 

 plication of mind to matter, that mind becomes truly predomi- 

 nant, and claims to itself its high and commanding rank among 

 created things, and its mastery over matter. 



Although Bacon pointed out to all succeeding naturalists the 

 course which they ought to pursue in their researches, he was 

 himself no naturalist. He was the commander of the host, but 

 he did not himself march at their head : he was by far too much 

 occupied with his investigations of the laws of mind and matter 

 to be able to pay any minute attention to the particulars ; and 

 what he has left behind under the name of " Natural History,''^ 

 is rather intended as an example to his successors, than as a work 

 of absolute profit. The great principle for which we are indebted 

 to him, was from the observation of a large body of physical facts 

 to deduce general laws, not by theorizing, but by steady and 

 stern induction. 



