Notices respecting New Boohs. 253 



and suggests comparisons which are very damaging. While reading 

 it, we involuntarily call to mind the " Discourse on the Study of 

 Natural Philosophy," and how, in the one, every thing is clear and 

 the scope and purpose of the whole plain, while in the other it is 

 hard to see the object the author has in view, and the parts, though 

 often interesting when considered as fragments, are apt to have 

 no manifest bearing on the matter in hand. 



The book is on the Art of Scientific Discovery ; and, of course, 

 the question arises whether there be such an art. One way of 

 answering the question would be to allege that there is an art of 

 discovery in much the same sense that there is an art of war, or 

 an art of poetry — that it is possible to explain the methods by 

 which particular discoA^eries were made, to analyze the evidence 

 which is sufficient to distinguish ascertained truth from hypothesis, 

 to put in order, and render easy of acquisition, the positive know- 

 ledge hitherto acquired, to indicate some of the directions in which 

 those who seek are likely to fiud new truths, but that where an 

 advance is to be made the matter must be left to the patience and 

 sagacity of the well-informed inquirer. The question has, of 

 course, been answered in other ways. Lord Bacon hoped that his 

 method, which, however, he never completely expounded, would 

 do a great deal more: — "Our method of scientific investigation is 

 such as to leave little to strength and keenness of intellect, and 

 to reduce all understandings nearly to a level. When it is required 

 that a line be drawn straight or a circle round, much depends on 

 the steadiness and practice of the hand, if it is to be done by the 

 unassisted hand, but little, or r~ J hing, if a ruler is used, or a 

 pair of compasses ; our ineth*. .. is just like this " (Nov. Org. i. 

 61). This seems quite plain as to what Lord Bacon hoped for ; 

 but it is certain that his expectation has not been fulfilled. We, 

 however, are concerned here with Dr. Gore's opinion ; but we find 

 it hard to say what that is. We learn that " the late Mr. Faraday 

 expressed''" a " favourable opinion of my proposition of framing an 

 art of scientific discovery;" so that one would have thought that 

 his expectation resembled Bacon's ; but on the same page we learn 

 that he has not forgotten, and apparently allows the justice of, 

 Dr. Whewell's " assertion that, speaking with strictness, an art 

 of discovery is not possible," and that he has no wish " even to 

 suggest the idea of reducing all intellects to a level." His " purpose 

 is only to show that an art of scientific discovery is much more 

 possible than it was in the time of Lord Bacon" (pp. vii, viii). 

 Dr. Gore's notion, then, appears to be that to form an art of dis- 

 covery is not possible, yet it is more possible than it w r as formerly ; 

 and meanwhile he has undertaken to w r rite " about it, and about it." 

 This indeterminateness as to the purpose of the book characterizes 

 its parts. Let the reader take for instance Chap, xxviii., "Circum- 

 stances and occupations favourable to scientific research," and ask 

 himself what is the point that the author wishes to establish : we 

 doubt whether he will be able to answer the question. The circum- 

 stances referred to, taken in order, we should enumerate thus :» — 

 Professions ; wealth or poverty ; education ; encouragement "at the 



