388 ON THE SCOPE AND INFLUENCE OF THE 



tivated, and by assurances that it only required to be cultivated 

 with attention to his rules, in order to yield an endless increase- 

 of knowledge and of inventions. " Let it be believed," says he, 

 " and appeal thereof made to time, with renunciation, never- 

 " thelcss, to all the vain and abusing promises of the Alchy- 

 " mists ) and such like credulous and fantastical sects, that the 

 M new found world of land was not greater addition to the old, 

 " than there remaineth at this day a world of Inventions and 

 " Sciences unknown, having respect to those that are known, 

 " with this difference, that the ancient regions of knowledge 

 " will seem as barbarous compared to the new, as the new re- 

 " gions of people seem barbarous compared to many of the 

 " old *." It is in these confident anticipations of the future 

 triumphs of science, so often repeated as encouragements to its 

 faithful prosecution, that we more particularly perceive the 

 grandeur and reach of his views. His predictions of improve- 

 ment were not the vague or casual surmises of a happy enthu- 

 siasm ; they were evidently grounded upon an enlightened 

 conviction, that the business of philosophy had hitherto been 

 mistaken, and that her labours would prosper, when they 

 should be employed with constancy and skill upon their legi- 

 timate objects. 



Is it not unreasonable to doubt the utility of a system of 

 logical instructions, in which the true art of discovery was> 

 for the first time, explained? These instructions were of- 

 fered at a period in every respect opportune. There was a 

 crowing disposition to revolt against the Schools, and a wise 

 leader was wanted to raise the true standard of reform, and to 

 give a salutary direction to the pursuits of those who should 

 emancipate themselves from their authority. The improve- 

 ment 



* Of the Interpretation of Nature, Chap. i. — Works, vol. i. p. 376. 4to edit. 



