PHILOSOPHICAL WRITINGS OF LORD BACON. 393 



importance of Bacon's Philosophy, should have been led to 

 predict the speedy downfal of that of the Schools. " Sir Henry 

 ** Wotton," says Dr Beale, in a letter to Mr Boyle, written 

 about forty years after this period, " would often please him- 

 u self in lashing the Schoolmen ; and would often declare it 

 " as a serious prediction, that in this age their reputation 

 " would yield to more solid philosophy." Dr Beale adds, 

 that he had himself been weaned from the errors of the Schools, 

 by the early perusal of Bacon's philosophical writings *. 



In a letter to King James, written about the period of 

 the publication of the Novum Organum, Bacon states, that 

 the Advancement of Learning, had been very favourably 

 received in the Universities ; and he thence draws the con- 

 clusion, that the Novum Organum would also be acceptable 

 to them ; because, says he, " it is only the same argument 

 *' sunk deeper f." In an address presented to him by the 

 University of Oxford, in the year 1623, he is represent- 

 ed as a " mighty Hercules, who had by his own hand 

 '* greatly advanced those pillars in the learned world, which, 

 " by the rest of the world, were supposed immoveable X ;" 

 and this piece of homage, it is to be observed, was offer- 

 ed at a time when all motives to interested adulation had 

 been done away by his lamentable fall. These facts seem to 

 evince, that Bacon's writings had early made a strong impression, 

 even in quarters where favourable effects were not likely to 

 be speedily produced ; and accordingly, we are informed by 



Vol. VIII. P. II. 3D Bishop 



* Boyle's Works, vol. vi. p. 355. 



•f Bacon's Works, vol. ill. p. 584. 



I Tennison's Baconiana, or certain Genuine Remains of Sir Francis Bacon 

 p. 206. 



