334 NOVUM ORGANUM, 



similarity of the substance of iron against iron ; an operation alto 

 gether Clandestine and latent in the iron before the approach of the 

 Magnet. And so it is manifest that the Form of Coition is something 

 which is energetic and powerful in the magnet, but weak and latent in 

 iron. So it is remarked that small wooden arrows, without any iron 

 point, when discharged from large mortars, penetrate deeper into 

 timber (such as the sides of ships, and the like) than the same arrows 

 pointed with iron, on account of the similarity of the substance of 

 wood to wood, although this property was previously latent in the 

 wood. Again, although air does not manifestly attract air, nor water 

 water, in whole masses ; yet one bubble brought near to another 

 dissolves it more readily than if the second bubble were away, on 

 account of the desire of Coition between water and water, and between 

 air and air. And Clandestine Instances of this kind (which, as we have 

 said, are of the most signal use) make themselves most conspicuous 

 in small and subtle portions of bodies, because the greater masses follow 

 more universal and general Forms, as shall be declared in the proper 

 place. 



xx vi. Among Prerogative Instances we shall put in the fifth place, 

 Constitutive Instances, which we also call Manipular. They are those 

 which constitute one species of the Nature investigated into a sort of 

 lesser Form. For since the legitimate Forms (which are always 

 convertible with the Nature investigated) lie deep, and are not easily 

 discovered ; circumstances and the weakness of the human Under 

 standing require that particular Forms, which gather Hand/ids of 

 certain (but not all) Instances into some common notion, be not 

 neglected, but rather diligently marked. For whatever unites Nature, 

 though in an imperfect manner, levels the way for the discovery of 

 Forms. And so Instances which are useful in this respect possess no 

 contemptible influence, but have some Prerogative. 



But in this case caution must be used, lest the human Under 

 standing, after having discovered several of these particular Forms, 

 and thereupon partitioned out or divided the Nature under investiga 

 tion, should rest entirely contented therewith, in place of addressing 

 itself to the legitimate discovery of the great Form ; and taking for 

 granted that the Nature is from its roots manifold and divided, reject 

 with contempt any further union of Nature as a thing unnecessarily 

 subtle, and verging towards mere abstraction. 



For example : let the Nature inquired into be Memory, or that 

 which excites and aids it. Constitutive Instances are (i) Order or 

 Distribution, which manifestly assists the memory; also common 

 places in artificial memory, which may either be Places in the proper 

 sense of the word, as a door, a corner, a window, and the like ; or 

 familiar and well-known persons ; or anything we choose (provided 

 they are arranged in a certain order), as animals, herbs ; also words, 

 letters, characters, historical personages, &c., though some of these 

 are more suitable and convenient than others. Common-places of this 

 kind aid the memory wonderfully, and exalt it far above its natural 

 powers. Also, verse is retained and learned by heart more easily than 



