388 NOVUM ORGANUAf. 



rise, the effort is not the less, though it be unsuccessful. But the real 

 state of the matter (that is to say, whether by Predominance the 

 motion which gives way is, as it were, annihilated, or whether the 

 effect is continued, although so as not to be visible) will perhaps, 

 though latent in the conflict, become apparent in the concurrence of 

 motions. For example, let experiment be made in musketry, ob 

 serving how far a gun will carry a ball in a straight line, or, to use the 

 common expression, point blank ; and try whether, if it be fired 

 upward (in which case the motion of the blow is sir.) pie), the stroke 

 be feebler than when it is fired downward, where the Motion of Gravity 

 acts in the same direction with the blow. 



Again, such canons of Predominances as we meet with must be col 

 lected. As, that the more general the advantage sought, the stronger 

 is the motion ; thus the Motion of Connection, which has respect to 

 communion with the Universe, is stronger than the Motion of Gravity, 

 which has respect to communion with dense bodies. Also, appetites 

 which seek private good seldom prevail against appetites which seek 

 a more public good, except in small quantities. Would that the same 

 rules held good in politics ! 



xlix. Among Prerogative Instances we shall put in the twenty-fifth 

 place, Suggestive Instances : those which suggest or indicate what is 

 useful to men. For mere power and mere knowledge enlarge human 

 Nature, but do not bless it. Therefore we must gather from the whole 

 mass of things such as contribute most to the uses of life. But a more 

 proper place for speaking of these will be when we come to treat of 

 Deductions to Practice, Moreover, in the work itself of Interpretation 

 on each individual subject, we always assign a place to the Human 

 Chart, or Chart of Things to be desired. For to wish judiciously is as 

 much a part of knowledge as to inquire judiciously. 



1. Among Prerogative Instances we shall put in the twenty-sixth 

 place, Polychrest Instances, or Motions of Manifold Use. They are 

 such as have various applications, and are of frequent occurrence, 

 and therefore save no small amount of labour and fresh demonstra 

 tion. But of the instruments and contrivances themselves the proper 

 place for speaking will be when we come to treat of Deduction to 

 Practice, and Modes of Experimenting. Moreover, those which are 

 already known, and have come into use, will be described in the par 

 ticular histories of the individual arts. At present we shall subjoin a 

 few general remarks on them merely to illustrate this Manifold Use. 



Man, then, acts upon bodies (over and above their simple applica 

 tion and withdrawal) chiefly in seven ways : either by exclusion of 

 whatever hinders and disturbs ; by compression, extension, agitation, 

 and the like ; by heat and cold ; by continuance in a suitable place ; 

 by the restraint and government of motion ; by special sympathies ; 

 or by the seasonable and due alternation, series, and succession of all 

 these methods, or at least of some of them. 



With regard to the first ; the common air, which surrounds us on all 

 sides, and presses in upon us, and the rays of the heavenly bodies, 

 cause much disturbance. Therefore whatever tends to exclude them 



