APHORISM XXXI.

65. In the tenth Place come Inftances of Power; or, as we fometimes (10.) Instances call them, Trophies or Enfigns of Power, Inventions, or the Works of Mens of Power. Hands; that is, the molt noble and perfect Works, and as it were the Masterpiece in every Art. For fince the Defign is to bend Nature to Things, and bring her to ferve the Turn of Man'; 'tis abfolutely proper that the Works already in Mens poffeffion fhould be enumerated and fet down, (as fo many Provinces already fubdued and cultivated) efpecially fuch Works as are beft understood, and brought nearest to Perfection because these afford a fhort and easy Paffage to farther Discoveries. For if any one, after an attentive Confideration of the Works Their Uje. already extant in this Kind, wou'd determine to ufe his best and strongest Endeavours, he might doubtless either carry them fomewhat farther, or convert them to fome other obvious Purpofe; or apply and transfer them to more noble Ufes than were known before".

66. Nor is this all; but as by extraordinary and uncommon, or mi- The Caution raculous Works of Nature, the Understanding is rouzed, excited, and they require. elevated to the Discovery of the Forms capable of producing them; fo the like is done by the wonderful and extraordinary Works (or Miracles) of Art; but in a much greater Degree: becaufe the Manner of effecting, producing, and working fuch Miracles of Art, is generally plain; whereas Miracles of Nature are commonly more obfcure and dark. But here the greatest Caution is required, that fuch Miracles of Art may not deprefs the Understanding, and fix it, as it were, to the Earth.

67. For there is Danger left, in thefe Works of Art, which appear like fo many ultimate Perfections, and utmoft Stretches of human Industry, the Understanding fhould be captivated, chain'd down, or, as it were, enchanted with them; fo as not to converfe with other Things; but imagine that nothing of the fame kind can poffibly be effected in any other Way; and that no farther Improvement can be made, except by operating in the fame Way, with greater Diligence, Exactnefs, and a better Apparatus.

68. On the contrary, this is to be held certain, that the Ways and Means of effecting the Things and Works hitherto difcover'd and described, are generally fcanty and defective; and that all

Let a clear and ftrong Conception be had of the End in View; which is no less than to acquire fuch a Command and Mastery over Nature, as that Men may use her like a ready Inftrument, or Agent, in effecting the greatest Works; fuch as lengthening Life, ruling the Weather, and the like; which to vulgar Philofophers appear Impoffibilities.

• This directs us to a fhort and facile Method of improving the known Arts, and inventing new ones. See the Section upon Learned Experience in the de Augmentis Scientiarum, Vol. I.

P. 119.

For every thing producible, is produced by its Form. See Part II. Aph. 4. and the first Section throughout. This Point being abfolutely fundamental, and of the very utmost Importance, cannot be too often inculcated, or too well understood: for in this, all the Power both of Men and Nature centers.

A Hiftory to be made of

them.

The Singularities of Art,

to be collected.

greater Power and Ability depends, and is regularly deducible from the Fountain of Forms, not one whereof is hitherto discover'd ".

69. And, therefore, as we formerly observed, though a Man fhould ever fo thoroughly have studied the Nature of the warlike Engines, and battering Rams of the Ancients, or even have spent his whole Life in the Enquiry; yet he would never have fallen upon the Invention of Ordnance, and Gun-Powder; no more than he who fhould have employ'd his Obfervations and Thoughts upon the Woollen and Linen Manufactures, would have thence difcover'd the Manufacture of Silk .

70. And hence all the more noble Inventions will, if duly confider'd, be found owing not to flender Discoveries, Applications, and Enlargements of Arts; but entirely to Chance, or Accident; whofe flow and Fingring Motion, with which it creeps thro' Ages, nothing can anticipate, prevent, or fhadow out before-hand, but the Discovery of Forms3.

71. The Things of this Kind are fo numerous, as to need no particular Inftances. The direct Bufinefs is, to vifit and thoroughly inspect all the mechanic Arts, and all the liberal ones too, with regard to Works; and thence to make a Collection, or particular History, of the capital Difcoveries, Masterpieces, and most perfect Works in each; together with the Ways of producing the Effect, or the Manner of every Operation".

72. But we do not confine the Diligence that fhould be used in this Collection, to Things which are only judg'd Masterpieces and Secrets in any Art, fo as to raise the Admiration: for Admiration is the Child of Unfrequency; as whatever happens feldom, tho' in its Kind but vulgar, yet produces Wonder.

73. On the contrary, thofe Things which ought to be admired, by reafon of the Differences of their Species, compared with other Species, are flightly paffed over, if they are familiar and obvious: Whereas the Singularities of Art are not lefs to be obferved than the Singularities of Nature, mentioned above: and as among the Singularities of Nature, we have placed the Sun, and Moon, the Loadftone, &c. which tho' very common Things, are almoft fingular in their natures; the fame is to be done in the Singularities of Art.

74. For

Viz. Not according to the precife and infallible Method of the Author, laid down and exemplified in the first Section of this Second Part of his Novum Organum; and farther continued and improved in the prent Section; which, however, leaves the Bufinefs imperfect; the Completion of the Whole being referved for a Third Part of this general Work. See above, Aph. 21.

* Page 399.

y See Part I. Aph. 109, 110.

z Let fufficient Attention be given to this Paragraph; for much depends upon it.

This indeed would be a capital Work; and we conceive Hopes that fomething of the kind is the View and Defign of the Royal Academy of Sciences at Paris; viz. the defcribing the chief mechanical Arts and Trades of France, with the Engines, Inftruments, Tools, Proceffe, and Ways of Working at prefent made ufe of by the beft Mafters. This Work is faid to have been many Years in hand; and will doubtless add great Honour to that illuftrious Body.

Aph. 28.

per.

74. For Example, Paper, tho' a very common Thing, is a fingular These Singula Inftance of Arts. For if well obferved, artificial Matters are either merely rities exemwove with direct and tranfverfe Threads, as Silk, Cloth, Linen, &c. plified, in Paor made of concreted Juices, as Brick, Clay, Glafs, Enamel, Porcelane, and the like, which if well united fhine, but if lefs united, prove hard, but bear no Polish. And all thefe latter Subftances, made of concreted Juices, are brittle, and do not hold tenaciously together. On the contrary, Paper is a tenacious Subftance, that may be cut, or torn; fo that it refembles, and in a manner rivals the Skin, or Membrane of fome Animal; the Leaves of fome Plant; or the like Production of Nature for 'tis neither brittle, as Glafs; nor thready, as Cloth; for tho' it has its Fibres, yet it has no diftinct Threads; but exactly refembles the Texture of natural Matters: infomuch that the like can hardly be found again among artificial Things; but it remains perfectly fingular. And in artificial Things, thofe, doubtlefs, are to be preferr'd which imitate and refemble Nature the neareft; or which, on the other hand, powerfully govern, invert or change her.

75. Again; among Inftances of Power, or the Inventions and manual Matters of Works of Men, Matters of Dexterity, Delufion and Diverfion, are not Dexterity. to be rejected wholly for fome of thefe, tho' of finall Ufe, and only ludicrous, may yet be rich in Information.

Matters.

76. Laftly; neither are fuperftitious, and thofe commonly call'd Magical and magical Matters, to be quite excluded: for altho' Things of this Kind Superftitious lie ftrangely buried, and deep involved in Falfhood and Fable; yet fome regard fhould be had to difcover whether no natural Operation is concealed in the Heap: For Example, in Fafcination; the Power of Imagination; the Sympathy or Confent of Things at a diftance; the Communication of Impreffions, from Spirit to Spirit, as well as from Body to Body; and the like ".

APHORISM XXXII.

Inftances to

77. It appears from what is above deliver'd, that five of the In- A History of fances already mentioned; (viz. (1.) the Conformable; (2.) the Singular; five kinds of (3.) the Deviating; (4.) the Frontier Inftances; and, (5.) the Inftances of be made. Power, ought to be referved, as the rest before explained, and many of the following ought to be, till any particular Nature is enquired into ; but a Collection of them is immediately to be made from the Beginning; as a certain particular History; in order to the digesting of the Things which enter the Understanding, and correct the bad Habit of the Mind itself; for the Mind muft needs be tinged, infected, and at length perverted and distorted

Its Ufe.

(11.) Friendly and Hoftile Inftances.

The Use of Friendly In ftances.

diftorted, by the daily and accuftom'd Inroads, and Incurfions made upon itd.

78. These Inftances, therefore, are to be employ'd as a certain Preparative, to rectify and cleanfe the Understanding: for whatever draws the Understanding from the Things whereto it is accustomed, at the fame time lays it fmooth and even, for receiving the dry and pure Light of juft Ideas and Notions. Thefe Inflances alfo prepare and open the Way to Pratlice; as we fhall fhew hereafter f.

APHORISM XXXIII.

79. In the eleventh Place come Friendly, or Accompanying and Hoftile Inftances, which we call Inftances of fixed Propofitions. Thefe are fuch Inftances as exhibit a Body, or Concrete, wherein the Nature enquired after conftantly attends, as an infeparable Companion; or, on the contrary, wherein the Nature fought perpetually abfents, and disappears, as a Foe or Enemy. And of this Kind of Inftances, fixed, determinate and general Propofitions are formed, either negative or affirmative; wherein the Subject will be a certain Body, in the Concrete, and the Predicate, will be the Nature fought. But particular Propofitions are by no means fixed, where the Nature fought is fluctuating and moveable in any Concrete; whether it be coming on, or acquired; or again, going off or depofited therefore particular Propofitions have no great Prerogative; excepting only in the Cafe of Tranfmigration, of which we spoke above". Yet even these particular Propofitions are of great Ufe, when confronted, and compared with thofe that are univerfal; as we fhall fhew in its proper Place. But we do not require, even in these univerfal Propofi tions, a rigorous or abfolute Affirmation or Negation; they being fufficient for the Purpose, tho' there fhould be fome fingular or rare Exception to them.

80. The Ufe of Accompanying, or Friendly Inftances, is to bring the Affirmation of the Form to a narrow Compafs; for, as in the Travelling Inftances,

The Meaning is, that by conftantly converfing with fuch Things only as are common, familiar, and obvious, the Mind acquires a ftrong Bent, or Habit; whereby it judges that all Things are conformable to thefe: And hence we frequently impofe grofs Sophiftry upon our felves for Truth; and argue, and act, in a strangely perverfe and ignorant Manner: whereas, before we can reafon, judge, or philofophize truly, the Mind must be acquainted and familiarized with Things of agreeing, difagreeing, participating, fingular, and extraordinary Natures; as well as with thofe of the common, the obvious, and ordinary Kind. See the Doctrine of Idols, Part I. Aph. 38-61.

e Viz. From its Idols.

f See below, Aph. 50. of the prefent Section.

So, in the Enquiry of Heat, Flame is the Subject, in the Concrete; and Heat the Predicate, or Nature fought. See below, §. 81, 82.

See above, Aph. 23.

Which feems to be in the afcending and defcending Scale of Axiems, which is wanting. See above, Aph. 21.

Inftances, the Affirmative of the Form is contracted, fo that the Form of the Thing must be found to be fomewhat introduced, or deftroy'd, by the Act of Tranfmigration; after the fame manner, in Accompanying Instances, the Affirmative of the Form, is fo pent up or confined, that it must neceffarily be fomewhat that may attend and enter fuch a Concretion of Body; or elfe fly from and fhun it: whence he who well understands the Conftitution or Structure of this Body, will not be far from difclofing the Form of the Nature fought.

81. For Example, let the Nature fought be Heat; and an Accom- Exemplified in panying Inftance is Flame: for in Water, Air, Stone, Metal, and numerous the Subject of other Bodies, Heat is moveable, and may come and go; but all Flame Flame. is hot fo that Heat perpetually attends in the Concretion, or Whole, of Flame. But there is no Hoftile Inftance of Heat to be found; for, as to the internal Parts of the Earth, the Senfe has no Cognizance thereof; but of all the Bodies known to Men,, there is no Concrete unfufceptible of Heat m.

82. Again, let the Nature fought be Confiftence; and Air is a Hoftile And Confiften Inftance for Metal may flow, and be confiftent; fo may Glafs: Water y likewife may be confiftent, when it is froze: but 'tis impoffible that Air fhould ever be confiftent, or put off its Fluidity.

them.

83. But there remain two Admonitions, with regard to these Inftances Admonitions of fixed Propofitions, ufeful to the Bufinefs in hand: the firft is, that if an relating to Affirmative or Negative be univerfally and plainly wanting, this fhould be carefully noted, as a Non-Entity; as we did in the Subject of Heat°; where a Negative, as to all the Bodies within our Knowledge, is univerfally wanting".

84. In like manner, if the Nature fought be Eternity, or Incorruptibility; we have univerfally no Affirmative upon this Earth: for neither can Eternity or Incorruptibility be attributed to, or predicated of any Substance below the Celestial Bodies, or above the internal Parts of our Globe.

85. The other Admonition is, that to the univerfal Propofitions, as well affirmative as negative, with regard to any Concrete, those Concretes alfo be fubjoin'd, which feem to approach neareft to that which is the Non-Entity: as for Example, in the Subject of Heat, the fofteft or mildest Flames; or fuch as burn the leaft; and again, in

* See above, Aph 23.

Viz. The Converfe of an accompanying Inftance. See §. 79

See the Table for investigating the Form of Heat, p. 433, &c.

the

Because Confiftence always flies from Air; or, in other Words, Air always remains fluid.
See Table II. and III. See alfo above, §. 81.

P All the known Bodies, being, without Exception, fufceptible of Heat. See Table III.

Aph. 20.

That is, nothing here below is excluded from Corruptibility and Change.

See below, Aph. 34.

Suppose the Flame of Spirit of Wine, the Ignis Fatuus, or that harmless lambent Flame, if real, faid to have play'd about the Heads of certain Children.