Butcontroversiesonspeculativepointsoftheologyseemtohaveengagedscarcelyanyportionofhisattention。InwhathewroteonChurchGovernmentheshowed，asfarashedared，atolerantandcharitablespirit。HetroubledhimselfnotatallaboutHomoousiansandHomoiousians，MonothelitesandNestorians。HelivedinanageinwhichdisputesonthemostsubtlepointsofdivinityexcitedanintenseinterestthroughoutEurope，andnowheremorethaninEngland。Hewasplacedintheverythickoftheconflict。HewasinpoweratthetimeoftheSynodofDort，andmustformonthshavebeendailydeafenedwithtalkaboutelection，reprobation，andfinalperseverance。YetwedonotrememberalineinhisworksfromwhichitcanbeinferredthathewaseitheraCalvinistoranArminian。Whiletheworldwasresoundingwiththenoiseofadisputatiousphilosophyandadisputatioustheology，theBaconianschool，likeAllworthyseatedbetweenSquareandThwackum，preservedacalmneutrality，halfscornful，halfbenevolent，andcontentwithaddingtothesumofpracticalgood，leftthewarofwordstothosewholikedit。
　　WehavedweltlongontheendoftheBaconianphilosophy，becausefromthispeculiarityalltheotherpeculiaritiesofthatphilosophynecessaryarose。Indeed，scarcelyanypersonwhoproposedtohimselfthesameendwithBaconcouldfailtohituponthesamemeans。
　　ThevulgarnotionaboutBaconwetaketobethis，thatheinventedanewmethodofarrivingattruth，whichmethodiscalledInduction，andthathedetectedsomefallacyinthesyllogisticreasoningwhichhadbeeninvoguebeforehistime。
　　Thisnotionisaboutaswellfoundedasthatofthepeoplewho，inthemiddleages，imaginedthatVirgilwasagreatconjurer。
　　Manywhoarefartoowell—informedtotalksuchextravagantnonsenseentertainwhatwethinkincorrectnotionsastowhatBaconreallyeffectedinthismatter。
　　Theinductivemethodhasbeenpractisedeversincethebeginningoftheworldbyeveryhumanbeing。Itisconstantlypractisedbythemostignorantclown，bythemostthoughtlessschoolboy，bytheverychildatthebreast。Thatmethodleadstheclowntotheconclusionthatifhesowsbarleyheshallnotreapwheat。Bythatmethodtheschoolboylearnsthatacloudydayisthebestforcatchingtrout。Theveryinfant，weimagine，isledbyinductiontoexpectmilkfromhismotherornurse，andnonefromhisfather。
　　NotonlyisitnottruethatBaconinventedtheinductivemethod;
　　butitisnottruethathewasthefirstpersonwhocorrectlyanalysedthatmethodandexplaineditsuses。Aristotlehadlongbeforepointedouttheabsurdityofsupposingthatsyllogisticreasoningcouldeverconductmentothediscoveryofanynewprinciple，hadshownthatsuchdiscoveriesmustbemadebyinduction，andbyinductionalone，andhadgiventhehistoryoftheinductiveprocess，conciselyindeed，butwithgreatperspicuityandprecision。
　　Again，wearenotinclinedtoascribemuchpracticalvaluetothatanalysisoftheinductivemethodwhichBaconhasgiven，inthesecondbookoftheNovumOrganum。Itisindeedanelaborateandcorrectanalysis。Butitisananalysisofthatwhichwearealldoingfrommorningtonight，andwhichwecontinuetodoeveninourdreams。Aplainmanfindshisstomachoutoforder。
　　HeneverheardLordBacon’sname。ButheproceedsinthestrictestconformitywiththeruleslaiddowninthesecondbookoftheNovumOrganum，andsatisfieshimselfthatmincedpieshavedonethemischief。"IatemincedpiesonMondayandWednesday，andIwaskeptawakebyindigestionallnight。"Thisisthecomparentiaadintellectuminstantiarumconvenientium。"IdidnoteatanyonTuesdayandFriday，andIwasquitewell。"Thisisthecomparentiainstantiaruminproximoquaenaturadataprivantur。
　　"IateverysparinglyofthemonSunday，andwasveryslightlyindisposedintheevening。ButonChristmas—dayIalmostdinedonthem，andwassoillthatIwasingreatdanger。"Thisisthecomparentiainstantiarumsecundummagisetminus。"ItcannothavebeenthebrandywhichItookwiththem。ForIhavedrunkbrandydailyforyearswithoutbeingtheworseforit。"Thisistherejectionaturarum。OurinvalidthenproceedstowhatistermedbyBacontheVindemiatio，andpronouncesthatmincedpiesdonotagreewithhim。
　　WerepeatthatwedisputeneithertheingenuitynortheaccuracyofthetheorycontainedinthesecondbookoftheNovumOrganum;
　　butwethinkthatBacongreatlyoverrateditsutility。Weconceivethattheinductiveprocess，likemanyotherprocesses，isnotlikelytobebetterperformedmerelybecausemenknowhowtheyperformit。WilliamTellwouldnothavebeenonewhitmorelikelytocleavetheappleifhehadknownthathisarrowwoulddescribeaparabolaundertheinfluenceoftheattractionoftheearth。CaptainBarclaywouldnothavebeenmorelikelytowalkathousandmilesinathousandhours，ifhehadknowntheplaceandnameofeverymuscleinhislegs。MonsieurJourdainprobablydidnotpronounceDandFmorecorrectlyafterhehadbeenapprisedthatDispronouncedbytouchingtheteethwiththeendofthetongue，andFbyputtingtheupperteethonthelowerlip。Wecannotperceivethatthestudyofgrammarmakesthesmallestdifferenceinthespeechofpeoplewhohavealwayslivedingoodsociety。NotoneLondonerintenthousandcanlaydowntherulesfortheproperuseofwillandshall。YetnotoneLondonerinamillionevermisplaceshiswillandshall。Dr。Robertsoncould，undoubtedly，havewrittenaluminousdissertationontheuseofthosewords。Yet，eveninhislatestwork，hesometimesmisplacedthemludicrously。Nomanusesfiguresofspeechwithmoreproprietybecauseheknowsthatonefigureiscalledametonymyandanotherasynecdoche。Adraymaninapassioncallsout，"Youareaprettyfellow。"，withoutsuspectingthatheisutteringirony，andthatironyisoneofthefourprimarytropes。Theoldsystemsofrhetoricwereneverregardedbythemostexperiencedanddiscerningjudgesasofanyuseforthepurposeofforminganorator。"Egohancvimintelligo，"saidCicero，"esseinpraeceptisomnibus，nonuteasecutioratoreseloquentiaelaudemsintadepti，sedquaesuaspontehomineseloquentesfacerent，eaquosdamobservasse，atqueidegisse;sicessenoneloquentiamexartificio，sedartificiumexeloquentianatum。"WemustownthatweentertainthesameopinionconcerningthestudyofLogicwhichCiceroentertainedconcerningthestudyofRhetoric。Amanofsensesyllogisesincelarentandcesarealldaylongwithoutsuspectingit;and，thoughhemaynotknowwhatanignoratioelenchiis，hasnodifficultyinexposingitwheneverhefallsinwithit;whichislikelytobeasoftenashefallsinwithaReverendMasterofArtsnourishedonmodeandfigureinthecloistersofOxford。Consideredmerelyasanintellectualfeat，theOrganumofAristotlecanscarcelybeadmiredtoohighly。Butthemorewecompareindividualwithindividual，schoolwithschool，nationwithnation，generationwithgeneration，themoredoweleantotheopinionthattheknowledgeofthetheoryoflogichasnotendencywhatevertomakemengoodreasoners。
　　WhatAristotledidforthesyllogisticprocessBaconhas，inthesecondbookoftheNovumOrganum，donefortheinductiveprocess;
　　thatistosay，hehasanalyseditwell。Hisrulesarequiteproper，butwedonotneedthem，becausetheyaredrawnfromourownconstantpractice。
　　But，thougheverybodyisconstantlyperformingtheprocessdescribedinthesecondbookoftheNovumOrganum，somemenperformitwellandsomeperformitill。Someareledbyittotruth，andsometoerror。ItledFranklintodiscoverthenatureoflightning。Itledthousands，whohadlessbrainsthanFranklin，tobelieveinanimalmagnetism。ButthiswasnotbecauseFranklinwentthroughtheprocessdescribedbyBacon，andthedupesofMesmerthroughadifferentprocess。Thecomparentiaeandrejectionesofwhichwehavegivenexampleswillbefoundinthemostunsoundinductions。Wehaveheardthataneminentjudgeofthelastgenerationwasinthehabitofjocoselypropoundingafterdinneratheory，thatthecauseoftheprevalenceofJacobinismwasthepracticeofbearingthreenames。HequotedontheonesideCharlesJamesFox，RichardBrinsleySheridan，JohnHorneTooke，JohnPhilpotCurran，SamuelTaylorColeridge，TheobaldWolfeTone。Thesewereinstantiaeconvenientes。Hethenproceededtociteinstancesabsentiaeinproximo，WilliamPitt，JohnScott，WilliamWindham，SamuelHorsley，HenryDundas，EdmundBurke。Hemighthavegoneontoinstancessecundummagisetminus。Thepracticeofgivingchildrenthreenameshasbeenforsometimeagrowingpractice，andJacobinismhasalsobeengrowing。ThepracticeofgivingchildrenthreenamesismorecommoninAmericathaninEngland。InEnglandwestillhaveaKingandaHouseofLords;buttheAmericansareRepublicans。Therejectionesareobvious。BurkeandTheobaldWolfeTonearebothIrishmen:thereforethebeinganIrishmanisnotthecauseofJacobinism。HorsleyandHorneTookearebothclergymen;thereforethebeingaclergymanisnotthecauseofJacobinism。FoxandWindhamwerebotheducatedatOxford;thereforethebeingeducatedatOxfordisnotthecauseofJacobinism。PittandHorneTookewerebotheducatedatCambridge;thereforethebeingeducatedatCambridgeisnotthecauseofJacobinism。Inthisway，ourinductivephilosopherarrivesatwhatBaconcallstheVintage，andpronouncesthatthehavingthreenamesisthecauseofJacobinism。
　　HereisaninductioncorrespondingwithBacon’sanalysisandendinginamonstrousabsurdity。Inwhatthendoesthisinductiondifferfromtheinductionwhichleadsustotheconclusionthatthepresenceofthesunisthecauseofourhavingmorelightbydaythanbynight？Thedifferenceevidentlyisnotinthekindofinstances，butinthenumberofinstances;thatistosay，thedifferenceisnotinthatpartoftheprocessforwhichBaconhasgivenpreciserules，butinacircumstanceforwhichnopreciserulecanpossiblybegiven。IfthelearnedauthorofthetheoryaboutJacobinismhadenlargedeitherofhistablesalittle，hissystemwouldhavebeendestroyed。ThenamesofTomPaineandWilliamWyndhamGrenvillewouldhavebeensufficienttodothework。
　　Itappearstous，then，thatthedifferencebetweenasoundandunsoundinductiondoesnotlieinthis，thattheauthorofthesoundinductiongoesthroughtheprocessanalysedinthesecondbookoftheNovumOrganum，andtheauthoroftheunsoundinductionthroughadifferentprocess。Theybothperformthesameprocess。Butoneperformsitfoolishlyorcarelessly;theotherperformsitwithpatience，attention，sagacity，andjudgment。Nowpreceptscandolittletowardsmakingmenpatientandattentive，andstilllesstowardsmakingthemsagaciousandjudicious。Itisverywelltotellmentobeontheirguardagainstprejudices，nottobelievefactsonslightevidence，nottobecontentwithascantycollectionoffacts，toputoutoftheirmindstheidolawhichBaconhassofinelydescribed。Buttheserulesaretoogeneraltobeofmuchpracticaluse。Thequestionis，Whatisaprejudice？HowlongdoestheincredulitywithwhichIhearanewtheorypropoundedcontinuetobeawiseandsalutaryincredulity？
　　Whendoesitbecomeanidolumspecus，theunreasonablepertinacityofatooscepticalmind？Whatisslightevidence？
　　Whatcollectionoffactsisscanty？Willteninstancesdo，orfifty，orahundred？Inhowmanymonthswouldthefirsthumanbeingswhosettledontheshoresoftheoceanhavebeenjustifiedinbelievingthatthemoonhadaninfluenceonthetides？AfterhowmanyexperimentswouldJennerhavebeenjustifiedinbelievingthathehaddiscoveredasafeguardagainstthesmall—
　　pox？Thesearequestionstowhichitwouldbemostdesirabletohaveapreciseanswer;but，unhappily，theyarequestionstowhichnopreciseanswercanbereturned。
　　Wethink，then，thatitispossibletolaydownaccuraterules，asBaconhasdone，fortheperformingofthatpartoftheinductiveprocesswhichallmenperformalike;butthattheserules，thoughaccurate，arenotwanted，becauseintruththeyonlytellustodowhatwearealldoing。Wethinkthatitisimpossibletolaydownanypreciserulefortheperformingofthatpartoftheinductiveprocesswhichagreatexperimentalphilosopherperformsinoneway，andasuperstitiousoldwomaninanother。
　　Onthissubject，wethink，Baconwasinanerror。Hecertainlyattributedtohisrulesavaluewhichdidnotbelongtothem。Hewentsofarastosay，that，ifhismethodofmakingdiscoverieswereadopted，littlewoulddependonthedegreeofforceoracutenessofanyintellect;thatallmindswouldbereducedtoonelevel，thathisphilosophyresembledacompassorarulewhichequalisesallhands，andenablesthemostunpractisedpersontodrawamorecorrectcircleorlinethanthebestdraftsmencanproducewithoutsuchaid。[Novum0rganum，Praef。
　　andLib。IAph。122。]ThisreallyseemstousasextravagantasitwouldhavebeeninLindleyMurraytoannouncethateverybodywhoshouldlearnhisGrammarwouldwriteasgoodEnglishasDryden，orinthatveryablewriter，theArchbishopofDublin，topromisethatallthereadersofhisLogicwouldreasonlikeChillingworth，andthatallthereadersofhisRhetoricwouldspeaklikeBurke。ThatBaconwasaltogethermistakenastothispointwillnowhardlybedisputed。Hisphilosophyhasflourishedduringtwohundredyears，andhasproducednoneofthislevelling。Theintervalbetweenamanoftalentsandadunceisaswideasever;andisnevermoreclearlydiscerniblethanwhentheyengageinresearcheswhichrequiretheconstantuseofinduction。
　　ItwillbeseenthatwedonotconsiderBacon’singeniousanalysisoftheinductivemethodasaveryusefulperformance。
　　Baconwasnot，aswehavealreadysaid，theinventoroftheinductivemethod。Hewasnoteventhepersonwhofirstanalysedtheinductivemethodcorrectly，thoughheundoubtedlyanalyseditmoreminutelythananywhoprecededhim。Hewasnotthepersonwhofirstshowedthatbytheinductivemethodalonenewtruthcouldbediscovered。Buthewasthepersonwhofirstturnedthemindsofspeculativemen，longoccupiedinverbaldisputes，tothediscoveryofnewandusefultruth;and，bydoingso，heatoncegavetotheinductivemethodanimportanceanddignitywhichhadneverbeforebelongedtoit。Hewasnotthemakerofthatroad;hewasnotthediscovererofthatroad;hewasnotthepersonwhofirstsurveyedandmappedthatroad。Buthewasthepersonwhofirstcalledthepublicattentiontoaninexhaustiblemineofwealth，whichhadbeenutterlyneglected，andwhichwasaccessiblebythatroadalone。Bydoingsohecausedthatroad，whichhadpreviouslybeentroddenonlybypeasantsandhigglers，tobefrequentedbyahigherclassoftravellers。
　　Thatwhichwaseminentlyhisowninhissystemwastheendwhichheproposedtohimself。Theendbeinggiven，themeans，asitappearstous，couldnotwellbemistaken。IfothershadaimedatthesameobjectwithBacon，weholdittobecertainthattheywouldhaveemployedthesamemethodwithBacon。ItwouldhavebeenhardtoconvinceSenecathattheinventingofasafety—lampwasanemploymentworthyofaphilosopher。ItwouldhavebeenhardtopersuadeThomasAquinastodescendfromthemakingofsyllogismstothemakingofgunpowder。ButSenecawouldneverhavedoubtedforamomentthatitwasonlybymeansofaseriesofexperimentsthatasafety—lampcouldbeinvented。ThomasAquinaswouldneverhavethoughtthathisbarbaraandbaraliptonwouldenablehimtoascertaintheproportionwhichcharcoaloughttobeartosaltpetreinapoundofgunpowder。NeithercommonsensenorAristotlewouldhavesufferedhimtofallintosuchanabsurdity。
　　Bystimulatingmentothediscoveryofnewtruth，Baconstimulatedthemtoemploytheinductivemethod，theonlymethod，eventheancientphilosophersandtheschoolmenthemselvesbeingjudges，bywhichnewtruthcanbediscovered。Bystimulatingmentothediscoveryofusefultruth，hefurnishedthemwithamotivetoperformtheinductiveprocesswellandcarefully。Hispredecessorshadbeen，inhisphrase，notinterpreters，butanticipatorsofnature。Theyhadbeencontentwiththefirstprinciplesatwhichtheyhadarrivedbythemostscantyandslovenlyinduction。Andwhywasthis？Itwas，weconceive，becausetheirphilosophyproposedtoitselfnopracticalend，becauseitwasmerelyanexerciseofthemind。Amanwhowantstocontriveanewmachineoranewmedicinehasastrongmotivetoobserveaccuratelyandpatiently，andtotryexperimentafterexperiment。Butamanwhomerelywantsathemefordisputationordeclamationhasnosuchmotive。Heisthereforecontentwithpremisesgroundedonassumption，oronthemostscantyandhastyinduction。Thus，weconceive，theschoolmenacted。Ontheirfoolishpremisestheyoftenarguedwithgreatability;andastheirobjectwas"assensumsubjugare，nonres，"[NovumOrganum，Lib。i。Aph。29。]tobevictoriousincontroversynottobevictoriousovernature，theywereconsistent。Forjustasmuchlogicalskillcouldbeshowninreasoningonfalseasontruepremises。Butthefollowersofthenewphilosophy，proposingtothemselvesthediscoveryofusefultruthastheirobject，musthavealtogetherfailedofattainingthatobjectiftheyhadbeencontenttobuildtheoriesonsuperficialinduction。
　　Baconhasremarked[DeAugmentis，Lib。i。]that，inageswhenphilosophywasstationary，themechanicalartswentonimproving。
　　Whywasthis？Evidentlybecausethemechanicwasnotcontentwithsocarelessamodeofinductionasservedthepurposeofthephilosopher。Andwhywasthephilosophermoreeasilysatisfiedthanthemechanic？Evidentlybecausetheobjectofthemechanicwastomouldthings，whilsttheobjectofthephilosopherwasonlytomouldwords。Carefulinductionisnotatallnecessarytothemakingofagoodsyllogism。Butitisindispensabletothemakingofagoodshoe。Mechanics，therefore，havealwaysbeen，asfarastherangeoftheirhumblebutusefulcallingsextended，notanticipatorsbutinterpretersofnature。Andwhenaphilosophyarose，theobjectofwhichwastodoonalargescalewhatthemechanicdoesonasmallscale，toextendthepowerandtosupplythewantsofman，thetruthofthepremises，whichlogicallyisamatteraltogetherunimportant，becameamatterofthehighestimportance;andthecarelessinductionwithwhichmenoflearninghadpreviouslybeensatisfiedgaveplace，ofnecessity，toaninductionfarmoreaccurateandsatisfactory。
　　WhatBacondidforinductivephilosophymay，wethink，befairlystatedthus。Theobjectsofprecedingspeculatorswereobjectswhichcouldbeattainedwithoutcarefulinduction。Thosespeculators，therefore，didnotperformtheinductiveprocesscarefully。Baconstirredupmentopursueanobjectwhichcouldbeattainedonlybyinduction，andbyinductioncarefullyperformed;andconsequentlyinductionwasmorecarefullyperformed。WedonotthinkthattheimportanceofwhatBacondidforinductivephilosophyhaseverbeenoverrated。Butwethinkthatthenatureofhisservicesisoftenmistaken，andwasnotfullyunderstoodevenbyhimself。Itwasnotbyfurnishingphilosopherswithrulesforperformingtheinductiveprocesswell，butbyfurnishingthemwithamotiveforperformingitwell，thatheconferredsovastabenefitonsociety。
　　Togivetothehumanmindadirectionwhichitshallretainforagesistherareprerogativeofafewimperialspirits。Itcannot，therefore，beuninterestingtoinquirewhatwasthemoralandintellectualconstitutionwhichenabledBacontoexercisesovastaninfluenceontheworld。
　　InthetemperofBacon，——wespeakofBaconthephilosopher，notofBaconthelawyerandpolitician，——therewasasingularunionofaudacityandsobriety。Thepromiseswhichhemadetomankindmight，toasuperficialreader，seemtoresembletherantswhichagreatdramatisthasputintothemouthofailOrientalconquerorhalf—crazedbygoodfortuneandbyviolentpassions:
　　"Heshallhavechariotseasierthanair，WhichIwillhaveinvented;andthyselfThatartthemessengershallridebeforehim，Onahorsecutoutofanentirediamond，Thatshallbemadetogowithgoldenwheels，Iknownothowyet。"
　　ButBaconperformedwhathepromised。Intruth，FletcherwouldnothavedaredtomakeArbacespromise，inhiswildestfitsofexcitement，thetitheofwhattheBaconianphilosophyhasperformed。
　　Thetruephilosophicaltemperamentmay，wethink，bedescribedinfourwords，muchhope，littlefaith;adispositiontobelievethatanything，howeverextraordinary，maybedone;anindispositiontobelievethatanythingextraordinaryhasbeendone。InthesepointstheconstitutionofBacon’smindseemstoustohavebeenabsolutelyperfect。HewasatoncetheMammonandtheSurlyofhisfriendBen。SirEpicuredidnotindulgeinvisionsmoremagnificentandgigantic，Surlydidnotsiftevidencewithkeenerandmoresagaciousincredulity。
　　CloselyconnectedwiththispeculiarityofBacon’stemperwasastrikingpeculiarityofhisunderstanding。Withgreatminutenessofobservation，hehadanamplitudeofcomprehensionsuchashasneveryetbeenvouchsafedtoanyotherhumanbeing。ThesmallfinemindofLabruyerehadnotamoredelicatetactthanthelargeintellectofBacon。TheEssayscontainabundantproofsthatnonicefeatureofcharacter，nopeculiarityintheorderingofahouse，agarden，oracourt—masque，wouldescapethenoticeofonewhosemindwascapableoftakinginthewholeworldofknowledge。HisunderstandingresembledthetentwhichthefairyParibanougavetoPrinceAhmed。Foldit;anditseemedatoyforthehandofalady。Spreadit;andthearmiesofpowerfulSultansmightreposebeneathitsshade。
　　Inkeennessofobservationhehasbeenequalled，thoughperhapsneversurpassed。Butthelargenessofhismindwasallhisown。
　　TheglancewithwhichhesurveyedtheintellectualuniverseresembledthatwhichtheArchangel，fromthegoldenthresholdofheaven，darteddownintothenewcreation:
　　"Roundhesurveyed，——andwellmight，wherehestoodSohighabovethecirclingcanopyOfnight’sextendedshade，——fromeasternpointOfLibra，tothefleecystarwhichbearsAndromedafaroffAtlanticseasBeyondthehorizon。"
　　Hisknowledgedifferedfromthatofothermen，asaterrestrialglobediffersfromanAtlaswhichcontainsadifferentcountryoneveryleaf。ThetownsandroadsofEngland，France，andGermanyarebetterlaiddownintheAtlasthanontheglobe。ButwhilewearelookingatEnglandweseenothingofFrance;andwhilewearelookingatFranceweseenothingofGermany。WemaygototheAtlastolearnthebearingsanddistancesofYorkandBristol，orofDresdenandPrague。ButitisuselessifwewanttoknowthebearingsanddistancesofFranceandMartinique，orofEnglandandCanada。Ontheglobeweshallnotfindallthemarkettownsinourownneighbourhood;butweshalllearnfromitthecomparativeextentandtherelativepositionofallthekingdomsoftheearth。"Ihavetaken，"saidBacon，inaletterwrittenwhenhewasonlythirty—one，tohisuncleLordBurleigh，"Ihavetakenallknowledgetobemyprovince。"Inanyotheryoungman，indeedinanyotherman，thiswouldhavebeenaridiculousflightofpresumption。Therehavebeenthousandsofbettermathematicians，astronomers，chemists，physicians，botanists，mineralogists，thanBacon。NomanwouldgotoBacon’sworkstolearnanyparticularscienceorart，anymorethanhewouldgotoatwelve—inchglobeinordertofindhiswayfromKenningtonturnpiketoClaphamCommon。TheartwhichBacontaughtwastheartofinventingarts。TheknowledgeinwhichBaconexcelledallmenwasaknowledgeofthemutualrelationsofalldepartmentsofknowledge。
　　Themodeinwhichhecommunicatedhisthoughtswaspeculiartohim。Hehadnotouchofthatdisputatioustemperwhichheoftencensuredinhispredecessors。Heeffectedavastintellectualrevolutioninoppositiontoavastmassofprejudices;yetheneverengagedinanycontroversy，nay，wecannotatpresentrecollect，inallhisphilosophicalworks，asinglepassageofacontroversialcharacter。AllthoseworksmightwithproprietyhavebeenputintotheformwhichheadoptedintheworkentitledCogitataetvisa:"FranciscusBaconussiccogitavit。"Thesearethoughtswhichhaveoccurredtome:weighthemwell:andtakethemorleavethem。
　　BorgiasaidofthefamousexpeditionofCharlestheEighth，thattheFrenchhadconqueredItaly，notwithsteel，butwithchalkforthattheonlyexploitwhichtheyhadfoundnecessaryforthepurposeoftakingmilitaryoccupationofanyplacehadbeentomarkthedoorsofthehouseswheretheymeanttoquarter。Baconoftenquotedthissaying，andlovedtoapplyittothevictoriesofhisownintellect。[NovumOrganum，Lib。i。Aph。35andelsewhere。]Hisphilosophy，hesaid，cameasaguest，notasanenemy。Shefoundnodifficultyingainingadmittance，withoutacontest，intoeveryunderstandingfitted，byitsstructureandbyitscapacity，toreceiveher。Inallthiswethinkthatheactedmostjudiciously;first，because，ashehashimselfremarked，thedifferencebetweenhisschoolandotherschoolswasadifferencesofundamentalthattherewashardlyanycommongroundonwhichacontroversialbattlecouldbefought;and，secondly，becausehismind，eminentlyobservant，preeminentlydiscursiveandcapacious，was，weconceive，neitherformedbynaturenordisciplinedbyhabitfordialecticalcombat。
　　ThoughBacondidnotarmhisphilosophywiththeweaponsoflogic，headornedherprofuselywithallthedecorationsofrhetoric。Hiseloquence，thoughnotuntaintedwiththevicioustasteofhisage，wouldalonehaveentitledhimtoahighrankinliterature。Hehadawonderfultalentforpackingthoughtclose，andrenderingitportable。Inwit，ifbywitbemeantthepowerofperceivinganalogiesbetweenthingswhichappeartohavenothingincommon，heneverhadanequal，notevenCowley，noteventheauthorofHudibras。Indeed，hepossessedthisfaculty，orratherthisfacultypossessedhim，toamorbiddegree。Whenheabandonedhimselftoitwithoutreserve，ashedidintheSapientiaVeterum，andattheendofthesecondbookoftheDeAugmentis，thefeatswhichheperformedwerenotmerelyadmirable，butportentous，andalmostshocking。Onthoseoccasionswemarvelathimasclownsonafair—daymarvelatajuggler，andcanhardlyhelpthinkingthatthedevilmustbeinhim。
　　These，however，werefreaksinwhichhisingenuitynowandthenwantoned，withscarcelyanyotherobjectthantoastonishandamuse。Butitoccasionallyhappenedthat，whenhewasengagedingraveandprofoundinvestigations，hiswitobtainedthemasteryoverallhisotherfaculties，andledhimintoabsurditiesintowhichnodullmancouldpossiblyhavefallen。Wewillgivethemoststrikinginstancewhichatpresentoccurstous。InthethirdbookoftheDeAugmentishetellsusthattherearesomeprincipleswhicharenotpeculiartoonescience，butarecommontoseveral。Thatpartofphilosophywhichconcernsitselfwiththeseprinciplesis，inhisnomenclature，designatedasphilosophiaprima。Hethenproceedstomentionsomeoftheprincipleswithwhichthisphilosophiaprimaisconversant。Oneofthemisthis。Aninfectiousdiseaseismorelikelytobecommunicatedwhileitisinprogressthanwhenithasreacheditsheight。This，sayshe，istrueinmedicine。Itisalsotrueinmorals;forweseethattheexampleofveryabandonedmeninjurespublicmoralitylessthantheexampleofmeninwhomvicehasnotyetextinguishedallgoodqualities。Again，hetellsusthatinmusicadiscordendinginaconcordisagreeable，andthatthesamethingmaybenotedintheaffections。Oncemore，hetellsus，thatinphysicstheenergywithwhichaprincipleactsisoftenincreasedbytheantiperistasisofitsopposite;andthatitisthesameinthecontestsoffactions。Ifthemakingofingeniousandsparklingsimilitudeslikethesebeindeedthephilosophiaprima，wearequitesurethatthegreatestphilosophicalworkofthenineteenthcenturyisMr。Moore’sLallaRookh。Thesimilitudeswhichwehavecitedareveryhappysimilitudes。ButthatamanlikeBaconshouldhavetakenthemformore，thatheshouldhavethoughtthediscoveryofsuchresemblancesastheseanimportantpartofphilosophy，hasalwaysappearedtousoneofthemostsingularfactsinthehistoryofletters。
　　Thetruthisthathismindwaswonderfullyquickinperceivinganalogiesofallsorts。But，likeseveraleminentmenwhomwecouldname，bothlivinganddead，hesometimesappearedstrangelydeficientinthepowerofdistinguishingrationalfromfancifulanalogies，analogieswhichareargumentsfromanalogieswhicharemereillustrations，analogieslikethatwhichBishopButlersoablypointedout，betweennaturalandrevealedreligion，fromanalogieslikethatwhichAddisondiscovered，betweentheseriesofGreciangodscarvedbyPhidiasandtheseriesofEnglishkingspaintedbyKneller。Thiswantofdiscriminationhasledtomanystrangepoliticalspeculations。SirWilliamTemplededucedatheoryofgovernmentfromthepropertiesofthepyramid。Mr。
　　Southey’swholesystemoffinanceisgroundedonthephaenomenaofevaporationandrain。Intheology，thispervertedingenuityhasmadestillwilderwork。FromthetimeofIrenaeusandOrigendowntothepresentday，therehasnotbeenasinglegenerationinwhichgreatdivineshavenotbeenledintothemostabsurdexpositionsofScripture，bymereincapacitytodistinguishanalogiesproper，tousethescholasticphrase，fromanalogiesmetaphorical。[SeesomeinterestingremarksonthissubjectinBishopBerkeley’sMinutePhilosopher，Dialogueiv。]ItiscuriousthatBaconhashimselfmentionedthisverykindofdelusionamongtheidolaspecus;andhasmentioneditinlanguagewhich，weareinclinedtothink，showsthatheknewhimselftobesubjecttoit。Itisthevice，hetellsus，ofsubtlemindstoattachtoomuchimportancetoslightdistinctions;itisthevice，ontheotherhand，ofhighanddiscursiveintellectstoattachtoomuchimportancetoslightresemblances;andheaddsthat，whenthislastpropensityisindulgedtoexcess，itleadsmentocatchatshadowsinsteadofsubstances。[NovumOrganum，Lib。i。Aph。55。]
　　YetwecannotwishthatBacon’swithadbeenlessluxuriant。For，tosaynothingofthepleasurewhichitaffords，itwasinthevastmajorityofcasesemployedforthepurposeofmakingobscuretruthplain，ofmakingrepulsivetruthattractive，offixinginthemindforevertruthwhichmightotherwisehaveleftbutatransientimpression。
　　ThepoeticalfacultywaspowerfulinBacon’smind，butnot，likehiswit，sopowerfulasoccasionallytousurptheplaceofhisreason，andtotyranniseoverthewholeman。Noimaginationwaseveratoncesostrongandsothoroughlysubjugated。Itneverstirredbutatasignalfromgoodsense。Itstoppedatthefirstcheckfromgoodsense。Yet，thoughdisciplinedtosuchobedience，itgavenobleproofsofitsvigour。Intruth，muchofBacon’slifewaspassedinavisionaryworld，amidstthingsasstrangeasanythataredescribedintheArabianTales，orinthoseromancesonwhichthecurateandbarberofDonQuixote’svillageperformedsocruelanauto—de—fe，amidstbuildingsmoresumptuousthanthepalaceofAladdin，fountainsmorewonderfulthanthegoldenwaterofParizade，conveyancesmorerapidthanthehippogryphofRuggiero，armsmoreformidablethanthelanceofAstolfo，remediesmoreefficaciousthanthebalsamofFierabras。Yetinhismagnificentdaydreamstherewasnothingwild，nothingbutwhatsoberreasonsanctioned。Heknewthatallthesecretsfeignedbypoetstohavebeenwritteninthebooksofenchantersareworthlesswhencomparedwiththemightysecretswhicharereallywritteninthebookofnature，andwhich，withtimeandpatience，willbereadthere。Heknewthatallthewonderswroughtbyallthetalismansinfableweretrifleswhencomparedtothewonderswhichmightreasonablybeexpectedfromthephilosophyoffruit，andthat，ifhiswordssankdeepintothemindsofmen，theywouldproduceeffectssuchassuperstitionhadneverascribedtotheincantationsofMerlinandMichaelScott。
　　Itwasherethathelovedtolethisimaginationloose。Helovedtopicturetohimselftheworldasitwouldbewhenhisphilosophyshould，inhisownnoblephrase，"haveenlargedtheboundsofhumanempire。"[NewAtlantis。]Wemightrefertomanyinstances。Butwewillcontentourselveswiththestrongest，thedescriptionoftheHouseofSolomonintheNewAtlantis。BymostofBacon’scontemporaries，andbysomepeopleofourtime，thisremarkablepassagewould，wedoubtnot，beconsideredasaningeniousrodomontade，acounterparttotheadventuresofSinbadorBaronMunchausen。Thetruthis，thatthereisnottobefoundinanyhumancompositionapassagemoreeminentlydistinguishedbyprofoundandserenewisdom。Theboldnessandoriginalityofthefictionisfarlesswonderfulthanthenicediscernmentwhichcarefullyexcludedfromthatlonglistofprodigieseverythingthatcanbepronouncedimpossible，everythingthatcanbeprovedtoliebeyondthemightymagicofinductionandtime。Alreadysomeparts，andnottheleaststartlingparts，ofthisgloriousprophecyhavebeenaccomplished，evenaccordingtotheletter;
　　andthewhole，construedaccordingtothespirit，isdailyaccomplishingallaroundus。
　　OneofthemostremarkablecircumstancesinthehistoryofBacon’smindistheorderinwhichitspowersexpandedthemselves。Withhimthefruitcamefirstandremainedtillthelast;theblossomsdidnotappeartilllate。Ingeneral，thedevelopmentofthefancyistothedevelopmentofthejudgmentwhatthegrowthofagirlistothegrowthofaboy。Thefancyattainsatanearlierperiodtotheperfectionofitsbeauty，itspower，anditsfruitfulness;and，asitisfirsttoripen，itisalsofirsttofade。Ithasgenerallylostsomethingofitsbloomandfreshnessbeforethesternerfacultieshavereachedmaturity;
　　andiscommonlywitheredandbarrenwhilethosefacultiesstillretainalltheirenergy。Itrarelyhappensthatthefancyandthejudgmentgrowtogether。Ithappensstillmorerarelythatthejudgmentgrowsfasterthanthefancy。Thisseems，however，tohavebeenthecasewithBacon。Hisboyhoodandyouthappeartohavebeensingularlysedate。Hisgiganticschemeofphilosophicalreformissaidbysomewriterstohavebeenplannedbeforehewasfifteen，andwasundoubtedlyplannedwhilehewasstillyoung。Heobservedasvigilantly，meditatedasdeeply，andjudgedastemperatelywhenhegavehisfirstworktotheworldasatthecloseofhislongcareer。Butineloquence，insweetnessandvarietyofexpression，andinrichnessofillustration，hislaterwritingsarefarsuperiortothoseofhisyouth。InthisrespectthehistoryofhismindbearssomeresemblancetothehistoryofthemindofBurke。ThetreatiseontheSublimeandBeautiful，thoughwrittenonasubjectwhichthecoldestmetaphysiciancouldhardlytreatwithoutbeingoccasionallybetrayedintofloridwriting，isthemostunadornedofallBurke’sworks。Itappearedwhenhewastwenty—fiveortwenty—six。When，atforty，hewrotetheThoughtsontheCausesoftheexistingDiscontents，hisreasonandhisjudgmenthadreachedtheirfullmaturity;buthiseloquencewasstillinitssplendiddawn。Atfifty，hisrhetoricwasquiteasrichasgoodtastewouldpermit;andwhenhedied，atalmostseventy，ithadbecomeungracefullygorgeous。Inhisyouthhewroteontheemotionsproducedbymountainsandcascades，bythemaster—piecesofpaintingandsculpture，bythefacesandnecksofbeautifulwomen，inthestyleofaParliamentaryreport。Inhisoldagehediscussedtreatiesandtariffsinthemostfervidandbrilliantlanguageofromance。ItisstrangethattheEssayontheSublimeandBeautiful，andtheLettertoaNobleLord，shouldbetheproductionsofoneman。ButitisfarmorestrangethattheEssayshouldhavebeenaproductionofhisyouth，andtheLetterofhisoldage。
　　WewillgiveveryshortspecimensofBacon’stwostyles。In1597，hewrotethus:"Craftymencontemnstudies;simplemenadmirethem;andwisemenusethem;fortheyteachnottheirownuse:
　　thatisawisdomwithoutthem，andwonbyobservation。Readnottocontradict，nortobelieve，buttoweighandconsider。Somebooksaretobetasted，otherstobeswallowed，andsomefewtobechewedanddigested。Readingmakethafullman，conferenceareadyman，andwritinganexactman。Andthereforeifamanwritelittle，hehadneedhaveagreatmemory;ifheconferlittle，haveapresentwit;andifhereadlittle，havemuchcunningtoseemtoknowthathedothnot。Historiesmakemenwise，poetswitty，themathematicssubtle，naturalphilosophydeep，moralsgrave，logicandrhetoricabletocontend。"Itwillhardlybedisputedthatthisisapassagetobe"chewedanddigested。"WedonotbelievethatThucydideshimselfhasanywherecompressedsomuchthoughtintososmallaspace。
　　IntheadditionswhichBaconafterwardsmadetotheEssays，thereisnothingsuperiorintruthorweighttowhatwehavequoted。
　　Buthisstylewasconstantlybecomingricherandsofter。Thefollowingpassage，firstpublishedin1625，willshowtheextentofthechange:"ProsperityistheblessingoftheOldTestament;
　　adversityistheblessingoftheNew，whichcarrieththegreaterbenedictionandtheclearerevidenceofGod’sfavour。Yet，evenintheOldTestament，ifyoulistentoDavid’sharpyoushallhearasmanyhearse—likeairsascarols;andthepenciloftheHolyGhosthathlabouredmoreindescribingtheafflictionsofJobthanthefelicitiesofSolomon。Prosperityisnotwithoutmanyfearsanddistastes;andadversityisnotwithoutcomfortsandhopes。Weseeinneedleworksandembroideriesitismorepleasingtohavealivelyworkuponasadandsolemnground，thantohaveadarkandmelancholyworkuponalightsomeground。Judgethereforeofthepleasureoftheheartbythepleasureoftheeye。Certainlyvirtueislikepreciousodours，mostfragrantwhentheyareincensedorcrushed;forprosperitydothbestdiscovervice，butadversitydothbestdiscovervirtue。"
　　ItisbytheEssaysthatBaconisbestknowntothemultitude。
　　TheNovumOrganumandtheDeAugmentisaremuchtalkedof，butlittleread。Theyhaveproducedindeedavasteffectontheopinionsofmankind;buttheyhaveproduceditthroughtheoperationofintermediateagents。Theyhavemovedtheintellectswhichhavemovedtheworld。ItisintheEssaysalonethatthemindofBaconisbroughtintoimmediatecontactwiththemindsofordinaryreaders。Thereheopensanexotericschool，andtalkstoplainmen，inlanguagewhicheverybodyunderstands，aboutthingsinwhicheverybodyisinterested。Hehasthusenabledthosewhomustotherwisehavetakenhismeritsontrusttojudgeforthemselves;andthegreatbodyofreadershave，duringseveralgenerations，acknowledgedthatthemanwhohastreatedwithsuchconsummateabilityquestionswithwhichtheyarefamiliarmaywellbesupposedtodeserveallthepraisebestowedonhimbythosewhohavesatinhisinner—school。
　　WithoutanydisparagementtotheadmirabletreatiseDeAugmentis，wemustsaythat，inourjudgment，Bacon’sgreatestperformanceisthefirstbookoftheNovumOrganum。Allthepeculiaritiesofhisextraordinarymindarefoundthereinthehighestperfection。Manyoftheaphorisms，butparticularlythoseinwhichhegivesexamplesoftheinfluenceoftheidola，showanicetyofobservationthathasneverbeensurpassed。Everypartofthebookblazeswithwit，butwithwitwhichisemployedonlytoillustrateanddecoratetruth。Nobookevermadesogreatarevolutioninthemodeofthinking，overthrewsomanyprejudices，introducedsomanynewopinions。Yetnobookwaseverwritteninalesscontentiousspirit。Ittrulyconquerswithchalkandnotwithsteel。Propositionafterpropositionentersintothemind，isreceivednotasaninvader，butasawelcomefriend，and，thoughpreviouslyunknown，becomesatoncedomesticated。Butwhatwemostadmireisthevastcapacityofthatintellectwhich，withouteffort，takesinatonceallthedomainsofscience，allthepast，thepresent，andthefuture，alltheerrorsoftwothousandyears，alltheencouragingsignsofthepassingtimes，allthebrighthopesofthecomingage。Cowley，whowasamongthemostardent，andnotamongtheleastdiscerningfollowersofthenewphilosophy，has，inoneofhisfinestpoems，comparedBacontoMosesstandingonMountPisgah。ItistoBacon，wethink，asheappearsinthefirstbookoftheNovumOrganum，thatthecomparisonapplieswithpeculiarfelicity。ThereweseethegreatLawgiverlookingroundfromhislonelyelevationonaninfiniteexpanse;behindhimawildernessofdrearysandsandbitterwatersinwhichsuccessivegenerationshavesojourned，alwaysmoving，yetneveradvancing，reapingnoharvest，andbuildingnoabidingcity;beforehimagoodlyland，alandofpromise，alandflowingwithmilkandhoney。Whilethemultitudebelowsawonlytheflatsteriledesertinwhichtheyhadsolongwandered，boundedoneverysidebyanearhorizon，ordiversifiedonlybysomedeceitfulmirage，hewasgazingfromafarhigherstandonafarloveliercountry，followingwithhiseyethelongcourseoffertilisingrivers，throughamplepastures，andunderthebridgesofgreatcapitals，measuringthedistancesofmartsandhavens，andportioningoutallthosewealthyregionsfromDantoBeersheba。
　　ItispainfultoturnbackfromcontemplatingBacon’sphilosophytocontemplatehislife。Yetwithoutsoturningbackitisimpossiblefairlytoestimatehispowers。HelefttheUniversityatanearlieragethanthatatwhichmostpeoplerepairthither。
　　Whileyetaboyhewasplungedintothemidstofdiplomaticbusiness。Thencehepassedtothestudyofavasttechnicalsystemoflaw，andworkedhiswayupthroughasuccessionoflaboriousofficestothehighestpostinhisprofession。InthemeantimehetookanactivepartineveryParliament;hewasanadviseroftheCrown:hepaidcourtwiththegreatestassiduityandaddresstoallwhosefavourwaslikelytobeofusetohim;
　　helivedmuchinsociety;henotedtheslightestpeculiaritiesofcharacterandtheslightestchangesoffashion。ScarcelyanymanhasledamorestirringlifethanthatwhichBaconledfromsixteentosixty。Scarcelyanymanhasbeenbetterentitledtobecalledathoroughmanoftheworld。Thefoundingofanewphilosophy，theimpartingofanewdirectiontothemindsofspeculators，thiswastheamusementofhisleisure，theworkofhoursoccasionallystolenfromtheWoolsackandtheCouncilBoard。Thisconsideration，whileitincreasestheadmirationwithwhichweregardhisintellect，increasesalsoourregretthatsuchanintellectshouldsooftenhavebeenunworthilyemployed。
　　Hewellknewthebettercourseandhad，atonetime，resolvedtopursueit。"Iconfess，"saidheinaletterwrittenwhenhewasstillyoung，"thatIhaveasvastcontemplativeendsasIhavemoderatecivilends。"Hadhiscivilendscontinuedtobemoderate，hewouldhavebeen，notonlytheMoses，buttheJoshuaofphilosophy。Hewouldhavefulfilledalargepartofhisownmagnificentpredictions。Hewouldhaveledhisfollowers，notonlytotheverge，butintotheheartofthepromisedland。Hewouldnotmerelyhavepointedout，butwouldhavedividedthespoil。Aboveall，hewouldhaveleft，notonlyagreat，butaspotlessname。Mankindwouldthenhavebeenabletoesteemtheirillustriousbenefactor。Weshouldnotthenbecompelledtoregardhischaracterwithmingledcontemptandadmiration，withmingledaversionandgratitude。Weshouldnotthenregretthatthereshouldbesomanyproofsofthenarrownessandselfishnessofaheart，thebenevolenceofwhichwaslargeenoughtotakeinallracesandallages。Weshouldnotthenhavetoblushforthedisingenuousnessofthemostdevotedworshipperofspeculativetruth，fortheservilityoftheboldestchampionofintellectualfreedom。Weshouldnotthenhaveseenthesamemanatonetimefarinthevan，andatanothertimefarintherearofhisgeneration。WeshouldnotthenbeforcedtoownthathewhofirsttreatedlegislationasasciencewasamongthelastEnglishmenwhousedtherack，thathewhofirstsummonedphilosopherstothegreatworkofinterpretingnaturewasamongthelastEnglishmenwhosoldjustice。Andweshouldconcludeoursurveyofalifeplacidly，honourably，beneficentlypassed，"inindustriousobservations，groundedconclusions，andprofitableinventionsanddiscoveries，"[FromaLetterofBacontoLordBurleigh。]
　　withfeelingsverydifferentfromthosewithwhichwenowturnawayfromthecheckeredspectacleofsomuchgloryandsomuchshame。
　　JOHNBUNYAN
　　（December1831）
　　ThePilgrim’sProgress，withaLifeofJohnBunyan。ByROBERT
　　SOUTHEY，Esq。，LL。D。，PoetLaureate。IllustratedwithEngravings。8vo。London:1831。
　　THISisaneminentlybeautifulandsplendideditionofabookwhichwelldeservesallthattheprinterandtheengravercandoforit。TheLifeofBunyanis，ofcourse，notaperformancewhichcanaddmuchtotheliteraryreputationofsuchawriterasMr。
　　Southey。ButitiswritteninexcellentEnglish，and，forthemostpart，inanexcellentspirit。Mr。Southeypropounds，weneednotsay，manyopinionsfromwhichwealtogetherdissent;andhisattemptstoexcusetheodiouspersecutiontowhichBunyanwassubjectedhavesometimesmovedourindignation。Butwewillavoidthistopic。Weareatpresentmuchmoreinclinedtojoininpayinghomageto，thegeniusofagreatmanthantoengageinacontroversyconcerningchurch—governmentandtoleration。
　　Wemustnotpasswithoutnoticetheengravingswithwhichthisvolumeisdecorated。SomeofMr。Harvey’swoodcutsareadmirablydesignedandexecuted。Mr。Martin’sillustrationsdonotpleaseusquitesowell。HisValleyoftheShadowofDeathisnotthatValleyoftheShadowofDeathwhichBunyanimagined。Atallevents，itisnotthatdarkandhorribleglenwhichhasfromchildhoodbeeninourmind’seye。Thevalleyisacavern:thequagmireisalake:thestraightpathrunszigzag:andChristianappearslikeaspeckinthedarknessoftheimmensevault。Wemiss，too，thosehideousformswhichmakesostrikingapartofthedescriptionofBunyan，andwhichSalvatorRosawouldhavelovedtodraw。Itiswithunfeigneddiffidencethatwepronouncejudgmentonanyquestionrelatingtotheartofpainting。ButitappearstousthatMr。Martinhasnotoflatebeenfortunateinhischoiceofsubjects。HeshouldneverhaveattemptedtoillustratetheParadiseLost。TherecanbenotwomannersmoredirectlyopposedtoeachotherthanthemannerofhispaintingandthemannerofMilton’spoetry。Thosethingswhicharemereaccessoriesinthedescriptionsbecometheprincipalobjectsinthepictures;andthosefigureswhicharemostprominentinthedescriptionscanbedetectedinthepicturesonlybyaveryclosescrutiny。Mr。MartinhassucceededperfectlyinrepresentingthepillarsandcandelabrasofPandaemonium。ButhehasforgottenthatMilton’sPandaemoniumismerelythebackgroundtoSatan。Inthepicture，theArchangelisscarcelyvisibleamidsttheendlesscolonnadesofhisinfernalpalace。Milton’sParadise，again，ismerelythebackgroundtohisAdamandEve。ButinMr。Martin’spicturethelandscapeiseverything。Adam，Eve，andRaphaelattractmuchlessnoticethanthelakeandthemountains，thegiganticflowers，andthegiraffeswhichfeeduponthem。WereadthatJamestheSecondsattoVarelst，thegreatflower—painter。
　　Whentheperformancewasfinished，hisMajestyappearedinthemidstofabowerofsun—flowersandtulips，whichcompletelydrewawayallattentionfromthecentralfigure。Allwholookedattheportraittookitforaflower—piece。Mr。Martin，wethink，introduceshisimmeasurablespaces，hisinnumerablemultitudes，hisgorgeousprodigiesofarchitectureandlandscape，almostasunseasonablyasVarelstintroducedhisflower—potsandnosegays。
　　IfMr。MartinweretopaintLearinthestorm，wesuspectthattheblazingsky，thesheetsofrain，theswollentorrents，andthetossingforest，woulddrawawayallattentionfromtheagoniesoftheinsultedkingandfather。IfheweretopaintthedeathofLear，theoldman，askingthebystanderstoundohisbutton，wouldbethrownintotheshadebyavastblazeofpavilions，standards，armour，andheralds’coats。Mr。MartinwouldillustratetheOrlandoFuriosowell，theOrlandoInnamoratostillbetter，theArabianNightsbestofall。Fairypalacesandgardens，porticoesofagate，andgrovesfloweringwithemeraldsandrubies，inhabitedbypeopleforwhomnobodycares，thesearehisproperdomain。HewouldsucceedadmirablyintheenchantedgroundofAlcina，orthemansionofAladdin。ButheshouldavoidMiltonandBunyan。
　　ThecharacteristicpeculiarityofthePilgrim’sProgressisthatitistheonlyworkofitskindwhichpossessesastronghumaninterest。Otherallegoriesonlyamusethefancy。TheallegoryofBunyanhasbeenreadbymanythousandswithtears。TherearesomegoodallegoriesinJohnson’sworks，andsomeofstillhighermeritbyAddison。Intheseperformancesthereis，perhaps，asmuchwitandingenuityasintheProgress，ButthepleasurewhichisproducedbytheVisionofMirza，theVisionofTheodore，theGenealogyofWit，ortheContestbetweenRestandLabour，isexactlysimilartothepleasurewhichwederivefromoneofCowley’sodes，orfromacantoofHudibras。Itisapleasurewhichbelongswhollytotheunderstanding，andinwhichthefeelingshavenopartwhatever。Nay，evenSpenserhimself，thoughassuredlyoneofthegreatestpoetsthateverlived，couldnotsucceedintheattempttomakeallegoryinteresting。ItwasinvainthathelavishedtherichesofhismindontheHouseofPrideandtheHouseofTemperance。Oneunpardonablefault，thefaultoftediousness，pervadesthewholeoftheFairyQueen。Webecomesickofcardinalvirtuesanddeadlysins，andlongforthesocietyofplainmenandwomen。Ofthepersonswhoreadthefirstcanto，notoneintenreachestheendofthefirstbook，andnotoneinahundredperseverestotheendofthepoem。VeryfewandverywearyarethosewhoareinatthedeathoftheBlatantBeast。Ifthelastsixbooks，whicharesaidtohavebeendestroyedinIreland，hadbeenpreserved，wedoubtwhetheranyheartlessstoutthanthatofacommentatorwouldhaveheldouttotheend。