and workings of nature are discerned, and not the two admonitions which I would give on this head, effects only. And, besides, all the subtlety of as at other times, so especially now, in proceedmechanics stops short of the object which we ing to this very thing: first, that we should disseek. For the person thus employed being intent miss that motion, which, though so thoroughly upon his work and object, neither raises his mind false and destructive, easily takes possession of nor stretches forth his hand to other things, and the mind, that the investigation of particular which perchance avail more to the investigation objects is an infinite and endless task: when the of nature. There is need, therefore, of greater truth rather is, that there is no bound to mere care and choice kinds of examination and even of opinions and disputes, but that those fantasies are expense, and moreover of the greatest patience. condemned to perpetual error and endless uncerFor this hath rendered every thing in the depart-tainty: but that those particular objects and the ment of experiment useless, that men have from the beginning sought out experiments for the sake of gain and not of knowledge, and have been intent upon bringing out something magnificent, not upon revealing the oracles of nature, which is the work of works, and comprehends all power in itself. And this evil hath been occasioned by the fastidious curiosity of men, in generally turning their attention to the secrets and rarities of nature, and in expending all their research upon these, passing over experiments and ordinary observations with contempt. And they seem to have been determined to this choice either from the pursuit of applause, or from having fallen into this error, that the office of philosophy is as much to trace the cause of ordinary occurrences and the remoter causes of those causes, as it is to harmonize extraordinary with ordinary events. But the cause of this universal complaint respecting natural history is chiefly this, that men have not merely erred in their mode of proceed ing, but in their design. For that natural history which now exists seems to have been composed either on account of the profitableness of experiments or the pleasure of details, and to have been made for its own sake, and not to serve as the elements, and as it were to be the nurse of philosophy and the sciences. It is therefore my design, as far as lies in my power, to supply this deficiency. For I have long since made up my opinion as to the province of abstract philosophies: it is my intention also to adhere to the methods of true and good induction, in which are contained all things; and, as it were, by the help of instruments, or, by a clue to a labyrinth, to assist as much as possible the power of the human understanding, of itself inadequate and very unequal to the attainment of the sciences. And I am at the same time aware that if I would include in that restoration of the sciences, which I have in contemplation, any greater scope, I might indeed reap the greater honour.

But since it has pleased God to give me a mind that can learn to yield to circumstances, and out of a sense of real desert and confidence of success to reject with readiness what is only plausible, I have taken upon myself that part of the work which would probably have been passed over by others altogether, or would not have been treated in accordance with my design. And there are

informations of sense (taking out individuals and degrees of things, which suffices for the investigation of truth) certainly admit of comprehension, and that neither too wide and extensive, nor too difficult and adventurous. And, secondly, that men frequently bear the object in mind, and that when they fall upon the consideration of very many of the most ordinary, small, and apparently trivial and even low subjects, and which, as Aristotle says, seem to require a previous apology, they will not think that I am trifling, or taking down the dignity of the human mind. For these things are not sought out or described for their own sakes, but no other way is open to the human understanding, nor any other method left of pursuing this work; since we are attempting an object of unrivalled importance, and most worthy of the human mind, to kindle in this our age, through means offered and applied by the Deity himself, the pure light of nature, the name indeed the boast of men, the thing itself entirely unknown. Nor do I dissemble my opinion that that preposterous subtlety of arguments and imaginations in the time of which the subtlety and truth of the first information or true induction was either passed over or ill set on foot, can never effect a restoration, though all the genius of past ages should unite in the design; but that nature like fortune has her hair only upon her forehead. It remains, therefore, that the work be entirely recommenced, and that, with greater helps, and laying aside the heats of opinion, an entrance be opened into the kingdom of philosophy and of the sciences, (in which all the wealth of man is stored, for nature is overcome only by yielding,) in the same manner as into the kingdom of heaven, into which we cannot enter but as little children. But the profit of this work, that plebeian and promiscuous advantage derived from experiments themselves, we do not altogether condemn, since it can doubtless marry desirable suggestions to the observation and invention of men according to their various arts and talents. But we deem it extremely small in comparison of that entrance into human knowledge and power, which, through the divine mercy, we look for. And of that mercy we again desire, that it may see fit to enrich anew the human family through our hands.

The nature of things is either free, as in species, or confused, as in monsters, or straightened, as in

the experiments of the arts; but it acts in what- remarked or asserted, (whatever men may pretend ever class are worthy of commemoration. But respecting the power of matter being equally prothe history of species which at present exists, as portioned to its forms,) that out of that quantum of animals, metals, and fossils, is tumid and im- of matter more or less is contained under the same pertinent; the history of prodigies vain and dimensions of space, according to the difference grounded upon slight reports; the history of ex- of the bodies by which they are occupied, of periments imperfect, tried by parts, treated neg- which some are very evidently found to be more ligently, and made entirely with a view to action compact, others more extended or diffused. For and not philosophy. It is, therefore, my design a vessel or a cavity filled with water and air canto contract the history of species, to examine and not receive the same portion of matter, but the one revise the history of prodigies, and to put forth more and the other less. If, therefore, any one my principal labours upon experiments mechanical were to assert that from an equal quantity of air and artificial, and upon the subjection of nature to an equal quantity of water could be produced, it the hand of man. For what are the sports and would be the same with asserting that something wantonings, as it were, of nature to us? that is, could be produced out of nothing. For that must, those trifling differences of species according to of course, be supplied out of nothing which is their forms, which are of no service to our pur- supposed to be wanting in matter. Again, if it suits, and with which natural history, neverthe- were asserted that an equal quantity of water less, teems. The knowledge of things wonder- could be turned into the same quantity of air, it ful is, indeed, pleasant to us, if freed from the would be the same with asserting that something fabulous, but on what account does it afford us could be reduced to nothing. For the superfluous pleasure? not from any delight that is in admira- matter must, of course, have vanished into notion itself, but because it frequently intimates to thing. And I do not doubt that this will admit art its office, that from the knowledge of nature it of calculation imperceptible in some respects, but may lead it whither it sometimes preceded it by definite and certain, and known to nature. As, if its own unassisted power. To artificial experi- one were to say, that a body of gold compared ments we entirely attribute the first place in with a body of spirit of wine were a collection of kindling the light of nature, not so much because matter exceeding in a ratio of twenty to one, or they are highly useful of themselves, but because thereabout, he would speak the truth. In setting they are the most faithful interpreters of natural forth, therefore, that history which I have spoken Occurrences. Would any one, for instance, have of respecting the quantity and paucity of matter, so clearly explained the nature of lightning or of and the union and expansion of matter, from which the rainbow, before the reason of both was de- those notions of density and rarity (if rightly conmonstrated, of the one through the instruments sidered) have their rise, I shall preserve this or of war, of the other through the artificial resem- der; in the first place, to give an account of the blances of the rainbow on the wall. But if they relative proportions of different bodies, (as of gold, are faithful interpreters of causes, they will also water, oil, fire,) and having examined the ratios be certain and successful signs of their effects and of different bodies, I will afterwards treat of the operations. And I shall not depart from this retirings and excursions of the same body, with threefold division of my history to treat each calculations or proportions. For the same body, subject separately, but shall mix the kinds them- without accession or subtraction, or with the selves, natural with artificial, ordinary with extra-smallest possible degree of either, from various ordinary, and keeping close to every subject in proportion to its utility.

It is usual to begin with the phenomena of the air. But in strict adherence to my object, I should prefer those phenomena which constitute and produce a more common nature of which both globes partake. We will begin, therefore with the history of bodies according to that distinction which appears the simplest, that is, the quantity or paucity of matter contained and extended within the same space or the same boundaries. For as no axiom in nature is more certain than that twofold one, that out of nothing, nothing comes, and that there is not any thing which can be reduced to nothing, but that the quantum itself of nature, or the universal sum of matter, is ever the same, admitting neither of increase nor of diminution; so it is not less certain, although it has not been so clearly

impulses both external and internal is able to gather itself into a greater and lesser sphere. For sometimes the body endeavours to return to its former sphere, and sometimes evidently exceeds it. In the first place, then, I will enumerate the courses, differences, and proportions of any natural body, (in relation to its extent,) comparing them with its interstices or pores, that is, its pulverizations, calcinations, vitrifications, dissolutions, distillations, vapours, exhalations, and inflammations. In the next place, I shall lay down the actions and motions themselves, the extent and bounds of the contraction and dilatation, and when the bodies return to themselves, and when they exceed according to the measure of their extent; but I shall note particularly the efficients and means through which this kind of contractions and dilatations of bodies follow, and, in the mean

time, shall subjoin by the way, the powers and actions which accrue to bodies from such compressions and dilatations.

And as I well know how difficult it is in the present state of the mind to acquire a familiarity with nature now from the very elements, I shall add my own observations, in order to excite the attention and raise the thoughts of others. But with respect to demonstration, whether as to the discovery of the density and rarity of bodies, I have no doubt that, with respect to thick and palpable bodies, the motion of gravity, as it is called, can be assumed as the best as well as readiest proof; for the gravity of a body will be in proportion to its compactness. But after we have come to the class of ethereal and spiritual substances, then indeed we have no measure or rule whereby to go, and shall need another method of investigation. But we will begin with gold, the heaviest of all bodies within our knowledge, (for philosophy is not yet so matured as that we ought to venture an opinion respecting the bowels of the earth,) and embraces the greatest quantity of matter in the smallest space; and we shall apply the ratios of other bodies to the sphere of this; intimating, however, that here we scarcely touch upon the history of weights, except as far as it may throw light upon the demonstrating of the dimensions of bodies. But as our design is not to publish conjectures, but to discover and gain knowledge, and this appears to lie in the examination and proof of the first experiments, I have determined in every very subtile experiment to subjoin the mode of experiment I have made use of, that after it is clearly ascertained how each thing by itself appears to me, men may see how far they may rest satisfied, and what further remains to be done, whether in the correction of errors which may still cleave to the work, or in the calling forth and employing of more accurate modes of proof. And I will for my own part diligently and sincerely intimate those subjects which appear to me to be less satisfactorily explored, and to lie, as it were, nearer and more open to error. Lastly, I will add my own observations, as I before said, so that whilst every part of philosophy is preserved entire, I may yet even by the way turn the face itself of natural history toward philosophy. It will be my care also to remark whatever those things are, whether experiments or observations, which occur and intervene beside the scope of inquiry, and pertain to other denominations, that the investigation may be kept distinct.

A TABLE OF THE CONJUNCTION AND EXPANSION
OF MATTER THROUGH SPACE IN TANGIBLE BO-
DIES, WITH A CALCULATION OF THEIR RATIOS
IN DIFFERENT BODIES.

That occupy the same space, or are equally extended.
An oz. or dwt. gr.

Of pure gold

quicksilver lead

20 0

1

The Mode of Experiment upon the above Table.

Let the weights which I have used be understood to be of the same kind and computation with those of goldsmiths', a pound being twelve ounces, and an ounce twenty pennyweights, a pennyweight twenty-four grains. I have chosen gold as a standard of the ratios of other bodies, according to the measure of its extension, not so much because it is the heaviest of bodies, as because it is the most unique. For, other bodies, which, in some degree, partake of inconstancy even after they have been tried by fire, retain a diversity of weight and dimension; but pure gold

VOL. II.-71

appears to be entirely free from this property, and to be the same in all circumstances. The experinent adopted in this case was this: I made an ounce of pure gold into the form of a cube; I then prepared a small square vessel to receive that body of gold, and to agree with it exactly, except that it was a little too high; yet, so as that there might be marked, by a distinct line, a space within the vessel in which the gold cube might ascend. I did that for the sake of fluids, that, when any fluid was to be put into the same vessel, it might not flow over, but, by this method, be more conveniently preserved in an accurate measure. I had, at the same time, another vessel made, in size and weight equal with the former, that, in a like vessel, the ratio of the contents of the body might appear by itself. Then, I had made cubes of the same magnitude or dimensions in all those materials specified in the table, which were capable of division. But, the fluids I made use of at the time, by filling the vessel until the fluid ascended to the place that was marked; and | the powders in the same manner; but those as closely pressed as possible; but this with an especial view to their lying even and not suffering injury. The proof, therefore, was no other than that, one of the vessels being empty, should be put with an ounce in one scale, another of the vessels in another, with a body in the lump, and the ratio of the weight be taken; so that, in the proportion of its diminution would the dimensions of the same body be increased. For example, when a cube of gold gives one ounce, but one of fat a pennyweight, it is clear that the extension of the body of gold, compared with the extension of the body of fat, has a twentieth ratio. It was desirable, also, that the mode should be noted down of the measure which comprehended an ounce of gold; it was that of a pint of wine, according to English measure, a fraction a little less than two hundred and sixty-nine. The proof was this: I marked the weight of the water which was in the vessel, under the line aforesaid, and then the weight of water contained in a pint, and collected the ratios of the measures from those of the weights.

Cautions.

Observe whether, perchance, a closer contraction of the body from the united force produce a greater ratio of weight than is in proportion to the matter, whether or not this be the case, will appear from the peculiar history of the weight. If it should be so, the calculation is certainly erroneous, and the more bodies are extended, so much the more of matter they possess, than is in proportion to the calculation of weight and measure which depends upon it.

The smallness of the vessel which I made use of, and the form of it, although very convenient for the receiving of the beforementioned cubes,

was not equally suitable for the taking of the ratios with the strictest accuracy. For it could not well receive particles beneath a half or a quarter of a grain, and that square surface, in a small and imperceptible ascent or altitude, was capable of attracting a remarkable difference in the weight contrary to what it is in vessels rising to a point.

3. There is no doubt, that very many bodies noted in the table receive more or less within their species, according to weight and dimension. For, waters, wines, and the like, differ from one another in gravity. Therefore, as it respects the minutest calculation, the thing itself receives some modification; neither can the individuals, upon which our experiment falls, decide with exactness the nature of the species, nor, perhaps, agree minutely with experiments made on others. 4. I have set down in the above table those bodies which could conveniently fill the space or measure, each with its body in the lump, and could, as it were, be assimilated, and from the ratios of the weight, of which a judgment might be formed respecting the collection of matter. Three kinds of bodies, therefore, could not be brought into our computation; first, those which would not satisfy cubical dimension, such as leaves, flowers, fibres, membranes; 2dly, bodies with unequal pores and cavities, as sponges, fleeces, and cork; 3dly, pneumatic bodies are without weight.

Observations.

The collection of matter in those tangible bodies which have come under my observation, is within the ratios of twenty-one parts, or thereabout. The collection of matter is found most compact in gold, and most expanded in spirits of wine, (we speak of bodies which are whole and not porous.) For spirit of wine occupies a space twenty times, and that repeated, of the space which gold does, according to the ratios of one ounce to twenty-two grains. For, of those twenty-one parts, of which some are more compact than others; metals occupy thirteen parts, for tin, the lightest of metals, is almost eight pennyweights, thirteen, that is to say, below that of gold. For, all this kind of variety, leaving metals, is confined within those eight remaining parts, and, again, that remarkable variety which, by beginning inclusively from stones, is extended to those other subjects, is confined within three parts only, or but little more. For the touchstone, the heaviest of stones, (excepting the loadstone,) preponderates by little more than three pennyweights. But spirit of wine, the limit of levity in compact bodies, is lighter by little less than one pennyweight. A great gap presents itself from gold and quicksilver to lead, namely, from twenty pennyweights and a little under, to less than twelve. And, although great metallic bodies

abound in variety, I am not inclined to suppose sideration the region in which the mines or quarthat there are any intermediate bodies, excepting, ries are found, whether it be higher ground or perhaps, the elements of quicksilver. From lead whether lower. And in the same manner as to there is a gradual ascent to iron and tin. Again, stones and diamonds that are crystals, whether there appears a great hiatus between metals and the stony nature penetrate the earth so deeply as stones, namely, from eight to three pennyweights; the metallic, or rather attaches only to the surface, for such, or about such, is the distance from tin which appears the more probable supposition. to the touchstone. Only between these comes the loadstone, and almost on a par, and this is a metallic stone; and, probably, other fossils may be found of imperfect mixture, and of a nature compounded between stone and metal. From stones, indeed, to the other bodies, there is a gradual variation.