must chiefly consider him as a lawyer and a statesman. But I am not without some advantages for the task-from my familiarity with the scenes through which he passed as an advocate, as a law officer of the Crown, as a Judge, as a member of either House of parliament, and as a supporter of legal reform. Others from greater leisure are better acquainted with his philosophy; but I too have been a diligent student of all his works, and while in his Letters, his Speeches, his Essays, and his Histories, I have tried to gain a knowledge of human affairs and of man as he is,—from daily and nightly perusal of his " Advancement of Learning," his “De Augmentis Scientiarum," and his "Novum Organum," I have humbly striven to initiate myself in the methods of observation and induction by which he has opened to our species a career of boundless improvement. Francis Bacon was the youngest son of Sir Nicholas Bacon, Lord Keeper to Queen Elizabeth, by Ann Cooke, one of the daughters of Sir Anthony Cooke, tutor to King Edward VI. He was born at York House, in the Strand, on the 22d of January, 1561.* Like several other extraordinary men, he is supposed to have inherited his genius from his mothert, and he certainly was indebted to her for the early culture of his mind, and the love of books for which during life he was distinguished. Young Francis was sickly, and unable to join in the rough sports suited for boys of robust constitution. The Lord Keeper was too much occupied with his official duties to be able to do more than kiss him, hear him occasionally recite a little piece he had learned by heart, and give him his blessing. But Lady Bacon, who was not only a tender mother but a woman of highly cultivated mind after the manner of her age, devoted herself assiduously to her youngest child, who, along with bodily weakness, exhibited from early infancy the dawnings of extraordinary intellect. She and her sisters had received a regular classical education, and had kept up her familiarity with the poets, historians, and philosopers of antiquity. She was likewise well acquainted with modern languages, and with the theology and literature of her own times. She corresponded in Greek with Bishop Jewel respecting the then fashionable controversies, and she translated his Apologia from the Latin so correctly, that neither he nor Archbishop Parker could suggest a single alteration. She also translated admirably a voume of Sermons on "Fate and Free Will," from the Italian of Bernardo Ochino. * Some modern writers, who generally reckon by the new style, place his birth in January, 1560, which would mislead the general reader. See Mont. L. of B, p. 1. Anthony, the elder brother, not being by any means distinguished, the case of the Bacon family might be cited to illustrate the retort upon the late Earl of Buchan, who was eldest brother to Lord Erskine and the famous Henry Erskine, Dean of Faculty, but very unequal to them in abilities, and who observing boastfully "We inherit all our genius from our mother." was answered," "Yes, (and as the mother's fortune generally is,) it seems to have been all settled on the younger children." Under her care, assisted by a domestic tutor, Francis continued till he reached his thirteenth year. He took most kindly to his book, and made extraordinary proficiency in the studies prescribed to him. His inquisitiveness and original turn of thinking were at the same time displayed. While still a mere child, he stole away from his playmates to a vault in St. James's Fields, for the purpose of investigating the cause of a singular echo which he had discovered there; and when a little older, he amused himself with very ingenious speculations on the art of legerdemain, at present flourishing under the title Mesmerism. He enjoyed at the same time the great advantage, on account of his father's station, and his being the nephew of the Prime Minister, of being early introduced into the highest and most intellectual society,—in which he displayed most extraordinary gravity of deportment, as well as readiness of wit. So much was Queen Elizabeth struck with his manner and his precocity, that she used to amuse herself in conversation with him, and to call him her "young Lord Keeper.” On one occasion he greatly pleased her by his answer to the common question put to children, how old he was?-Exactly two years younger than your Majesty's happy reign." In his thirteenth year, he was sent to Trinity College, Cambridge, and put under the care of Whitgift, then Master of the College, afterwards Arch. [A. D. 1573—1576.] bishop of Canterbury, and famous for his bigotry and intolerance as well as his love of learning. Here Bacon resided three years. We have rather vague accounts of his studies during this period, and we judge of his occupations chiefly from the result as testified in after life, and by his subsequent declarations respecting academical pursuits. It is said that he ran through the whole circle of the liberal arts as they were then taught, and planned that great intellectual revolution with which his name is inseparably connected. But all that is certain is, that at his departure he carried with him a profound contempt for the course of study pursued there. Had it been improved to its present pitch, and the tripos had been established,—in all probability he would still have selected his own course of study. Academical honours are exceedingly to be valued as a proof of industry and ability; but the very first spirits have not affected them, and men of original genius, such as Swift, Adam Smith, and Gibbon, could hardly have submitted to the course of mechancial discipline which is indispensable to be thoroughly drilled in the knowledge of what others have done, written, and thought. If he had devoted his residence at the University to the drudgery necessary to take a high degree, and had actually been Senior Wrangler or senior Medallist, or * We owe this and the most authentic anecdotes respecting his early years to Rawley. "Ille autem tanta gravitate et judicii maturitate, supra ætatem se expedire valebat, ut reginam eum Dominum Custodem Sigilli minorem' appellare soliti sit. Interroganti Quot annos natus esset? ingeniose etiam puer adhuc, respondit Se regimini ejus felici duobus annis juniorem fuisse." p. 2. Ed. 1819. 21 VOL. II. both, and a Fellow of Trinity to boot, he might afterwards have become Lord High Chancellor, but he never would have written his "Essay," or the "Novum Organum." He must be considered as expressing his opinion of the Cambridge residents of his day, when he speaks of "men of sharp and strong wits and small variety of reading, their wits being shut up in the cells of a few authors, chiefly Aristotle, their dictator, as their persons were shut up in the cells of monasteries and colleges, and who, knowing little history either of nature or time, did spin cobwebs of learning admirable for the fineness of thread and work, but of no substance or profit." He paid due homage to the gigantic intellect of the Dictator; but he ridiculed the unfruitfulness of his method, which he described as strong for disputations and contentions, but barren for the production of works for the benefit and use of man, the just object for acquiring knowledge, and the only value of knowledge when acquired. He left Cambridge without taking a degree, and with the fixed conviction that the system of academical education in England (which has remained substantially the same since his time) was radically vicious. We now come to a passage of his life which has hitherto received too little attention in tracing the forma[a. D. 1576—1579.] tion of his mind and character. Allusion is made by his biographers to his residence in France, but generally in such terms as might be used in describing a trip to Paris by a modern student of law during the long vacation, with the advantage of an introduction to the English minister there from the Secretary of State for foreign affairs. In reality, Bacon spent three whole years in France-the most valuable of his life-and his subsequent literary eminence may be traced to his long sojourn in a foreign country during the age of preparatory studies-almost as much as that of Hume or Gibbon. He first resided at Paris under the care of his father's friend, Sir Amyas Paulet, the English minister at the French Court, where "he sought that which is most of all profitable in travel,-acquaintance with the secretaries and employed men of ambassadors, and so in travelling in one country he sucked the experience of many." It is said that the stripling so far won the confidence of the wary diplomatist, that he was employed on a secret mission to the Queen, which having performed with great approbation, he returned back into France; but the nature of this negotiation is not hinted at, and the probability is, that, going on a short visit to his family, he was merely * Advancement of Learning. Says Rawley his chaplain and biographer, "Whilst he was commorant at the University about sixteen years of age (as his Lordship hath been pleased to im part unto myself), he first fell into dislike of the philosophy of Aristotle. Not for the worthlessness of the author, to whom he would ever ascribe all high attributes, but for the unfruitfulness of the way-being a philosophy (as his Lordship used to say) only strong for disputations, but barren of the production of works for the life of man. In which mind he continued to his dying day." Essay of Travel. employed to carry despatches, for the purpose of facilitating his journey through the provinces, which were then rather in a disturbed state.* On the recall of Sir Amyas Paulet, Bacon made a tour through the southern and western parts of Francet, and then fixed himself for steady application at Poitiers. His original plan had been to visit Italy, but, on inquiry, all accounts agreed that from the rigours of the Inquisition, an English Protestant would not then have been safe in that country. He now wrote his "Notes on the State of Europe," which display very minute accuracy of statement, without attempting any profundity of observation. Probably with a view of being engaged in diplomacy, he studied with great interest the art of writing in cipher, and he invented a method so ingenious, that many years after he thought it deserving of a place in the "De Augmentis." While thinking that he should spend his life in such speculations and pursuits, he heard of the sudden death of his father, and he was reserved for a very different destiny. [MARCH, 1579.] He instantly returned to England, and had the mortification to find that he was left with a patrimony so slender, that it was wholly insufficient for his support without a profession or an office. "He had to think how to live, instead of living only to think." Sir Nicholas had amply provided for his other children, and had appropriated a sum of money to buy an estate for Francis, but had been suddenly carried off without accomplishing his purpose, and Francis had only a rateable proportion with his four brothers of the fund which was to have been applied to his exclusive benefit. He made a strenuous effort to avoid the necessity of taking to the study of the law,-the only resource which remained to him if he could not procure some political appointment. He sued to Burghley directly, and indirectly through Lady Burghley, his aunt, in a strain almost servile, that some employment should be given to him. Considering his personal merit and qualifications, and, still more, considering his favour with the Queen and his connection with her chief minister, it seems wonderful that he should have failed,-if we did not remember that the Lord Treasurer then wished to introduce into public life his favourite son, Robert Cecil, a very promising youth, but inferior in talents and accom * On his return, Sir Amyas thus writes to the Lord Keeper, "I rejoice much to see that your son, my companion, hath by the grace of God passed the brunt and peril of his journey; whereof I am the more glad because in the beginning of these last troubles it pleased your Lordship to refer his continuance with me to my consideration. I thank God dangers are past, and your son is safe, sound, and in good health, and worthy of your fatherly favour. Sept. 1577." † His Essay of Travel shows him to have been most familiar with touring, and there the foreign traveller will find excellent advice, even to furnishing himself with a copy of "Murray's Handbook." "Let him carry with him also some card or book describing the country where he travelleth, which will be a good key to his inquiry." plishments to his cousin, Francis Bacon, and that, "in the time of the Cecils, father and son, able men were, by design and of purpose, suppressed."* The Cecils not only refused to interest themselves for their kinsman, but now, and for many years after, —that he might receive no effectual assistance from others, they spread reports that he was a vain speculator, and totally unfit for real business. He was thus driven most reluctantly to embrace the law as a means of livelihood, and in 1580, in his 20th year, he was entered of Gray's Inn, of which Society his father had been long a member. He lived in chambers, No. 1. Gray's Inn Square, which remain in the same state as when he occupied them, and are still visited by those who worship his memory. There [A. D. 15801586.] can be no doubt that he now diligently and doggedly sat down to the study of his profession, and that he made very great progress in it,-although he laboured under the effect of the envious disposition of mankind, who are inclined to believe that a man of general accomplishments cannot possibly be a lawyer; and, e converso, if a man has shown himself beyond all controversy to be deeply embued with law, that he is a mere lawyer without any other accomplishment. A competent judge who peruses Francis Bacon's legal treatises, and studies his forensic speeches, must be convinced that these were not the mere result of laboriously getting up a title of law pro re nata, but that his mind was thoroughly familiar with the principles of jurisprudence, and that he had made himself complete master of the common law of England,-while there might be serjeants and apprentices who had never strayed from Chancery Lane to "the Solar Walk or Milky Way," better versed in the technicalities of pleading and the practice of the Courts. He must sedulously have attended the " readings" and " mootings" of his Inn, and abstracted many days and nights from his literary and philosophical pursuits to the perusal of Littleton and Plowden. His industry is the more commendable, as he had other powerful temptations to withstand. From his lively wit, from his having been in the best society at home, and from his travels abroad, he was a most delightful companion, and his society was universally coveted; yet he courteously resisted these allurements, and, without losing popularity, remained master of his time. On highdays and holidays he assisted with great glee in all the festivities of the Inn; and at the request of the Benchers he laid out walks * Bacon's Letter to Buckingham. t "The Temple late two brother serjeants saw Even when I entered the profession this disposition continued; but the world now places the friend of Pope high above such narrow-minded judges as Kenyon, who sneered at "the equitable doctrines of Lord Mansfield." |