dious men but for theology, and chiefly for a theology which, proceeding with an extreme deference to authority, could not but generate a disposition of mind, even upon other subjects, alien to the progressive and inquisitive spirit of the inductive philosophy. The institution of the Royal Society, or, rather, the love of physical science out of which that institution arose in the second part of the seventeenth century, made England resound with the name of her illustrious chancellor. Few now spoke of him without a kind of homage that only the greatest men receive. Yet still it was by natural philosophers alone that the writings of Bacon were much studied. The editions of his works, except the "Essays," were few; the "Novum Organum never came separately from the English press. They were not even much quoted, for I believe it will be found that the fashion of referring to the brilliant passages of the "De Augmentis" and the "Novum Organum," at least in books designed for the general reader, is not much older than the close of the last century. Scotland has the merit of having led the way; Reid, Stewart, Robison, and Playfair turned that which had been a blind veneration. into a rational worship; and I should suspect that more have read Lord Bacon within these thirty years than in the two preceding centuries. It may be a usual conscquence of the enthusiastic panegyrics lately poured upon his name, that a more positive efficacy has sometimes been attributed to his philosophical writings than they really possessed; and it might be asked whether Italy, where he was probably not much known, were not the true school of experimental philosophy in Europe; whether his methods. of investigation were not chiefly such as men of sagacity and lovers of truth might simultaneously have devised. But whatever may have been the case with respect to actual discoveries in science, we must give to written wisdom its proper meed; no books prior to those of Lord Bacon carried mankind so far on the road to truth; none have obtained so thorough a triumph over arrogant usurpation without seeking to substitute another; and he may be compared with those liberators of nations who have given them laws by which they might govern themselves, and retained no homage but their gratitude. — HENRY HALLAM. BOOKS OF REFERENCE. Bacon's Works, collected and edited by Spedding, Ellis, and Heath. James Spedding's "Francis Bacon and His Times" (1878). Taine's "History of English Litera- Pouillot's "Vie du Chancelier Francis Dixon's "Personal History of Lord John Campbell's "Lives of the Lord Bacon" (1859). Biographies by Dr. Rawley (1658), by | Craik's "Bacon and His Philoso- Chancellors," vol. ii. Whipple's "Literature of the Age of Elizabeth." Hallam's "History of Literature." Lewes's "Biographical History of Philosophy," vol. ii. Tyler's "The Baconian Philosophy." Rémusat's "Bacon sa Vie et son In- Fischer's "Bacon and His Times." fluence" (1857). D'Ewes's Journal (1593). Hazlitt's Works, vol. iii. Essay by Thos. Babington Macaulay. PURITAN AGE. A.D. 1649-1660. SUBJECTION OF ALL SECULAR AND INTELLECTUAL PURSUITS TO FANATICISM. PRODUCTION OF THE GREAT ENGLISH HEROIC EPIC, "PARADISE LOST," BY JOHN MILTON. CULMINATION OF ENGLISH ALLEGORY UNDER JOHN BUNYAN. OUTBURST OF THEOLOGICAL ELOQUENCE· "THE AUGUS TAN AGE OF ENGLISH DIVINITY." CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PURITAN AGE, WITH HISTORICAL, SCIENTIFIC, AND ART NOTES. A.D. 1649-1660. Puritanism exercised a more or less direct influence over English politics, English religion, and English literature during the greater part of the seventeenth century, but culminated in the Commonwealth decade, when national government, creed, and intellect were essentially moulded to its theological dogmatism. The age was not long enough to embrace the entire lives of its representatives nor all of their works. Milton, Bunyan, and Baxter lived to be persecuted and condemned by the succeeding antagonistic era, with whose profligacy and liberality they had no sympathy; "Paradise Lost," the epic of Puritanism, "Pilgrim's Progress," the allegory of Puritanism, and many of Baxter's polemical writings in defence of Puritanism, did not appear till after the Restoration, but they were like strangers in a foreign land and among foreign manners. [COMMONWEALTH.] SUBJECTION OF ALL SECULAR AND INTELLECTUAL PURSUITS TO FANATICISM. PURITAN austerity suppressed all secular tastes and amusements. All public entertainments were forbidden: Parliament closed the theatres, and had the actors publicly whipped; poetic festivals were prohibited; while even the May-pole dance and the innocent sports of children-games, dancing, wrestling, and bell-ringing-were sternly put down. Sculpture and painting were denounced as idolatrous, and Establishment by Parliament of a republican form of government under the title of "The Commonwealth," 1649. Charles II. takes refuge in Holland. |