The Works of Francis Bacon

Sir Tobie Matthew's Collection of Letters, p. 25.

three concurring phenomena to which it relates, namely, 1st a cold winter; 2nd a cold summer following; 3rd all the planets continuing for six months together beyond the line, in the other hemisphere. But the date is in this case of little consequence; for the letter has no historical connection with anything else, nor are its contents of any value in themselves. To suppose that the unusual coldness of the season might be due to the absence of all the planets for an unusually long time, was not indeed so extravagant a thing in those days as it seems to be now, when it is known that the most sensitive instruments can detect no warmth from them. But I fancy that Bacon himself was not long in discovering that the cause was inadequate or the coincidence accidental. For I am not aware that he ever repeated the suggestion; and yet if he continued to believe that there was any real connection between the position of the planets and the temperature of the seasons, he must have had frequent occasions to repeat it. He must have accounted it "a noble instance." He could not have omitted it from the enquiry concerning the Form of Heat, and would probably have given it a place in the Sylva Sylvarum, as an experiment solitary touching the cause of cold weather." At what particular time the thought crossed his mind, is a question of small interest; but from the allusion to the Italian astronomers, I should conjecture that it was while Matthew was in Italy. If I had observed this in time, I should have introduced it in the fourth volume, to which I now think it properly belongs. But the end of this preface will probably do quite as well.

The heading is Matthew's. Bacon himself would probably have described it as "concerning the cause of the late cold weather."

SIR FRANCIS BACON TO A FRIEND, IN REFLECTION UPON SOME
ASTROLOGERS IN ITALY.

Sir,

I write to you chiefly now, to the end that by the continuance of my acquaintance with you by letters, you may per

ceive how much I desire and how much I do not despair of the recontinuance of our acquaintance by conversation. In the mean time I wish you would desire the astronomers of Italy to amuse us less than they do with their fabulous and foolish traditions; and come nearer to the experiments of sense; and tell us, that when all the planets, except the moon, are beyond the line in the other hemisphere for six months together, we must needs have a cold winter; as we saw it was the last year. For understanding that this was general over all these parts of the world; and finding that it was cold weather with all winds, and namely west-wind, I imagined there was some higher cause of this effect; though yet I confess I thought not that ever I should have found that cause so palpable an one as it proved. Which yet when I came quickly afterwards to observe, I found also very clearly that the summer must needs be cold too; though yet it were generally thought that the year would make a shift to pay itself, and that we should be sure to have heats for our cold. You see that though I be full of business, yet I can be glad rather to lay it all aside than to say nothing to you. But I long much more to be speaking often with you, and I hope I shall not long want my wish.

Libros