309 PREFACE TO THE INQUISITIO DE MAGNETE. IN Dr. Rawley's list of works composed by Bacon during the last five years of his life, the Inquisitio de Magnete stands last but two. The following fragment, first published by Dr. Rawley himself in 1658, and bearing that title, may be presumed to be the work in question. Though it seems to be only a sheet of notes, the place which it holds in the list implies that it was meant to be preserved; and therefore I place it here rather than in the third part, to which otherwise it might seem more properly to belong. It may be regarded as a loose leaf belonging to the third part of the Instauratio. J. S. |