those Experiments of Light and Crucial Instances by which the understanding may determine on the true causes of things, I give Injunctions touching new experiments contrived, as far as can be at present foreseen, to meet the special object of inquiry. And such Injunctions form a kind of Designed History. For what other course is open to us on first entering on our path?

In the case of any more subtle experiment the method which I have employed is explained; for there may be a mistake, and it may stimulate others to devise better and more exact methods.

Admonitions and cautions concerning the fallacies of things, and the errors and scruples which may occur in inquiry and discovery, are interspersed; to dispel and as it were exorcise as much as possible all delusions and false appearances.

I insert my own observations on the history and experiments, that the interpretation of nature may the more advance.

Speculations, and what may be called rudiments of interpretation concerning causes, are introduced sparingly, and rather as suggesting what the cause may be than defining what it is.

Such Rules or imperfect axioms as occur to us in the course of inquiry, and where we do not yet pronounce, we set down and prescribe, but only provisionally. For they are useful, if not altogether true.

Never forgetful likewise of the good of man (though the light itself is more worthy than the things which it reveals), I append some Reminders concerning Practice for the attention and remembrance of men. For such and so unfortunate, I well know, is the insensibility of mankind, that sometimes, if they be not warned, they will pass by and neglect things which lie in their very path.

Works and Things Impossible, or at least not yet discovered, are propounded according as they fall under the several titles. And along with them those discoveries of which man is already possessed, which are nearest and most akin to such impossibles; that men's industry may be excited and their spirits encouraged.

It is evident from what has been said that the present history not only supplies the place of the third part of the Instauration; but is no mean preparation for the fourth part, by reason of the titles from the Alphabet, and the Topics; and for the sixth part, by reason of the major observations, the speculations, and the provisional rules.

THE

HISTORY OF THE WINDS:

OR

THE FIRST TITLE IN THE NATURAL AND EXPERIMENTAL

HISTORY,

FOR THE FOUNDATION OF PHILOSOPHY:

WHICH IS THE THIRD PART OF THE INSTAURATIO MAGNA.

HISTORY OF THE WINDS.

INTRODUCTION OR PREFACE.

To men the winds are as wings. For by them men are borne and fly, not indeed through the air but over the sea; a vast gate of commerce is opened, and the whole world is rendered accessible. To the earth, which is the seat and habitation of men, they serve for brooms, sweeping and cleansing both it and the air itself. Yet they damage the character of the sea, which would otherwise be calm and harmless; and in other respects they are productive of mischief. Without any human agency they cause strong and violent motion; whence they are as hired servants to drive ships and turn mills, and may, if human industry fail not, be employed for many other purposes. The nature of the winds is generally ranked among the things mysterious and concealed; and no wonder, when the power and nature of the air, which the winds attend and serve (as represented by the poets in the relation of Æolus to Juno), is entirely unknown. They are not primary creatures, nor among the works of the six days; as neither are the other meteors actually; but produced according to the order of creation.

PARTICULAR TOPICS;

The Names of

OR

Articles of Inquiry concerning the Winds.

1. Describe the winds according to the method observed at and give them names either ancient or modern; sea, but let them be constant and invariable.

Winds.

Winds are either General, Periodical, Attendant, or Free. By the General winds, I mean those which blow always; by the Periodical, I mean those which blow at certain times; by the Attendant, those which blow more frequently; and by the Free, those which blow indifferently.

2. Are there any general winds and actual motions of the General Winds. air? If such things be, in what order of motion, and in what places do they blow?

3. What winds are annual, or periodical, and in what countries? Is any wind so precisely periodical as to return regularly on certain days and hours like the tide of the sea?

Periodical
Winds.

Winds.

4. What winds are attendant and haunters of particular Attendant regions? at what times do they blow in those regions? what winds blow in the spring, summer, autumn, and winter? which are equinoctial, and which solstitial winds? which are morning, which noonday, which evening, and which night winds?

5. What is the nature of sea winds, and what that of land winds? And here carefully mark the differences between sea and land winds, as well those which as those which blow from the sea and

blow on

land.

6. Are there not winds blowing from every quarter of the Free Winds, heaven?

WINDS do not vary much more in the quarters they blow from than in their qualities. Some are strong, others gentle; some constant, others variable; some hot, others cold; some moist and relaxing, others dry and binding; some collect clouds and are rainy or stormy, others disperse them and are fair.