Bacon's WORKS OF FRANCIS BACON, BARON VERULAM, VISCOUNT ST. ALBAN, AND LORD HIGH PRINTED BY J. CUNDEE, IVY LANE, FOR M. JONES, PATERNOSTER-ROW. 1803. ah 3-29-74 PREFACE: THE following History of Winds, has scarce been more improved by the moderns, than the preceding History of Life and Death. It should seem as if few entered into the nature and design of these pieces; so as to perceive how far they are carried; and how they may be farther advanced: and yet the author appears to have given ample directions for the purpose. For though he has himself gone great lengths in these particular histories; yet they are rather intended as larger examples, to teach mankind the method of enquiring; than aim at being complete enquiries themselves.* * No author has with greater diligence and exactness, I will not say enquired into, as taught others the way of enquiring into this subject, than the great Lord Verulam, in his History of Winds. And though he there writes historically in many particulars, I cannot determine whether they may be safely relied on. That man had a vast and most extensive genius; equal, in my opinion, to the full discovery of all nature; had he not been prevented by civil affairs. B |