A Letter of the Lord Bacon's, written to Trinity College in Cambridge, upon his sending to them his Book of the Advancement of Learning. "Franc. Baro de Verulamio, Vicecomes Sancti Albani percelebri Collegio sanctæ et individuæ Trinitatis in Cantabrigia, Salutem.* cant. "Res omnes earumque progressus initiis suis debentur. Itaque cùm initia Scientiarum, è fontibus vestris hauserim; incrementa ipsarum vobis rependenda existimavi. Spero itidem fore, ut hæc nostra apud vos, tanquam in solio nativo, felicius succresQuamobrem et vos hortor, ut salvâ animi modestiâ, et ergà veteres reverentiâ, ipsi quoque Scientiarum Augmentis non desitis: Verùm ut post volumina sacra verbi Dei et Scripturarum, secundo loco volumen illud magnum Operum Dei et Creaturarum strenuè et præ omnibus Libris (qui pro Commentariis tantùm haberi debent) evolvatis. "Valete." The same in English by Archbishop Tenison. "Francis, Baron of Verulam, Viscount of St. Albans, to the most Famous College of the holy and undivided Trinity in Cambridge, Health. "The progresses of things, together with themselves, Baconiana, 193. + Lord Bacon's original letter is on the fly-leaf of the Presentation-copy which is now in Trinity library, in folio, splendidly bound, in purple velvet embroidered with gold. It is in very good and legible hand, but I think it is not Lord Bacon's own writing. ↑ Ibid. 194. are to be ascribed to their originals. Wherefore, seeing I have derived from your fountains, my first beginnings in the Sciences, I thought it fit to repay to you the increases of them. I hope also, it may so happen, that these things of ours may the more prosperously thrive among you, being replanted in their native soil. Therefore, I likewise exhort you, that ye yourselves so far as is consistent with all due modesty, and reverence to the ancients, be not wanting to the Advancement of the Sciences: But that, next to the study of those sacred Volumes of God, the holy Scriptures, ye turn over that great Volume of the Works of God, his Creatures, with the utmost diligence, and before all other books, which ought to be looked on only as Commentaries on those Texts. "Fare ye well." A Letter of the Lord Bacon's to the University of Cambridge, upon his sending to their Public Library, his Book of the Advancement of Learning.* "Franciscus Baro de Verulamio Vicecomes Sancti Albani, Alma Matri inclyte Academic Cantabrigiensi, Salutem.+ "Debita filii, qualia possum, persolvo. Quod verò facio, idem et vos hortor; ut Augmentis Scientiarum strenuè incumbatis, et in animi modestiâ libertatem ingenii retineatis, neque talentum à veteribus Baconiana, 189. The original is lost. concreditum in sudario reponatis. Affuerit procul dubiò et affulserit divini Luminis Gratia, si humiliatâ, et submissâ Religioni Philosophiâ, clavibus Sensûs legitimè, et dextrè utamini, et amoto omni contradictionis studio, quisque cum alio, ac si ipse secum, disputet. Valete." The same in English by Archbishop Tenison.* "Francis, Baron of Verulam and Viscount of St. Albans, to the Indulgent Mother, the famous University of Cambridge, Health. "I here repay you, according to my ability, the debts of a son. I exhort you also, to do the same thing with myself: That is, to bend your whole might towards the Advancement of the Sciences, and to retain freedom of thought, together with humility of mind; and not to suffer the talent which the ancients have deposited with you, to lie dead in a napkin. Doubtless, the favour of the Divine Light will be present and shine amongst you, if Philosophy being submitted to Religion, you lawfully and dextrously use the keys of Sense; and if all study of opposition being laid aside, every one of you so dispute with another, as if he were arguing with himself. "Fare ye well." * Baconiana, 190. A Letter of the Lord Bacon's to the University of Oxford, upon sending to their public library his book of the Advancement of Learning.* Inclytæ Academic Oxoniensi, S. Cum Almæ Matri meæ inclytæ academiæ Cantabrigiensi scripserim, deessem sanè officio, si simile amoris pignus sorori ejus non deferrem. Sicut autem eos hortatus sum, ita et vos hortor, ut Scientiarum Augmentis strenuè incumbatis; et veterum labores neque nihil neque omnia esse putetis; sed vires etiam proprias modestè perpendentes, subinde tamen experiamini. Omnia cedent quàm optimè, si arma non alii in alios vertatis, sed junctis copiis in naturam rerum impressionem faciatis; sufficit quippe illa honori et victoriæ. Valete.† To the famous University of Oxford, Health. Since I have written to my indulgent Mother, the famous University of Cambridge, I should be wanting in respect were I not to offer a similar token of my affection to her sister. But, as I have exhorted them, so do I now exhort you strenuously to exert yourselves in the Advancement of Learning, and, instead of imagining that, by the labours of the * Letters and Remains by Stevens, A. D. 1734, Page 182. This letter is also in the fly-leaf of the volume now at Oxford; it is in the same good hand, and splendid binding, as the volume sent to Cambridge. VOL. VIII. b ancients nothing or every thing has been attained, to reflect with humility upon your own powers, and aid their discoveries by your experience. The event must be prosperous, if, instead of mutually attacking each other, you unite your forces against the strong holds of nature.* This will afford you ample scope for honor and for victory. Farewell. A Letter from the University of Oxford to the Lord Bacon, upon his sending to them his book "De Augmentis Scientiarum."+ "Prænobilis, et (quod in Nobilitate pænè miraculum est) Scientissime Vicecomes! "Nihil, concinnius tribuere, Amplitudo vestra, nihil gratius accipere potuit Academia, quàm Scientias : Scientias, quas prius inopes, exiguas, incultas emiserat, accepit tandem nitidas, proceras, Ingenii tui copiis (quibus unicè augeri potuerant) uberrimè dotatas. Grande ducit munus illud sibi à peregrino (si tamen peregrinus sit, tam propè consanguineus) auctius redire, quod Filiolis suis instar Patrimonii impendit; et libentèr agnoscit hic nasci Musas, alibi tamen quam domi suæ crescere. Creverunt quidem, et sub Calamo tuo, qui tanquam strenuus litterarum Alcides, Columnas tuas, Mundo immobiles, propriâ Manu in Orbe Scientiarum, plus ultrà statuisti. Euge exercitatissimum Athletam, qui in aliorum patrocinandis virtutibus occupatissimus, alios; in scriptis propriis, teipsum superâsti. Quippe in illo Honorum tuorum fastigio, viros tantùm litteratos * See page 204. † Baconiana, 204. |