above the
confusion of things where he may have the prospect of the order of
nature and error of man? But is this view of delight only and not of
discovery--of contentment, and not of benefit? Shall he not as well
discern the riches of Nature's warehouse as the beauties of her
shop? Is truth ever barren? Shall he not be able thereby to produce
worthy effects and to endow the life of man with infinite
commodities?"

Among the "infinite commodities" already developed from the thought
flowing into and out of the mind which framed these sublime
sentences are the steam engine, the electric motor, the discoveries
of the microscope in the treatment of disease, the wonders of
chemistry, working out practical results to alleviate human misery,
and to increase steadily from year to year, and from century to
century, the sum of human comfort. Looking forward to this, Bacon
worked for it until his whole life became a manifestation of his
master-thought. It may be said with literal truth that he died of
it, for the cold which brought him his death resulted from his
rashness in leaving his carriage, when sick, to experiment on the
arrest of putrefaction by freezing. The idea came to him. It was
winter and the ground was covered with snow. He was feeble, but he
left his carriage to stuff snow into the carcass of a chicken he had
procured for the experiment. The experiment succeeded, and
centuries later, as a result of it, England is fed with the meat of
America and Australia, But Bacon died after it, leaving behind him
ideas which stamp him as the greatest and brightest, whether or not
he was also "the meanest of mankind." On this latter point, he may
speak for himself, as he does thus in the volume 'State Trials' from
which his speech on Dueling, before the Star Chamber, here used, is
extracted:--

(Howell's, Vol. ii.): "Upon advised consideration of the charge,
descending into my own conscience and calling my memory to account,
as far as I am able, I do plainly and ingenuously confess that I am
guilty of corruption, and do renounce all defense and put myself
upon the grace and mercy of your lordships. ... To the nineteenth
article, _vis._, 'That in the cause between Reynell and Peacock, he
received from Reynell two hundred pounds and a diamond ring worth
four or five hundred pounds,' I confess and declare that on my first
coming to the Seal when I was at Whitehall, my servant Hunt
delivered me two hundred pounds fr