Francis Bacon and his secret society - Grand Lodge of Colorado

, AND HIS SECRET SOCIETY. 179
ment of geographical knowledge may be made a means of
" mingling heaven and earth. " When considering the deficiencies
not only of knowledge, but of language in which to express
knowledge, it will not be amiss to draw attention to the words
of Hallam concerning the works of Sir Walter Raleigh, 1 especially
" The History of the World. " The readershould reflect whether
it is more probable that the adventurous soldier and busy man
of the world should have been capable of writing such a book as
the one in question (filled as it is with Baconian beauties of diction
and sentiment), or that Bacon, visiting his interesting friend
in the Tower, should have induced him to beguile the tedious
day and drive away the heavy thoughts of care by writing or
compiling, with his help, the work to which Sir Walter contributed
the experience of his own travels, but for which Bacon
himself furnished the plan, the erudition, and the diction.
" We should," says Hallam, " expect from the prison-hours
of a soldier, a courtier, a busy intriguer in state affairs, a poet,
and a man of genius, something well worth our notice; but
hardly a prolix history of the ancient world, hardly disquisitions
on the site of Paradise and the travels of Cain. The Greek
and Roman story is told more fully and exactly than by any
earlier English author, and with a plain eloquence which has
given this book a classical reputation in our language. Raleigh
has intermingled political reflections and illustrated his history
by episodes from modern times, which perhaps are now the most
interesting passages. It descends only to the second Macedonian
war. There is little now obsolete in the words of Raleigh, noi
to any great degree in his turn of phrase; ... he is less pedantic
than most of his contemporaries, seldom low, never affected.
Not science only, or natural history, or the history of the
world and of individuals, but arts and inventions of all kinds
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were, in Bacon's opinion, equally "at a standstill." "As to
philosophy, men worship idols, false appearances, shadoivs, not
1 It is not unworthy of inquiry, "Was Raleigh (whose name is variously spelt)
any relation of the Dr. Rawley who was Bacon's chaplain and confidential secretary
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