Francis Bacon and his secret society - Grand Lodge of Colorado

58 FRANCIS BACON
gentleness as mere kyprocrisy. " A touch of vanity, even, is to
be found in this composition— a quality he hardly ever- betrays
elsewhere, althoughhebad an inward consciousness of hisextraordinary
powers. Boasting of his great influence, etc., ... in
three days Bacon was obliged hypocritically to write, " etc. . . .
" The following is Bacon's boastful account, " etc. (Campbell's
Bacon, pp. Ill, 152.)
" Bacon's overweening self-confidence," etc. (Storr, Essays,
introd.)
His self-confidence, fixed purposes, and hopeful spirit praised.
" 1 find that such persons as are of nature bashful as myself
is . . . are often mistaken for proud. But I know well . . . tbat
arrogancy and overweening is so far from my nature, as if I
think well of myself in anything, it is this, that I am free from
that vice. " (Reply by F. B. to Ld. B.'s letter.)
" A hopeful, sensitive, bashful, amiable boy . . . glowing with
noble aspirations." (Spedding, L. L. i. 6.)
" Even as a philosopher ... he thought that he had struck Into
the right path by accident, and that his merit lay in endeavouring
to keep in it. The qualities for which he gave himself credit were
only patience and faith, and love of truth, carrying with it confidence
in the power of truth. . . . Bacon had by nature a large
faculty of hope ; but it was hope from things that lay out of and
beyond himself; ... he attached little importance to himself except
as an instrument for their accomplishment. No correct
notion can be formed of Bacon's character till this suspicion of
self-conceit is scattered to the winds. " (Abbott, introduction
to Essays, xxxvi.) {lb. vii. 568.)
Averse to details.
"A nature indifferent to details." (Abbott, int. to Essays,
xix.)
" Lord Macaulay speaks in admiration of the versatility of
Bacon's mind as equally well adapted for exploring the heights
of philosophy, or for the minute inspection of the pettiest detail.
But he has been imposed upon by Bacon's parade of detail," 1
etc.
{lb. lxxsvii.)