STATE OP ENGLAND IN 1685.

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It is a remarkable fact that, -while the lighter literature of c J I I f p -England was thus becoming a nuisance and a national dis- stale ofgrace, the English genius was effecting in science a revolution England."which will, to the end of time, be reckoned among the high-est achievements of the human intellect. Bacon had sownthe good seed in a sluggish soil and an ungenial season. Hehad not expected an early crop, and in his last testament hadsolemnly bequeathed his fame to the next age. During awhole generation his philosophy had, amidst tumults, wars,and proscriptions, been slowly ripening in a few well con-stituted minds. While factions were struggling for dominionover each other, a small body of sages had turned away withbenevolent disdain from the conflict, and had devoted them-selves to the nobler work of extending the dominion of manover matter. As soon as tranquillity was restored, theseteachers easily found attentive audience. For the disciplinethrough which the nation had passed had brought the publicmind to a temper well fitted for the reception of the Veru-lamian doctrine. The civil troubles had stimulated thefaculties of the educated classes, and had called forth a rest-less activity and an insatiable curiosity, such as had not beforebeen known among us. Yet the effect of those troubles wasthat schemes of political and religious reform were generallyregarded with suspicion and contempt. During twenty yearsthe chief employment of busy and ingenious men had been toframe constitutions with first magistrates, without first ma-gistrates, with hereditary senates, with senates appointed bylot, with annual senates, with perpetual senates. In theseplans nothing was omitted. All the detail, all the nomen-clature, all the ceremonial of the imaginary government wasfully set forth, Polemarchs and Phylarchs, Tribes and Ga-laxies, the Lord Archon and the Lord Strategus. Whichballot boxes were to be green and which red, which ballswere to be of gold and which of silver, which magistrates were