The New Atlantis | Page 3

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Revision to edition 11 by William Fishburne

THE NEW ATLANTIS

BY SIR FRANCIS BACON

INTRODUCTORY NOTE
Bacon's literary executor, Dr. Rowley, published "The New Atlantis" in
1627, the year after the author's death. It seems to have been written
about 1623, during that period of literary activity which followed
Bacon's political fall. None of Bacon's writings gives in short apace so
vivid a picture of his tastes and aspirations as this fragment of the plan
of an ideal commonwealth. The generosity and enlightenment, the
dignity and splendor, the piety and public spirit, of the inhabitants of
Bensalem represent the ideal qualities which Bacon the statesman
desired rather than hoped to see characteristic of his own country; and
in Solomon's House we have Bacon the scientist indulging without
restriction his prophetic vision of the future of human knowledge. No
reader acquainted in any degree with the processes and results of
modern scientific inquiry can fail to be struck by the numerous
approximations made by Bacon's imagination to the actual
achievements of modern times. The plan and organization of his great
college lay down the main lines of the modern research university; and
both in pure and applied science he anticipates a strikingly large
number of recent inventions and discoveries. In still another way is
"The New Atlantis" typical of Bacon's attitude. In spite of the
enthusiastic and broad-minded schemes he laid down for the pursuit of
truth, Bacon always had an eye to utility. The advancement of science
which he sought was conceived by him as a means to a practical end
the increase of man's control over nature, and the comfort and
convenience of humanity. For pure metaphysics, or any form of
abstract thinking that yielded no "fruit," he had little interest; and this
leaning to the useful is shown in the practical applications of the
discoveries made by the scholars of Solomon's House. Nor does the
interest of the work stop here. It contains much, both in its political and
in its scientific ideals, that we have as yet by no means achieved, but
which contain valuable elements of suggestion and stimulus for the
future.

THE NEW ATLANTIS

We sailed from Peru, (where we had continued for the space of one
whole year) for China and Japan, by the South Sea; taking with us
victuals for twelve months; and had good winds from the east, though
soft and weak, for five months space, and more. But the wind came
about, and settled in the west for many days, so as we could make little
or no way, and were sometime in purpose to turn back. But then again
there arose strong and great winds from the south, with a point east,
which carried us up (for