The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-05-04
soxs NEW sooxA


DOAB NEW 1OOkA
Dssss.
Tho latest volume published In the series
Of English Men OF Letters" IL q sketch OF
Francis Bacon. By n. ". CHURCH tHarpcr'sl
Here We see faithfully pursued the aim which
Wa Internationally contemplated By tho edi-
tor Of tho collection. but which not = few Of tho
preceding contributors havc failed to keep in
Wow. The object was not to present original
and eccentric Views OF the subject treated. but
70 ofIer brief summary Of the opinions gen.
orally expressed By competent students.
This 10 what the Dean Of 81 Paul's
has strivsn to accomplish in the work be.
fore %. For his data no has had recourse
to the vast treasury OF Information amassed
b. the labors Of Ellis and SPEEDING. but he de-
clines to scoopt their favorable judgment OF
Baeon's character. Herein no concurs with
the great majority Of those who arc qualified
10 give decision in tho premises. For the Of.
fsosmsnt Of the stigma fixed upon his nsme by
his contemporaries. Bacon appealed to "for-
eign nations and tho next ages" and no dis
0reosd man evsr had the fortune to md moro
Sealous and capable advocates than tho editors
lust named. Yet. In spite Of their ingenious
and eloquent argurnonts. the verdict against
Bacon has not been set aside. but remains in
delibly engraved upon the history Of England.
The merits OF Bacon a. . writer have never
tssn disputed. but whether We regard him as
private gentleman. . lawyer. . politician. or q
philosopher. We encounter oontrovertcd points.
b. the treatment Of which the value Of any
critical estimate must be determined. Did
Bacon In his conduct conform to tho obliga-
tions Of good faith and gratitude. or was he. in
his behavior toward Essex. actuAted by tho
meAnsst motives Of seli.advanoement and
dsroliot 70 loyalty and honor? On whose
shoulders rests the larger share OF blame for
the long and desperate duel between him
and ooksf Again. what answer has posterity
given 70 the query which he left for
IL decision. whether. namely. he or Coke
were the better lawyer2 Had he any
prstsnsions beyond an insight that bore
no ffuit. and professions that were never
practised. TO deserve the name OF statesman. or
was no tho very pattern OF slnuous. knee
crookinR. time.serving politician? Must not
conscience have pricked him. even moro sharp
~ than It pricked bis successor. Stanford. with
the ranking confession. Y,eliora probo dete-
riora seQuor2 Upon all these inquiries. after
thorough and candid review Of the evidence.
Dean Church pronouncss distinctly against
Bacon. and he does but echo the admissions OF
M. Ellis whom he shows how small share can
be credited to thsnuthor Of the Novum Organ
um In those astonishing conQuests Of science
which have followed tho application OF the in
ductive method TO the field Of ply scal research.
Ills . suggestive fact That none OF his con-
temporarles. whom long and harsh experience
had made keen judges OF character. would
trust Bacon or advance him. The most adroit
sdulation and the most interruptions service
could win only the soantiest and coolest recog
milton from Queen Elizabeth or from his kins-
men, BurlsiGh and Salisbury. who were. on the
whole. the most upright and sagacious states
mon In the two reigns with which Bacon's life
was coeval. II was only good-natured. care
less. undiscriminAting mon like Essex. or
utterly worthless men like Buckingham. whom
no found disposed to servo him. and It IL note
worthy that HE base betrayal Of the one was
made pretoxt OF his heartless abandonment
By tho other. Dean Church docs not permit
himself to DO blinded BY the pleas with which the
advocates OF Bacon have sought to extsnuate his
conduct In permitting himself to DO made the
most sficient tool In the hands Of his protec.
tors enemies He admits that It'll tho last great
moment Of Esssx's trial there 10 Q good deal to
b said for Bacon. but " the crisis came which
showed the man. and throw light on oil that
had passed before. whom he lot himself be
picked out for the very reason that hia init.
macy with the accused would render his thrusts
full energy In the task Of bringing homo tho
capital charge TO his best friend. We are re-.
minded that In his Apology" he does not
even pretend that he asked to be excused
from the terrible ONCE" or hinched" from
actiag - the minister OF vengeance"
This biographer Acknowledges that Bacon
had his public duty. which may have
compelled him to stand apart from Essex
but It was. hs says. no part Of his public duty
TO accept tho ungrateful role OF accuser. and
in bis friends direst need to drive homo artful
strokes that would make his ruin certain. The
conclusion 10 that. to his own interest"
Bacon sacrificed his friend and his own
honor" and Dean Church might have added
that the Wow OF his own interest proved mis-
taken ono. They who prodted by his perfdy
dsspissd him or neglected him; while who can
doubt that had he chung devotedly to his bene-
remaining torn OF life never foreave the enc
miles OF forgot the friends Of Essex. would have
given him preisrment which would have saved
him from the straits that tainted and relaxed
bis character. and which would have thus ena-
bled him to become what nature meant him
icr. good a. well a. great man.
The rivalry between Bacon and Sir Edward
Coke ran through the whole OF the formers
public life. and Was marked By not few rude
collisions and abrupt vicissitudes. There 10
reason TO believe that Bacon was acknowl-
edged bv his brethren Of the bar to DO much the
moro sktlful and persuasive advocate. and 1t ID
equally certain that Coke was deemed BY far
the greater lawyer. The lattor's advancement
WAS much moro carly and rapid. He became
Attorney. General In 1894. whereas Bacon. not
Withstandin9 the strenuous support OF Essex,
was only made Queens Counsel. Notwith-
standing Bsoon's refinement and singular
power OF insratiation. no was distanced by his
rival In love - we'll a. war. for a.
though Essex did his best to win for b.
con rich wife. the young widow Of Sir Chris
TOPPER Hstton. she accepted Coke instead. In
1905 Coke was made Chief Justice Of tho Com
mon Pleas. yet Bacon. instead OF gaining the
place loft vacant by his competitors promotion
was put Of. after years delay. with the infe-
rior post OF Solicitor. General Harassed. rs he
always was. By debts. he was glad. about the
sams date. TO marry an Alderman's daughter
who had some money and disagresable
ma 49, 49, iS1nv kk~,