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not likely to advance far in the acquisition of soundknowledge, nor to do much towards promoting the dis-covery of new truths. We have, however, in thesetimes one brilliant example of a student and a monkwho rose superior to the prejudices of his age, and be-came the harbinger of a more enlightened epoch.
Roger Bacon was horn near Ilchester in 1214. AtOxford he made distinguished progress in the usualcourse of literature and the school logic. He subse-quently went to complete his studies in the universityof Paris, then in such high repute as to attract stu-dents from all parts of Europe . He here obtained thedegree of doctor, and laid the foundation of his ex-tended celebrity. Returning to England he took thehabit of the Franciscan order, and pursued his enqui-ries at Oxford into a vast variety of subjects, farbeyond what then constituted the usual range of study.His ardour in the pursuit of knowledge led him toattempt new investigations in almost every departmentwhich he studied; and with the assistance of variousv liberal patrons, whose favour his high reputation hadnow secured, he is said to have expended large sums incollecting hooks, and procuring and constructing appa-ratus, which he had devised for the prosecution ofexperimental enquiries.
He appears to have been well versed in mathematics,and in the theory of mechanics as then known ; thoughit does not seem that he made any advances in thesedepartments. In astronomy he has left indications ofattainment far superior to those of his contemporaries ;and pointed out the necessity for a further reformationof the calendar beyond the Julian correction, the sameas that which has been since applied. In practical me-chanics and in chemistry we have on record many ofhis actual inventions, and still more unfinished projectsand speculations, many of which have been since