Salomon's House
Salomon's House (or Solomon's House) is a fictional institution in Sir Francis Bacon's utopian work New Atlantis, published in English in 1777, years after Bacon's death. In this work, Bacon portrays a vision of the future of human discovery and knowledge. Salomon's House is credited with being the standard upon which 17th century scientific academies, including the French Académie des Sciences and the English Royal Society, are based.[1]
Historical Context
It is speculated that Bacon was inspired by contemporary men of science Cornelis Drebbel and Salomon de Caus, as well as author and courtier Sir Thomas Chaloner.[1]
According to the "Note on the Texts" in the revised critical edition,[2] the original 1627 edition published by Bacon's literary executor William Rawley has "King Solamona" and "Salomon's House", while the 1658 and 1670 editions (long after Bacon's death) have "King Salomona" and "Solomon's House." The idea inspired followers like Samuel Hartlib and Robert Boyle and led to the Royal Society of 1660.
Description of Salomon's House
A Father of Salomon's House explains the founding of Salomon's House by King Solamona:
"Ye shall understand (my dear friends) that amongst the excellent acts of that king, one above all hath the pre-eminence. It was the erection and institution of an Order or Society, which we call "Salomon's House"; the noblest foundation (as we think) that ever was upon the earth; and the lanthorn of this kingdom. It is dedicated to the study of the Works and Creatures of God. Some think it beareth the founder's name a little corrupted, as if it should be Solamona's House. But the records write it as it is spoken. So as I take it to be denominate of the King of the Hebrews, which is famous with you, and no stranger to us."[3]
Exposition on Salomon's House is divided into four major sections: purpose, structures and equipment, roles, and ordinances and rites.[3]
Purpose
The purpose of Salomon's House, or "end of [the] foundation,"[3] is as stated: "The End of our Foundation is the knowledge of Causes, and secret motions of things; and the enlarging of the bounds of Human Empire, to the effecting of all things possible."[3]
Structures and Equipment
Salomon's House in Bensalem includes the following structures and materials in order as presented in the text:[3][4]
| Salomon's House Structure[3] | Materials[3] | Purpose[3] | Modern Equivalent[4] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caves | Coagulation
Induration Refrigeration Conservation of bodies Imitation of natural mines Production of artificial metals Curing disease Prolongation of life via hermitage |
Laboratories | |
| Burials | Cements
Composts Soils |
Laboratories | |
| Towers | Insolation
Refrigeration Conservation Observation of meteorological phenomenon (wind, rain, snow, hail) Observation of astrological phenomenon |
Observatories | |
| Lakes (Salt and Fresh water) | Fish
Fowl |
Burying bodies | Laboratories |
| Pools | Salt water
Fresh water |
Desalination of salt water (salt to fresh)
Salination of water (fresh to salt) |
Laboratories |
| Islands and Bays | Marine atmosphere | Observatories | |
| Streams and Cataracts | Production of energy for movement
Powering of engines for wind turbines |
Laboratories | |
| Wells and Fountains | Water of Paradise | Imitation of natural springs
Production of minerals (vitriol, sulphur, steel, lead, brass, nitre, etc.) Infusion (Water of Paradise) Prolongation of life |
Laboratories |
| Houses | Imitation of meteorological phenomenon
Demonstration of meteorological phenomenon (snow, hail, rain, artificial rain of bodies, thunder, lightning) |
Observatories | |
| Chambers of Health | Good quality air | Curing of diseases
Preservation of health |
Sanatoriums |
| Baths | Curing of diseases
Restoration of bodies Strengthening of bodies (sinews, vital parts, juice and substance of the body) |
Sanatoriums | |
| Orchards and Gardens | Ground
Soil Trees (wild and fruit) Herbs Berries Flowers |
Production of drinks
Grafting Inoculation Manipulation of plant growth (out of season growth) Manipulation of fruit (taste, smell, color, size, shape) Creation of medicinal plants Creation of new plants |
Experimental Forests |
| Vineyards | Experimental Forests | ||
| Parks and Enclosures | Beasts
Birds |
Dissections
Testing Prolongation of life Resuscitation Poison testing Medicine testing Manipulation of features (size, fertility, color, shape, habits) Creation of new animals Cross breeding |
Zoological Reserves |
| Serpents
Worms (silk worms) Flies (bees) Fish |
Manipulation of features
Breeding |
Zoological Reserves | |
| Pools | Fish | Dissections
Testing Prolongation of life Resuscitation Poison testing Medicine testing Manipulation of features (size, fertility, color, shape, habits) Creation of new animals Cross breeding |
Zoological Reserves |
| Brewhouses | Wines
Juice of fruits, grains, roots Mixtures of honey, sugar, manna Decocted dried fruits Tree sap Cane pulp Drinks with herbs, roots, spices Drinks that serve the purpose of both food and hydration Thin drinks Nourishing water Strengthening drink |
Production of drinks
Aging of drinks (up to 40 years) |
Experimental Breweries |
| Bakehouses | Breads of grains, roots, kernels
Breads with meat, fish Leavenings Seasonings Strengthening bread |
Production of breads | Experimental Kitchens |
| Kitchens | Tenderized meat
Strengthening meat |
Production of meats | Experimental Kitchens |
| Dispensatories | Plants
Living creatures Simples Drugs Medicine ingredients Heating equipment Percolating equipment Strainers |
Aging of medicine
Fermentation of medicine Distillation Separation |
Clincs |
| Factories | Papers
Linen Silks Tissues Feather work Dyes Patterns |
Production of manufactured goods | |
| Furnaces | Fierce and quick heat
Strong and constant heat Soft and mild heat Blown, quiet heat Dry, moist heat Heat which imitates the sun |
Creation of various types of heat | |
| Perspective-houses | Glasses
Spectacles |
Demonstration of lights and radiations
Production of light Manipulation of perspective Magnification of objects Creation of light effects (rainbows, halos, reflections, refractions) |
Observatories/Laboratories |
| Precious stones
Crystals Glass Metals Fossils Minerals Lodestones Rare stones (natural and artificial) |
|||
| Sound-houses | Harmonies
Instruments of music Hearing aids Echoes Equipment to convey sound (trunks, pipes, lines) |
Demonstration of the generation of all sounds and all sounds
Imitation of all sounds and letters |
Observatories/Laboratories |
| Perfume-houses | Confiture-house | Practice of taste
Imitation of tastes Practice of smell Multiplication of smells Imitation of smells Production of sweet-meats Production of wines, broths, sallets |
Observatories/Laboratories |
| Engine-houses | Weapons exceeding cannons and basilisks
Instruments of war Gunpowder Fireworks Submersible ships and boats Swimming supporters Clocks Perpetual motion machines |
Production of engines and instruments of motion
Creation of deadlier weaponry Imitation of birds, flying Imitation of motions of living creatures |
Observatories/Laboratories |
| Mathematical-house | Geometry
Astronomy |
||
| Houses of Deceits | Juggling
False apparitions Impostures Illusions |
Observatories/Laboratories |
Roles
Roles of members of Salomon's House are listed in order of appearance in the text below:[3][4]
| Title of Role[3] | Number of Members[3] | Duty[3][4] |
|---|---|---|
| Father of Salomon's House | ||
| Merchants of Light | 12 | Travel to foreign countries
Procure books, abstracts, patterns of experiments |
| Depredators | 3 | Collect experiments from books |
| Mystery-men | 3 | Collect experiments of mechanical arts
Collect experiments of liberal sciences Collect practices not in arts |
| Pioneers/Miners | 3 | Execute new experiments |
| Compilers | 3 | Create titles and tables based on collected data |
| Dowry-men/Benefactors | 3 | Extrapolate experimental data |
| Lamps | 3 | Direct new experiments based on data |
| Inoculators | 3 | Execute and report second round of experiments |
| Interpreters of Nature | 3 | Interpret new experimental data
Create laws and axioms |
| Novices
Apprentices Servants Attendants |
Serve titled members |
There are two notable imbalances in the information given. Firstly, the imbalance between the amount of equipment and the amount of manpower to operate it. Secondly, the ratio of roles collecting data to roles producing data.[5]
Ordinances and Rites
The ordinances and rites followed by the members of Salomon's House are described below:
Galleries
First Gallery includes the patterns and samples of notable inventions.[3]
Second Gallery holds statues of notable inventors. Notably, the only inventor mentioned by name is Columbus, who is credited with discovering the West Indies. The other inventors are listed as the inventor of their invention. Statues in this gallery are made of various materials including but not limited to brass, marble, cedar, silver, and gold.[3]
Hymns and Services
Daily hymns and services include praising God as well as requesting His aid.[3]
Circuits and Visits
Members of the Salomon's house travel throughout the kingdom and perform three major actions. Firstly, they publish new inventions. Secondly, they divine natural disasters. Thirdly, they counsel the populace.[3]
References
- Colie, Rosalie L. (1955). "Cornelis Drebbel and Salomon de Caus: Two Jacobean Models for Salomon's House". Huntington Library Quarterly. 18 (3): 245–260. doi:10.2307/3816455. ISSN 0018-7895. JSTOR 3816455.
- Weinberger, Jerry (2018-07-30), "On the miracles in Bacon's New Atlantis", Francis Bacon’s New Atlantis, Manchester University Press, doi:10.7765/9781526137388.00011, ISBN 978-1-5261-3738-8, S2CID 186865723, retrieved 2021-05-08
- More, Thomas, Saint (2008). Utopia. Susan Bruce, Francis Bacon, Henry Neville (Reissued 2008 ed.). Oxford. ISBN 978-0-19-953799-0. OCLC 244652520.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - Suter, Rufus (1948). "Salomon's House: A Study of Francis Bacon". The Scientific Monthly. 66 (1): 62–66. Bibcode:1948SciMo..66...62S. ISSN 0096-3771. JSTOR 19174.
- Kendrick, Christopher (2003). "The Imperial Laboratory: Discovering Forms in The New Atlantis". ELH. 70 (4): 1021–1042. doi:10.1353/elh.2004.0007. ISSN 1080-6547. S2CID 144883395.
External links
- Project Gutenberg e-text of Francis Bacon's book The New Atlantis.
- Royal Society