and the hare. To use too many circumstances ere one come to the matter, is wearisome; to use none at all, is blunt.
XXXIII. Of Plantations.[1]
Plantations are amongst ancient, primitive, and heroical works. When the world was young it begat more children; but now it is old it begets fewer: for I may justly account new plantations to be the children of former kingdoms. I like a plantation[2] in a pure soil; that is, where people are not displanted[3] to the end to plant in others. For else it is rather an extirpation than a plantation. Planting of countries is like planting of woods; for you must make account to leese almost twenty years
- ↑ This Essay seems to have been carefully translated; and revised in the translation, probably by Bacon himself. S.
Bacon was personally interested in colonization. Sir Walter Ralegh's scheme of planting a colony in Virginia having failed, 1586, the London or South Virginia Company for the Colonization of Virginia was chartered by King James, May 23, 1609, with larger powers and privileges. Among the new 'adventurers' were Sir Francis Bacon, his cousin, the Earl of Salisbury, with Captain John Smith, and others. At about the same time Bacon warmly advocated the 'Irish plantations,' that is, the policy of King James's government which led to the settlement of English and Scottish Protestants in the County of Ulster. - ↑ Plantation. An original settlement in a new country; a colony. The official name of Rhode Island is 'The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.'
- ↑ Displant. To undo the settlement or establishment of a plantation or colony.
"Hang up philosophy!
Unless philosophy can make a Juliet,
Displant a town, reverse a prince's doom,
It helps not, it prevails not: talk no more."
Shakspere. Romeo and Juliet. iii. 3.
