The author critiques and seeks to update Francis Bacon's program for a universal method of scientific discovery, arguing that while no mechanical art can produce invention or genius, studying historical scientific progress reveals recurring methods and principles. He surveys advances across the physical sciences to extract practical procedures—forms of induction, classification, gradation, use of curves, means, least squares, and residues—and offers guidance on observation, hypothesis-testing, and the interplay of ideas and facts. He emphasizes that metaphysical clarification accompanies empirical work, that different sciences require different approaches, and that method can refine but not replace individual sagacity in discovery.