730 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY. 



either Caff was dead or that he had retired and sold his business to 

 Adams. This, after the John Marshall, is historically one of the most 

 important instruments in our collection, and I am happy to say that it 

 is in almost new condition. Subsequently these Microscopes were fitted 

 with a joint at the bottom of the pillar for inclination. Sometimes this 

 foot was fastened to the bottom of a mahogany box, from which they got 

 the name of ' ; The Chest Compound Microscope." From this form of 

 Microscope was evolved the instrument which had belonged to Sir 

 David Brewster, which was made by Dollond and exhibited here. It is 

 figured in the Journal of the E.M.S., 1898, p. 123, fig. 1. 



The President asked the Society to thank the various donors of the 

 gifts on the table: — Dr. Dallinger, Mr. Nelson, and others for valu- 

 able works for the Library ; the Rt. Hon. Sir Ford North ; the Rev. 

 Canon Carr, Messrs. Nelson, Gifford, Klein, and Michael ; Mr. C. L. 

 Curties, and Messrs. Wm. Watson and Sons for important additions to 

 tbe Society's collection of historical Microscopes ; and he suggested that 

 the Society should express their special gratitude to Mr. Nelson for the 

 historical and critical account of some of the instruments now added to 

 their collection. He regretted that the state of his health prevented 

 Mr. Nelson beiug with them that evening. The thanks were unani- 

 mously voted by the Meeting. 



The President called attention to an exhibition on the table ar- 

 ranged by Mr. Conrad Beck, to show, under six Microscopes, examples 

 of Antipoints in illustration of the paper by Mr. Gordon read before 

 the Society on the 19th of June last. The thanks of the Society were 

 given to Mr. Beck. 



Mr. C. Beck exhibited and described a new pattern Microscope em- 

 bodying several new features and improvements. The substage was 

 fitted with a rack-and-pinion coarse adjustment, and a lever and micro- 

 meter screw fine adjustment, with means of centering and of throwing 

 out the diaphragm and substage condenser while the latter was actually 

 in focus. The principal stage was circular, 5 in. in diameter, rotating, 

 and graduated on the periphery, but having a removable mechanical 

 stage with a travel of 2^ in. by 1^ in., and graduated as a finder. The 

 main body was very short, but was fitted with two draw-tubes, one of 

 which had a rack-and-pinion, enabling the tube to be extended, if re- 

 quired, to llrV in. The draw-tube was also made to take a photographic 

 lens giving a very large angle of view. The body was also fitted with 

 the new double fine adjustment designed by Mr. Ashe, the details of 

 construction of which were further explained by a diagram on the 

 board. 



Mr. Beck said he should like also to say a few words in explanation 

 of the exhibition of Antipoints to which the President had referred. 

 These were extremely difficult things to show, on account of the trouble 

 there was in obtaining points sufficiently small and sufficiently bright ;. 

 and although some of those on the table showed very well in a darkened 



