36 REVIEWS. 



produced a reflecting microscope far superior to those previously in 

 use ; the advantages of this instrument were such, that, for a time, he laid 

 aside his researches on the achromatic object-glasses. 



In 1824, Dr. Goring, with the assistance of Mr. Cuthbert, so far im- 

 proved upon the arrangement of Professor Amici that, for some years, this 

 form of instrument was the most perfect microscope manufactured in this 

 country. Like the reflecting telescope, however, it speedily fell into disuse, 

 owing to the difficulties attending the arrangement and management of the 

 reflectors. In the " Micrographia," and other works* of Mr. Pritchard, 

 are ably detailed the construction of this instrument, as improved by him- 

 self and Dr. Goring. To the liberal and judicious patronage of the latterf 

 British microscopists are especially indebted, as to it they owe the con- 

 struction, by Tally, of the first achromatic object-glass (in 1824) in this 

 country of the diamond lens, by Varley and Pritchard and of the im- 

 proved reflecting instrument of Amici, by Cuthbert. Impulses like these, 

 given at the threshold, if we may so speak, of scientific enterprise, have a 

 wonderful effect in urging it on, and stimulating others to action; but 

 those who give them are often unable rightly to appreciate their prospec- 

 tive results. This was the case with the late Dr. Goring, who stated it 

 as his opinion, in 1829, " that microscopes are now placed completely on 

 a level with telescopes, and, like them, must remain stationary in their 

 construction." The advances made since then have been such, that now 

 microscopists would hesitate before pronouncing such an opinion. 



" The Microscope, in its History and Construction," by Mr. Hogg, is a 

 work essentially of a different stamp from those we have been considering, 

 and may be regarded as belonging to a daily-increasing class of observers. 

 It is a work for the million ; and we gladly hail it, as we do all such 

 works tending to direct their too often misspent energies into a wholesome 

 direction. With a similar object in view as that of Mr. Quekett, it has 

 chosen a much wider range of subjects, which, consequently, are not 

 treated with the accuracy which characterizes that invaluable treatise ; it 

 will, however, we feel confident, prove veiy acceptable to a large class of 

 readers. Its pretensions to originality are few; but the variety of the 

 selections are an ample compensation for this defect. The plates and 

 woodcuts with which it is interspersed are beautifully executed, and reflect 

 great credit on the taste and liberality of its publisher. We regret that it 

 is, in many places, disfigured by what, in charity, we must call misprints, 

 as no member of the profession to which Mr. Hogg belongs could be guilty 



* The " Microscopic Cabinet" and the " Microscopic Illustrations." 

 t " Quekett's Tractical Treatise," 45. 



