18 MICROSCOPIC ILLUSTRATIONS. 



that is valuable, would fall within the province of the 

 profound metaphysician, rather than that of the practical 

 man of science ; but to elucidate the methods by which 

 genius is aided in its high researches after truth, and in 

 conducting those researches to their desired proficiency, 

 although an occupation of a much humbler grade than 

 the other, is one, nevertheless, that is by no means insig- 

 nificant, or devoid of interest. 



Thus, for example, an illustration of the improvements 

 effected in the optical construction of the telescope, by 

 which the astronomer may attain to a more perfect know- 

 ledge of the celestial bodies — by which he may discover 

 worlds beyond worlds innumerable, and read the laws by 

 which all those worlds are governed — cannot be deemed 

 either unimportant or uninteresting. The invention of 

 this beautiful instrument gave a powerful impulse to the 

 human mind towards the study of astronomy, and every 

 improvement since made upon it has laid open new 

 sources of knowledge in that science, and created a 

 greater zest for its acquisition. Even the splendid dis- 

 coveries of the immortal Newton on the theory of the 

 Moon, until verified by the observations of a Flamstead, 

 by means of astronomical instruments, could not be 

 received as the actual laws which govern that satellite. 

 Even since these great discoveries, which carried the 

 mind of man into the immensity of the heavens, and 

 gave him a far more extended idea of the creative power 

 than any thing could possibly have given him before, 

 what has not the astronomer been able to effect through 



