188 MICROSCOPIC OBJECTS. 



I once, however, met with a -drtuoso in Hyde Park 

 who seemed to have effected a sort of approximation in 

 his own way to the kind of microscope the ol ttoXXoi wanted 

 — ^and was making a considerably handsome collection of 

 halfpence upon the strength of it. He was exhibiting a 

 variety of large objects with a compound microscope of 

 the old fashion, which might perhaps magnify six times, 

 and requesting the observers to look through the instru- 

 ment (which was placed horizontally) with one eye while 

 they viewed Apsley House (which was three-quarters of a 

 mile off) with the other, in order that they might form an 

 idea of the stupendous powers of the splendid microscope 

 submitted to their examination for one halfpenny. 

 " Ladies and gen'lmun, just clap your hies to this ere 

 vonderful and most stupenderous hinsterment, it magnifies 

 nearly one million of times or I'm a Har and any of you 

 may be kenwicted of the truth of what I says by lookin' 

 at the dimond-beedle with one hi, while you sees Apsley 

 House with the bother. I'll be blowed if the beedle bint 

 bigger nor that, and all on you knows Apsley House is a 

 milhon times bigger nor the beedle." The audience 

 seemed perfectly satisfied with this demonstration ; for 

 mankind are always much obliged to anybody who will 

 be at the trouble of humbugging them in theu" own way, 

 and fortunately there will never be a lack of persons to 

 do them this kindly office. " Oil est le savan qui pour sa 

 gloire ne trompera pas le monde P " says J. J. Rousseau, 

 putting profit of course entirely out of the question. 

 With the exception of an exhibition once got up in 



