TKANSACTIONS 



OF 



THE CROYDON MICROSCOPICAL AND 

 NATURAL HISTORY CLUB. 



1892-93. 



102. — The Early History of the Microscope. 



By Thos. D. Aldous, F.E.M.S. 



(Bead March 9th, 1892.) 



It has occurred to me that, to a Microscopical Society like 

 ours, some account of the history and progress of the instrument 

 from which we take our name may not be without interest. 



I have on more than one occasion been accused of spending 

 my spare time in some "fusty old book shop," as the irreverent 

 are wont to call those mines of entertamment and learnuig, 

 which nevertheless are duly appreciated by the enquiring and 

 intelligent man. Well, gentlemen, I do not deny the soft im- 

 peachment, and, as a result of time so spent, I have been fortu- 

 nate enough to obtain a copy of a book called ' Micrographia 

 lUustrata ; or, the Microscope Explained,' published in 1771 by 

 the elder George Adams, containing many interesting plates of 

 contemporary instruments ; ' The Microscope made Easy,' by 

 Baker, 1742 ; and a very important work entitled ' Essays on 

 the Microscope,' published in 1787 by George Adams the 

 younger. From these, the ' Encyclopedia Britaunica ' of 1797, 

 and a book kindly lent me by our President, I have been able to 

 gather the various data relating to the history and progress of 

 the microscope, which I shall presently place before you. 



In his preface to 'Essays on the Microscope,' Adams the 

 younger says :—" The plates were drawn and engraved with a 

 view to be folded up with the work ; but as it is the opinion of 

 many of my friends that they would by this means be materially 

 injured, I have been advised to have them stitched in strong blue 

 paper, and leave it to the purchaser to dispose of them to his 



