98 Transactions of the Royal Microscopical Society. 



1844, and carried it on nearly to the time of his death. His incli- 

 nation to science and literature was early manifested. He first 

 took up astronomy, and, observing from the top of his house in 

 Cheapside, made himself well acquainted with the constellations and 

 planets. He afterwards taught himself Hebrew sufficiently to read 

 and enjoy the Old Testament in the original. His occasional visits 

 to the seaside led him to the use of the microscope, and subsequently 

 his study of that instrument and its revelations withdrew his atten- 

 tion from all other recreative pursuits. He preferred jMessrs. Powell 

 and Lealand's microscopes to all others, and kept himself supplied 

 with their latest improvements and finest objectives. His attention 

 was devoted more particularly to what are called test-ohjects, and by 

 great care in manipulation and illumination he was enabled to 

 exhibit these, especially the closely-lined diatoms, to as great advan- 

 tage as any contemporary microscopist. His knowledge of the 

 groups of Desmidiae and Diatomacese was precise and extensive, and 

 he made himself fairly acquainted with other branches of natural 

 history. His collection of objects was large, and the specimens 

 were generally of great excellence. He studied the phenomena of 

 polarized hght, not only as applied to the microscope, but with the 

 ordinary polariscope, and larger objects, including selenite designs, 

 slices of crystals, &c., of which he had some beautiful examples. 

 He sat for many years on the Council of the Eoyal Microscopical 

 Society, and was one of the most constant attendants of both Council 

 and ordinary meetings as long as his health permitted. He was 

 warm and impulsive, but extremely good-natured, and he was always 

 ready to assist others by showing them how to manipulate their 

 instruments in the best manner by exhibiting choice objects and 

 testing novel apparatus. He was much visited on this account, and 

 highly respected for his kindness. He occasionally contributed 

 short papers to the ' Transactions ' of the Society, and frequently 

 took part in its discussions. 



For several years Mr. Lobb had suffered from rheumatism, 

 acute and chronic, which made locomotion increasingly difiicult, but 

 he remained constant in attendance at the Society till about the 

 middle of 1870. He then became almost helpless, and symptoms 

 of paralysis appearing, he gave up business and removed to Selhurst, 

 Surrey, where he died on September 9th, 1870, aged 63. He was 

 interred at Abney Park Cemetery. 



