Monthly Microscopical"] / OPi7 \ 



Journal, May 1, 1m70. J V - '^ ' ' 



COEKESPONDENCE. 



The Kesolution of Nobert's Nineteenth Band. 



To the Editor of the ' Monthly Microscopical Journal.'' 



Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A., 

 March 31, 1870. 



Sir, — In the Journal for February last, p. 104, you have a note 

 from Mr. Lobb, in which he refers to a discussion on Dr. Woodward's 

 paper (in the December No.), in which discussion Mr. Lobb "ex- 

 pressed a doubt whether the lines on Nobert's test-plate could be 

 clearly defined beyond the 16th group." I trust that I may be able 

 to remove Mr. Lobb's doubt ; though he was, I think, justified in ex- 

 pressing such doubt, if he had had no other evidence of the fact than 

 the photographs of Dr. Curtis. 



On the other side, in the March No. of your Journal you publish 

 the Address of the President of the Eoyal Microscopical Society. In 

 this address the following passage occurs : " It is proper to remark 

 that Colonel Woodward has resolved the 19th band of Nobert's lines 

 with a Powell and Lealand yLth immersion. He is the only observer 

 who has succeeded in resolving 112,688 lines to the inch with a power 

 of 1000 linear." * In this passage the President, unlike Mr. Lobb, 

 expresses no doubt ; but asserts, as of his own knowledge, not only 

 that the lines were resolved, but goes farther, with another assertion 

 that he, Dr. Woodward, is the only observer who has succeeded with 

 that amplification. For all this the President relies on Dr. Wood- 

 ward's own assertions and claims. Yet in the ' Quarterly Journal of 

 Microscopical Science' for July, 1868, copied from the 'American 

 Naturalist ' of April, 1868, was printed a communication from me, 

 stating that Mr. E. C. Greenleaf and myself had, in the autumn of 1867, 

 both seen the lines of the 19th band, with a ToUes' immersion J;th 

 objective, power 550. Also, that Dr. F. A. P. Barnard, President of 

 Columbia College, N.Y., had seen and counted the same lines in 

 January, 1848. Dr. Barnard informed me a few months ago, that he 

 was satisfied that he did see the true lines at that time, and that he then 

 believed that Nachet of Paris had also seen them. Why should the 

 President igTiore that paper, and admit, unqualifiedly. Dr. W.'s two 

 years' later claim ? He sm-ely cannot say that he did not read my 

 paper ; if he did read it, then he was in fairness bound to at least state 

 the fact, even if he could give no reason for adopting Dr. W.'s and 

 rejecting Dr. Barnard's and my claim. 



With your permission I will offer some statements that may relieve 

 Mr. Lobb's doubt, and show the unsoimdness of Dr. W.'s claims, as 

 adopted by the President. 



Mr. Greenleaf and myself both believe that we saw the lines of the 

 19th band in the autumn of 1867, with the first immersion objective 



* Does the President know of anyone that has succeeded in doing it with any 

 power other than those named in this letter. 



VOL, III. S 



