Monthly Microscopical 
56 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. jouer 
He believed that Mr. Stephenson had brought before the Society the 
most important improvement in the microscope since the days of Mr. 
Wenham. 
Mr. Browning briefly explained his reasons for believing that the 
second prism used did not produce imperfect definition. 
The President said that he would confirm Mr. Lee’s observations con- 
aoe the use of high powers in Mr. Stephenson’s microscope. The 
,i;th had been used with great advantage, and though both the fields 
of view were not equally illuminated under this high power, it would 
at once be seen from the construction of the instrument that only the 
art of the optician was required to make both tubes equally valuable 
in using high powers. Those who had had the pleasure of examining 
the instrument as well as himself would bear him out in the statement 
that the effect of giving an erect image is of the highest importance 
in cases where dissection was being conducted. The instrument de- 
vised by Mr. Stephenson contained no error of importance, and the 
slight want of flatness in the field could be readily obviated. 
A vote of thanks was then given to Mr. Stephenson for his valuable 
communication. 
Mr. Stephenson, in replying, explained that the spherical effect to 
which the President had alluded arose from the two planes of the 
prisms being at right angles to each other. In Mr. Wenham’s arrange- 
ment the effect produced was cylindrical, but the reflexion of the rays 
of light at right angles would convert the cylinder into a sphere. 
Mr. Beck wished to suggest to the Council the desirableness of 
inserting in a prominent part of the Journal a statement explaining 
the benefits to be derived from connection with the Royal Micro- 
scopical Society. Many persons, he was quite sure, were desirous of 
knowing what the real objects of the Society were, and the advantages 
which it offered to the Fellows. He had been often asked questions 
on the point, and he thought that if some statement of the kind he 
had alluded to were issued, the Society would gain very much by the 
adoption of such a course. 
The President thanked Mr. Beck for his suggestion. It would be 
brought before the Council, and he thought that it would be advan- 
tageous to adopt it. The Publisher would be communicated with, and 
he believed that the value of the suggestion would be recognized. 
The Editor of the Journal (Dr. Lawson) expressed his acquiescence 
in Mr. Beck’s proposal, and stated that while the question was one 
in some measure for the Publisher, the proposed prospectus would 
have to be drawn up by either the Council or the Secretaries. 
A paper which had been received from Dr. Anthony, “On the Ap- 
pearance of the Frustules in Pleurosigma angulatum, and Pleuwrosigma 
quadratum,” also one by Mr. Ray Lankester “On Mr. Sheppard’s 
Dichroic Fluid,” was taken as read, and a vote of thanks passed to 
those gentlemen for their communications. 
The President announced that the library would be closed during 
the month of August, and adjourned the meeting to the 12th October 
next. 
The following letter from Dr. Pigott is in reply to some remarks 
