EDUCATIONAL USES OF THE MICROSCOPE. 61 



in giving to almost every Natural object its highest educational 

 value ; and whilst the country Schoolmaster has the best oppor- 

 tunities of turning it to useful account, it is to the city School- 

 master that, in default of other opportunities, its importance as 

 an educational instrument should be the greatest. It was from 

 feeling very strongly how much advantage would accrue from 

 the introduction of a form of Microscope, which should be at 

 once good enough for Educational purposes, and cheap enough to 

 find its w T ay into every well-supported School in town and coun- 

 try, that the Author suggested to the Society of Arts in the 

 summer of 1854, that it should endeavor to carry out an object 

 so strictly in accordance with the enlightened purposes which it 

 is aiming to effect ; and this suggestion having been considered 

 worthy of adoption, a Committee, chiefly consisting of experienced 

 Microscopists, was appointed to carry it into effect. It was de- 

 termined to aim at obtaining two instruments ; a simple and 

 low-priced microscope for the use of Scholars, to whom it might 

 be appropriately given as a reward for zeal and proficiency in the 

 pursuit of Natural History, not in books, butin the field; and 

 a compound Microscope for the use of Teachers, of capacity suffi- 

 cient to afford a good view of every kind of object most likely to 

 interest the pupil or to be within the reach of the instructor. 

 Notwithstanding the apprehensions generally expressed, that no 

 instruments at all likely to answer the intended purpose could 

 possibly be produced at the prices specified, the result has proved 

 the fallacy; for among several instruments of greater or less 

 efficiency, sent in competition for the award, the Committee was 

 able to select a Simple and a Compound Microscope fully an- 

 swering their expectations, and henceforth to be supplied to the 

 public at a cost so low as to place these instruments (it may be 

 hoped) within the reach of almost every one to whom they are 

 likely to be of service. An account of these two Microscopes 

 will be given hereafter. (Chap. H* 29, 31.) 



It is not alone, however, as furnishing an attractive object of 

 pursuit for the young fitted at once to excite a wholesome taste 

 for novelty, ever growing with what it feeds on, and to call forth 

 the healthful exercise of all those powers, both physical and 

 mental, which can minister to its gratification, that Natu- 

 ral History studies in general, and Microscopic inquiry in 

 particular, are to be specially commended as a means of intel- 

 lectual and moral discipline ; for there is no capacity, however 

 elevated, to which they do not furnish ample material for the 

 exercise of all its best powers, no period of life which may not 

 draw from them its purest pleasures. Even to observe well is not 

 so easy a thing as some persons imagine. Some are too hasty, 

 imagining that they can take in everything at a glance, and 

 hence often forming very erroneous or imperfect notions, which 

 may give an entirely wrong direction not only to their own views 

 but to those of others, and may thus render necessary an amount 



