PREFACE. 



BENJAMIN PIKE. Jr., in presenting to his friends 

 and the public the following Catalogue of Instruments, 

 desires to say, that he has been induced to undertake 

 the collection of materials for such a volume, from the 

 fact that no work corresponding to it is to be found, 

 and the information which it is intended to impart, can 

 only be gathered from a great variety of sources, many 

 of which are works not published in this country. 

 The rapid strides with Avhich the sciences are advanc- 

 ing, and the fact that the arts and manufactures are 

 calling in the aid of some of these instruments to 

 facilitate their processes, while others may be employed 

 in every day use, renders such a volume as this alto- 

 gether appropriate and useful, if, indeed, it be not abso- 

 lutely indispensable. 



He wishes it borne in mind, that he is not a man 

 of letters, but a mechanic, a practical workman : this 

 will account for whatever imperfections may be found 

 in style, arrangement, &c. 



The instruments illustrated in our modern works on 

 natural philosophy are too frequently represented by 

 old and obsolete cuts, mere copies, book after book, for 

 many years back, furnishing but little idea of more 

 modern articles. 



In presenting this volume, the first design has been 

 to illustrate by good drawings, and brief descriptions, 

 articles manufactured in his establishment, or imported 



