PREFACE. 



SOME years ago, when the beautiful microscope represented 

 in our Frontispiece was a somewhat recent possession of 

 mine, I took much pleasure in exhibiting its wonders to my 

 friends, at the same time explaining the objects seen. 



To write an illustrated account of these wonders was a 

 step which followed. The little book, with its coloured 

 plates, aided by minute descriptions, was intended as a 

 substitute for the actual exhibition. My object was rather 

 to present these wonders successively to view in the 

 manner of a panorama, than to guide my readers to the 

 practical use of the microscope; for, at the time when I 

 ^rote, good microscopes were in the hands only of thf 

 few. 



The case is now altered; excellent instruments, which 

 wiL answer most purposes, can be purchased for three or 

 four guineas, and the microscope is likely to become, as 

 one of its exponents remarks, " the companion of every 

 intelligent family." Therefore, in again employing pen 

 and pencil in the service of the microscope, my object 

 will be to unite the provinces of the Guide Book and the 

 Panorama ; attending to the former, in the hope of making 

 my remarks useful to those who are already in possession 

 of a microscope, while I continue to preserve the latter 

 namely, ihe Panoramic method selecting a few from the 

 multitude of lovely scenes presented by the microscope, in 

 order to attract those readers who, unversed in micro- 



