288 On Catadioptric Miscroscopes . [June, 



object, which is to obtain such a method of writing as shall afford a 

 ready means of transferring the word back into its native character, will 

 equally be accomplished, whichever may be the character adopted. 

 Both systems represent perfectly to the scholar the letters used in the 

 original languages, but it is contended that the Gilchrist alphabet, aa 

 now generally introduced and used in the public offices of this presi- 

 dency, conveys to the uninitiated a more correct and true notion of the 

 proper pronunciation, than the antiquated and rejected system of Sir 

 William Jones, and therefore is the best adapted to business. Through 

 the pages of the Journal let the European public of India be undeceiv- 

 ed on this point. The attempt to dislodge the system of Gilchrist is 

 entirely a matter of individual speculation, and is certainly not the result 

 of any inconvenience felt, or dissatisfaction expressed with it, by the 

 Government, or by any class of public officers or persons whatso- 

 ever. ■*■ F« *■* 



[We had no intention of conveying an impression, in our brief notice of the Alpha- 

 betical Scheme to which the above alludes, that it was circulated by authority ; nor, 

 though we hailed with pleasure the promise of increased uniformity in the spelling 

 of Oriental words, did we express any very sanguine hopes of success ; — for our 

 own opinion on the subject, and the rules which we shall continue to follow in the 

 pages of this work, we beg leave to refer to the Preface of the second volume of the 

 Journal. — Ed.] 



IV. — On Catadioptric Microscopes. By J. W. Laidly, Esq. 



The construction of reflecting microscopes having of recent years 

 greatly occupied the attention of philosophers and artists, and arrived 

 at a high degree of perfection in their hands ; one can scarcely, without 

 incurring the censure of presumption, advance any suggestion for its 

 further improvement. Even in the detail of mere mechanical arrange- 

 ment, ingenuity appears exhausted in contrivances to gratify the taste 

 or anticipate the wents of the most fastidious observer; while the opti- 

 cal principle has been so matured, as to lead competent judges to de- 

 clare, that the instrument in its present state would pass down unchang- 

 ed to posterity. Narrowed however, as the field undoubtedly is, there 

 appears still some room for the exertions of subsequent inventors, and 

 I incline to think that the modification about to be described will be 

 found for many purposes to improve, as it most certainly simplifies, the 

 construction of these beautiful and delicate instruments. 



To enable the general reader the more easily to comprehend the 

 alteration I propose, it is requisite in the first instance to place before 

 him the principle of former constructions, which it is the object of my 



