290 APPENDIX. [No. XXI. 



life, and, even in their inconceivable minuteness, completely fulfilling 

 tlie object for whicli tbe Creator of the universe in His wisdom de- 

 signed them. 



By the kindness of Mr. Thomthwaite, I am enabled to show you an 

 elegant microscope which he has devised for the purpose of exhibiting 

 microscopic objects to a number of persons at the same time. Tor illumi- 

 nating the specimens, he uses a spirit-lamp, which is fed by oxygen gas 

 from a tube instead of atmospheric air. This intense flame renders a piece 

 of lime incandescent ; and, by means of a microscope constructed like a 

 magic lantern, a magnified representation is shown upon a white screen. 

 By it you are enabled to see the curious structure of the foot which is 

 given to the spider for arranging the threads of his web : by it a thin slice 

 of common wood is shown to be built up of cells aggregated together ; a 

 drop of blood is found to contain the most curious organized bodies, called 

 oorpuscules ; and a section of hard bone exhibits a structure rivalling the 

 most beautiful carpet. In every object in nature a perfection is contained 

 which requires the aid of the microscope to reveal, for after unaided vision 

 has exhausted its powers of appreciation, a new world is brought to light 

 at every increase of magnifying power. 



As you require the microscope to reveal the hidden treasures of ter- 

 restrial bodies, so the telescope must be used to show you the wonders of 

 the heavens. Sattim, to the naked eye, looks but an ordinary star ; but I 

 have here a drawing of the glorious form which it assumes when seen by 

 the assistance of the telescope constructed by Mr. De La Rue, one of the 

 managers of this institution. 



In your intercourse with each other, you will find that you are not all 

 equally endowed with the same powers of perception by the senses. Those 

 who are more highly favoured should bestow a kind consideration upon 

 those who are less blessed. Tou have nothing to lose by aiding each other 

 to acquire knowledge, but everything to gain by promoting and exercising 

 this social kindness. 



Tour period of life philosophers may call the Aisthenic, for now your 

 senses are in the highest perfection. They will never grow better, though 

 they will gradually and imperceptibly become worse, till extreme old age 

 may terminate " this strange eventful history," and you may be left 



" Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything !" 



Tou have all seen the little child reposing upon its mother's lap, 

 admiring its fingers, as it moves them, with delight and astonishment. 

 This is one of the first acts of observation; but you are no longer 

 children, and your desire for new objects has increased with your age ; and 

 you now excel in the power which you have to observe different objects 

 with intelligence, and to fix their images in your minds for ever. Some of 

 you who are yet young are not so quick of perception as those who are 

 older ; yet the period of youth is the period for obtaining lasting impres- 

 sions. Although you have the power of vision, you scarcely can tell how 

 many things you may have seen, which you have never noticed. How 

 many of you know that a bee has four wings, or that a common fly has 

 but two ? And I will dare venture to assert that many of you have never 

 noticed that a beetle has six legs ; but yet you all have seen bees, and flies, 

 and beetles hundreds and hundreds of times. 



