No. 626] 



HOOKE'S MICEOGRAPIIIA 



259 



Defects : Whether this mistake arose from the multiplicity of his Busi- 

 ness which did not allow him a sufficient time, or from the fertility of 



matter to render their use more practicable and : i 



Whatever the answer may be, Hooke's iir>t and best 

 known work, the Micrographia, at once epitomizes the 

 versatility of his genius as well as his apparent inability 

 to see one problem through to a finish. To quote from a 

 review of the work in the Philosophical Transactions, 

 Xo. 2, Monday, April 3, 1665 : 



The Ingenious and knowin^r Author of this Treatise, Mr. Robert 

 Hook, considering with himself, of what importance a faithful History 



ophi/, and what advantage Experimental and Mechanical knowledge 



T., this ciul. li.. Im'l, inn.lc a viTV curious Survey of all kinds of 



^Iu>n.<n,,Hnl^^^^^ ..t .ho 1- ,hn. of Envoys, Fine haul, Tabhij,%'niered 

 bill., GUis^-uaie^, Olas^-drops, Fierif Sparhs, Fantai,tical Colours, 

 Metahne Colours, the Fiqures of Sand, Gravel in Urtne, Diamonds in 

 riint>, Frozin ligiues, the Kettering Stone, Charcoal, Wood and other 

 Bodies petrified, the Pores of Cork, and of other substances. Vegetables 

 'i>nnni<i nn Idiqhted Leaver, Blew mould and Mushiom^, Sponqe^, and 

 <il> > I >'n,nns Bodies, Sea-weed, the Surfaces, of '^ome Liuu^, the ^linq- 

 r">uu ,,f a Xettle, Coiiage, the Beard of a udd Ont< , iht ^< ed of the 



