Microscopical Essays. 



1738, Mr, Lieburkuhn's invention of the folar microfcope was 

 communicated to the public : the vaft magnifying power which 

 was obtained by this inflrument, the col offal grandeur with which 

 it exhibited the minima of nature, the pleafure which arofe from 

 being able to difplay the fame objeci to a number of obfervers at 

 the fame time, by affording a new fource of rational amufement, 

 increafed the number of microfcopic obfervers, who were further 

 Simulated to the fame purfuits by Mr. Trembley's famous difco- 

 very of the polype : the wonderful properties of this little animal, 

 together with the works of Mr. Trembley, Baker, and my father, 

 revived the reputation of this inflrument. * 



Every optician now exercifed his talents in improving (as he 

 called it) the microfcope ; in other words, in varying it's con- 

 ftruclion, and rendering it different from that fold by his neigh- 

 bour. Their principal objecl: feemed to be, only to fubdivide 

 the inflrument, and make it lie in as fmall a compafs as poffible ; 

 by which means, they not only rendered it complex, and trou- 

 blefome in ufe, but loft fight alfo of the extenfive field, great 

 light, and other excellent properties of the more ancient inftru- 

 ments ; and in fome meafure, {hut themfelves out from further 

 improvements on the micfofcope. Every mechanical inflrument 

 is fufceptible of almoft infinite combinations and changes, which 

 are attended with their relative advantages and di (advantages : 

 thus, what is gained in power, is loft in time ; "he that loves to 

 be confined to a fmall houfe, muft lofe the benefit of air and 

 exerc'ife." 



C 2 The 



* Trembley Memoires fur les Polypes. Baker's Microfcope made Eafy ; 

 Attempt towards an Hiftory of the Polype ; Employment for the Microfcope, 

 Adams's Micrographia IUuftrata. Joblot's Obfervations d'Hiftoire Nam relic. 



