WiLLiAMs_, on the Martin Microscope. 
33 
or, at any rate, more congenial \o his natural bias. It does 
not appear wlien he gave np liis teaching and removed to 
London, where it is certain he resided for many years, and 
established and carried on a flourishing and extensive busi- 
ness as an optician and globe-maker. Thus we find in his 
" New Elements of Optics, 1759,^" he states the work to be 
printed for the author, and sold at his shop, the sign of the 
Globe and Visual Glasses, two doors below Crane Court, 
Fleet Street/^ Many of his subsequent publications are said 
to be sold by the author at his house in Fleet Street,^^ and 
and in one we find the number, 171. He was looked upon 
as one of the most eminent in the optical business, and T 
may adduce the instrument before us, made for the reigning 
monarch, as a proof of the estimation in which Benjamin 
Martin was held. 
It is with pain I advert to the close of his career. After 
many years of successful application, he was compelled by 
the increasing infirmities of age to give up to others the 
superintendence of the active part of his business. Con- 
fiding in the integrity of those in whom he thought he 
might safely trust, he unexpectedly found himself a bankrupt, 
although even then he had a capital more than sufficient to 
pay all his debts. Overwhelmed by this unforeseen calamity, 
the unfortunate man, in a moment of desperation, attempted 
to destroy himself, and although the wound was not imme- 
diately fatal, it accelerated his death, which took place on the 
9th February, 1782, in his seventy -eighth year. 
I had come to the conclusion that Martin was never mar- 
ried, or, at least, died without issue ; but on turning over the 
leaves of the second volume of GilPs ' Technical Repository,^ 
1828, purchased for the Society at the late sale, I accidentally 
met with the following passage : — " Messrs. Jones communi- 
cate the important fact that Mr. Lovell Martin, son of Mr. 
Benjamin Martin, invented the admirable engine for drawing 
truly the brass, plated metal, and other tubes for microscopes, 
telescopes, &c., which is now in such universal employment 
for that purpose."^ Hence it is certain he left at least one 
son, who also appears to have inherited some of his father's 
ingenuity. The notice which follows the above may also be 
interesting : — '^^On the achromatic microscope magnifiers. — 
Mr. William Jones, who is acquainted with the numerous con- 
trivances and publications of the late celebrated Mr. Benjamin 
Martin, has informed the editor that this scientific optician 
made many trials to adapt achromatic magnifiers to micros- 
copes, ^ ^ -^^ but that he ultimately found he could obtain 
greater magnifying powers, with more light and perfect defi- 
nition, by employing small single lenses, than with the com- 
