258 
Transactions of the Society. 
was the hope that some Fellow of the Society might be able to give 
some information as to the nature of these 44 Opticall Sections.” 
Smethwick. 
The first specification in which the word Microscope is men- 
tioned is one granted to Francis Smethwick by Charles II. for a 
method for grinding plano-convex lenses. The number of the patent 
is 149,* and is dated 14th May, 1666. It is for “A New and Pfect 
Way to Grind Opticke Glasses in Figures that are not Sphericall, 
which will add much to the Vse. of Pspective Glasses by Sea and by 
Land, as well as for the Heavens, because his are all Open and soe 
shew the Obiect clearer as admitting more Sight, whereas the 
Sphericall which are hitherto made must be covered for the most 
part ; and will alsoe, in Beading or Magnifying Glasses, now comonly 
called Microscopes, shewe all Thinge in more Distinct, and in Truer 
Proporcons ; in Burning Glasses will Fire more strongly, and dis- 
cover in the Darke at much greater Distaunce.” Mr. Smethwick, 
who was one of the original Fellows of the Boyal Society, brought 
‘his invention before that body, and in the 4 Philosophical Transac- 
tions,’ No. 33, issued Monday, March 16, 1667/8 (vol. iii. 1669, 
pp. 631-2) occurs the following : — 44 An Account of the Invention of 
Grinding Optick and Burning-Glasses of a Figure not-Sphericall, 
produced before the R. Society: The Ingenious and Industrious 
Francis Smethivich Esquire, Fellow of the 11. Society , having for 
divers years painfully search’t after the way of Grinding Glasses not- 
Sphericall , affirms, that at length he hath now found it : for the proof 
of which, lie lately, (viz. February 27, 1667 /8,) produced before the 
said Society certain Specimina of that Invention, which were a 
Telescope , a Beading , and two Burning-Glasses. 
44 The Telescope was about four foot long, furnisht with four 
Glasses, whereof the three Ocular ones, Plano-convexe, were of this 
newly-invented not-Sphericall Figure, and the fourth a Sphericall 
Object-glass. This being compared with a Common, yet very good 
Telescope . . . was found ... to exceed the other in goodnesse, by 
taking in a greater angle, and representing the Objects more exactly 
in their respective proportions, and enduring a greater Aperture, free 
from colors. 
“ The Beading Glasse, of the same Figure, being compared with 
a common Sphericall-QIaLSse, did far excell it, by magnifying the 
Letters, to which it was apply ed, up to the very edges, and by shew- 
ing them distinctly from one brim thorough the Center to the other ; 
which the Sphericall- Glasse came farr short of. And this effect the 
new figur’d Glasse perform’d only on one of its sides, and not on the 
other, as being of a different figure from Sphericall-Glasses, which 
performe their effect near equally on both sides.” 
* Reprinted in 1857. 
