708 
PROCEEDINGS OP THE SOCIETY. 
question being placed upon the table. The stand bore the date 1841, 
and in 1861 it was fitted with Wenham’s binocular arrangement. 
“An interesting point has cropped up with regard to the original 
Powell’s Microscope in the Society’s possession. It appears that the three 
Microscopes were ordered by the Microscopical Society on June 24, 1841, 
and that James Smith was the first of the three makers to deliver his 
Microscope in November 1841. Powell was the next, and did so in 
December 1841. This Microscope is figured by Cooper, but it is not 
the instrument at present in the Society’s possession. For the Micro- 
scope figured in Cooper a silver medal was awarded to Hugh Powell by 
the Society of Arts in 1841. See vol. liii. of their Transactions, p. 78. 
The question is, was this Microscope, which was delivered to the Micro- 
scopical Society in December 1841, changed for the present one at some 
subsequent date, and the date which it bears, viz. 1841, put on it to 
show that it was ordered in 1811 ? The Turrell stage raised by a wedge 
movement for fine -adjustment focusing, which is the form on the instru- 
ment at present in the Society’s possession, obtained a silver medal from 
the Society of Arts in 1833. See their Transactions, vol. xlix. (1833) 
pi. 3, and for letterpress description see vol. 1. (1836) p. 108.” 
Mr. J. E, Ingpen fancied that Mr. Perigal would be almost the only 
one who could give them information upon the points raised. His own 
memory did not carry him back to 1841, but he thought that the original 
“ Powell ” was not as large as the one on the table. 
Mr. J. J. Vezey said he feared it was not of much use troubling 
Mr. Perigal on the matter, for that gentleman had recently complained 
to him, that his memory for details failed him a good deal, except on 
the subjects in which ho specially worked ; the Microscope not being 
one of these. 
The President said it struck him that the binocular arrangement 
must in any case have been a later addition. 
Mr. T. Powell said there was no doubt at all as to that, the bino- 
cular arrangement was certainly not a part of the original Microscope, 
but was added to it when Mr. Wenham brought it out. 
Mr. Ingpen referred to a somewhat similar question that had arisen 
with reference to the original Ross Microscope. He had not his notes 
with him, but was under the impression that it had been exchanged for 
a more complete instrument some years later. Messrs. Ross & Co. had 
promised to search for any record of this that there might be in their 
books.* 
Prof. Bell read an extract from “ Cooper,” according to which these 
Microscopes were originally purchased out of the funds of the Society. 
Mr. Ingpen explained that, according to his recollection, the “ Ross ” 
* Upon reference to the Trans. Micr. Soc., N.S. xvi. p. 55, I find that my 
memory does not agree with Mr. Glaisher’s report on the Microscopes at the Annual 
Meeting, Feb. 12, 1868. There must, I think, have been some other changes besides 
those he mentions. At the Annual Meeting in 1863 (Trans. Micr. Soc , N.S. xi. 
p. 21), it is stated that the new instrument was to be in exchange for the old one. If 
so, it could hardly have been in possession of the Society in 1868. The exchange, 
or donation, is referred to in the President’s Address for 1861 (Trans., N.S. xii. p. 67). 
Perhaps Mr. Shadbolt could help us in this interesting bit of the Society’s history. — 
J. E. I. 
