PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY. 
561 
must frankly say that the fine-adjustment worked smoothly and truly ; 
but it should be noted that it had only just left the mechanician’s hand. 
Other parts of the construction were not so well put together ; but the 
defects might well be due to haste in finishing the work, some unavoid- 
able delay having occurred in Messrs. Watson’s workshop, in consequence 
of which the instrument was only ready for inspection a few hours before 
the meeting of the Society. 
The President said that he noticed on the former occasion that 
Mr. Mayall expressly limited his criticism to the design of the Micro- 
scope, and that the manner in which he conveyed his adverse criticism 
was marked by great courtesy throughout, and it would be admitted that, 
with the experience he possessed, no one was more competent than he to 
give an opinion on either the design or the workmanship ; hence he 
thought Dr. Van Heurck had been a little too hard upon Mr. Mayall in 
his remarks. At their meetings it was undoubtedly their duty to put 
before one another exactly what they thought with regard to matters 
brought to their notice. 
Dr. W. H. Dallinger said he should like also to say that what 
impressed him so much at their last meeting was the fact that Mr. Mayall 
especially dissociated the workmanship of the instrument, and the plan 
as suggested by Dr. Van Heurck, keeping carefully apart two things 
which were totally and entirely distinct from each other, and dealing 
only with that which so intimately affected all who were accustomed to 
work with high powers. On those points of the principles of construc- 
tion, apart from the way in which they were carried out, Mr. Mayall 
had said what, from his experience and his knowledge of the subject, 
was of great value to them all. They, in this country, were regarded as 
standing in the highest position as to the opportunities they possessed in 
forming correct judgments upon matters of that kind, and their judgment 
was regarded with respect by those who sought its expression. That 
being so, it was undoubtedly a serious thing for them to pass over lightly, 
or by their silence to appear to sanction, that which they believed to be 
inaccurate, simply for fear of offending the sensibilities of any one 
concerned. Whenever, therefore, a Microscope was brought before them 
for inspection, their duty was to express, just as a judge would express, a 
calm and fearless conviction of what was true and what was false. If, 
therefore, it was a fact that Microscopes were often brought before them, 
it was because their judgment was held in esteem, which esteem would not 
be longer valued as it was were they to express themselves loosely without 
the most absolute regard for that which was in itself perfectly true. 
Makers who regarded these matters in their true light should not consider 
themselves attacked when the principles of construction, and not the 
mechanical processes, were called into question. 
Mr. Watson said he might mention that he came to their last meeting 
with a great deal of assurance because, knowing that much credit had 
been given to various Continental Microscopes which was not accorded 
to those of English makers, he thought he had achieved a position when 
the most competent of Continental microscopists had said with regard to 
this form of fine -adjustment, that it was the best he had ever seen, and 
that he was so well satisfied that after long trial he desired to have an 
instrument made specially for him on the same lines. When, therefore, 
1891. 2 r 
