REVIEWS. 
35 
Achromatic Microscopes.” The second part, which our author entitles 
“ The Use of the Microscope,” supposes that the reader is possessed of the 
information contained in Part I., and also of some of the instruments 
described in it, but requires some directions as to how to use the instru¬ 
ment, with whose parts only he is familiar. The eye and the hand require 
alike to be educated, before even the most ordinary observation can be 
made with accuracy. Here Mr. Quekett’s great experience and practical 
knowledge of the instrument he writes upon is evident in every page, 
while he describes, with brevity and accuracy, how to observe, how to 
illuminate objects, and such kindred subjects. The last part (“ Manipula¬ 
tion”) is devoted to what we conceive the most difficult and important 
portion of the work—we mean, those niceties of manipulation which, when 
once mastered, appear so simple, but which are almost impossible to de¬ 
scribe to those who have not had opportunities of seeing them performed. 
These are subdivided into their appropriate heads, and under each full 
directions are given, which will, with a little patience and care, enable the 
beginner to perform most of the niceties of microscopical research with 
satisfaction to himself. We cannot close this treatise without expressing our 
conviction that, as a single work on the subject it treats of, it is inferior to 
none; and in making this statement we are not insensible to the advantages 
which many others present, and more especially those devoted to parti¬ 
cular branches of research, which should, however, be regarded as consti¬ 
tuting a particular class, and judged as such. 
Leaving Mr. Quekett, our attention has been caught by the face of an 
old friend, and a name which is well known to observers ; and though the 
date of the work may appear, perhaps, rather antiquated, still we cannot 
pass it by in silence, as it treats of a class of microscopes now but little 
known. It is the “ Micrographia” of Dr. Goring and Mr. Pritchard, and 
is principally occupied by a consideration of Reflecting, Solar, and 
Oxy-hydrogen Microscopes. Though some seventeen years of active and 
busy progress have elapsed since its appearance, in which great changes 
have been effected in the science of observation, still we cannot forget that 
a new and most important era in microscopic science commenced with the 
improvement of the reflecting microscope (constructed by Amici, in 1815) 
by Sir David Brewster, Dr. Goring, and Mr. Pritchard. Since then the 
progress in this country has been rapid, and more particularly so within 
the last few years. As early as 1738, reflecting microscopes were in use; 
but, from defective construction, they were gradually abandoned, until 
Professor Amici, of Modena, whose attention had been directed, in 1812, 
to the improvement of the achromatic object-glass, during his investigations, 
