Fig. l, Plate V. reprefents a fol'ar opake microfcope.
Fig- 4’ Plate VI. is a pi&ure of the common folar microfcope.
Fig- 3> Plate IV. is what is ufually called Culpeper’s, or
the three pillared microfcope.
Fig. i , Plate IV. the improved double and finglemicrofcope.
F jo-.- 2, Plate IV. the bell double conftrufted microfcope.
Fig. l, PlateVII. A. the common double conftructed microfcope.
Fig. 3, Plate VIII. a micrpfcopic telefcope, or convenient
portable apparatus for a traveller.
We cannot conclude this chapter better than with the following
obfervations on the microfcope. We are indebted to it for many
difcoveries in natural hiftory ; but let us not fuppofe, that the
Creator intended to hide thefe obje&s from our obfervation. It
is true, this infiniment difcovers to us as it were a new creation,
new feries o f animals, new forefts o f vegetables ; but he who
gave being to thefe, gave us an underftanding capable o f inventing
means to aflift our organs in the difcovery o f their hidden
beauties. He gave us eyes adapted to enlarge our ideas,. and capable
o f comprehending a univerfe at one view, and confequently
incapable o f difcerning thofe minute beings, with which he has
peopled every atom o f the univerfe. But then he gave properties
and qualities to matter o f a particular kind, by which it would
procure us this advantage, and at the fame time elevated the
under-
■ underftanding from one degree o f knowledge to another, till it
was able to difcover thefe afliftanCes for our fight.
It is thus we fliould confider the difcoveries made by thofe in-
ftruments, which have received their birth from an exertion o f
our faculties. It is to the fame power, who created the obje&s of
■ our admiration, that we are ultimately to refer the means o f discovering
them. Let no one, therefore, accufe us o f prying
•deeper into the wonders o f nature, -than was intended for us.
There is nothing we difcover b y their affiftance, which is not a
■ frefti fource ofpraife; and it does not appear, that our faculties
can be better employed, than in finding means to inveftigate the
•works o f God.
From a partial confideration o f thefe things, we are very apt
to criticife what we ought t'o admire; to look upon as ufelefs
■ what perhaps we Ihould own to be o f infinite advantage to us,
•did we fee a little farther; to be peevilh where we ought to give
thanks ; and at the fame time, to ridicule thofe who employ their
time and thoughts in examining what we were, i. e. feme o f us
tnoft affuredly were, created and appointed to ftudy. In fhort,
we are too apt to treat the Almighty worfe than a rational man
would treat a good mechanic, whofe works he Would either
thoroughly examine, or be afhamed to find any fault with them.
This is the effe& o f a partial confideration of nature ; but he who
has candor o f mind, and leifure to look farther, will be inclined
to cry out:
How wond’rous is this feene! where all is form d
With number, weight, and meafure ! all defign’d
D For