the Refractions are, the more bright and clear the Object appears. And
therefore 'tis not to be doubted, but could we make a_ Microscope _to
have one only refraction, it would, _cæteris paribus_, far excel any
other that had a greater number. And hence it is, that if you take a
very clear piece of a broken _Venice_ Glass, and in a Lamp draw it out
into very small hairs or threads, then holding the ends of these
threads in the flame, till they melt and run into a small round Globul,
or drop, which will hang at the end of the thread; and if further you
stick several of these upon the end of a stick with a little sealing
Wax, so as that the threads stand upwards, and then on a Whetstone
first grind off a good part of them, and afterward on a smooth Metal
plate, with a little Tripoly, rub them till they come to be very
smooth; if one of these be fixt with a little soft Wax against a small
needle hole, prick'd through a thin Plate of Brass, Lead, Pewter, or
any other Metal, and an Object, plac'd very near, be look'd at through
it, it will both magnifie and make some Objects more distinct then any
of the great _Microscopes_. But because these, though exceeding easily
made, are yet very troublesome to be us'd, because of their smallness,
and the nearness of the Object; therefore to prevent both these, and
yet have only two Refractions, I provided me a Tube of Brass, shap'd
much like that in the fourth Figure of the first _Scheme_; into the
smaller end of this I fixt with Wax a good _plano convex_ Object Glass,
with the convex side towards the Object, and into the bigger end I fixt
also with wax a pretty large plano _Convex_ Glass, with the _convex_
side towards my eye, then by means of the small hole by the side, I
fill'd the intermediate space between these two Glasses with very clear
Water, and with a Screw stopp'd it in; then putting on a Cell for the
Eye, I could perceive an Object more bright then I could when the
intermediate space was only fill'd with Air, but this, for other
inconveniences, I made but little use of.