the external objects whose prospect is intercepted by them. Whenever
therefore we are said to have a greater prospect at one time than
another, this must be understood with relation, not to the proper and
immediate, but the secondary and mediate objects of vision, which, as
hath been shown, properly belong to the touch.

83. The visive faculty considered with reference to its immediate objects
may be found to labour of two defects. FIRST, in respect of the extent or
number of visible points that are at once perceivable by it, which is
narrow and limited to a certain degree. It can take in at one view but a
certain determinate number of MINIMA VISIBILIA, beyond which it cannot
extend its prospect. Secondly, our sight is defective in that its view is
not only narrow, but also for the most part confused: of those things
that we take in at one prospect we can see but a few at once clearly and
unconfusedly: and the more we fix our sight on any one object, by so much
the darker and more indistinct shall the rest appear.

84. Corresponding to these two defects of sight, we may imagine as many
perfections, to wit, 1ST, that of comprehending in one view a greater
number of visible points. 2DLY, of being able to view them all equally
and at once with the utmost clearness and distinction. That those
perfections are not actually in some intelligences of a different order
and capacity from ours it is impossible for us to know.

85. In neither of those two ways do microscopes contribute to the
improvement of sight; for when we look through a microscope we neither
see more visible points, nor are the collateral points more distinct than
when we look with the naked eye at objects placed in a due distance. A
microscope brings us, as it were, into a new world: it presents us with a
new scene of visible objects quite different from what we behold with the