The Sun.
London, England, 1823-08-22 00:00:00

THE MICROSCOPE.

Many of those who purchase microscopes are
sa little acquainted with their general and extensive usefulness,
anti so much at a loss for objects to examine by.them, that after
diverting their friends some few times with what they find in
the slides which generally accompany the instrument, or per.
baps with two or three common objects, the microscope is laid
aside as of little further virtue; whereas no instrument has yet
appeared in the world capable of affording so constant, various,
anti satisfactory an entertainment to the mind. Of this a re-
cent observer has furnished its with the following very curious
particulars
On examining the edge of a very keen razor, by the sniera.
scope, it appeared as broad as the back part of avery thick
knife ; rough, uneven, full of notches and furrows, and so far
front any thing like sharpness, that an instrument so blunt as
this seemed to be, would not serve even to cleave wood.
An exceedingly small needle being also examined, the point
thereof appeared above a quarter of an inch In breadth ; not
round nor fiat, bat irregular and unequal ; and the surface,
though extremely smooth and bright to the naked eye, seemed
full of ruggedness, holes, and scratches. In short, it resembled
an iron bar out of a smith's forge.
A small piece of exceeding fine lawn appeared, from the
large distances or holes between its threads, somewhat like
a hurdle or a lattice ; and the threads themselves seemed
somewhat coarser than the yarn with which lopes are made for
anchors.

But a silkworm's web being examined, appeared
,perfectly
smooth and shining, every where equal, and as much finer
than any thread the finest spinner in the world ever made,
as the smallest twine is finer than the thickest cable. A pod
of this silk being wound oft; was found to contain nine hun..
dred and thirty yards; but it is proper to take notice, that as
two threads are glued together by the worm, through its
whole length, it makes really double the above number, or one
thousand eight hundred and sixty yards; which, being weigh.
ed with the utmost exactness, were found no heavier than two
grains and a half. What an exquisite fineness was here ! and
yet this is nothing when compared to the web of a small spider,
or even with the silk that
'sissued from the mouth of this very
worm, when but newly hatched front the egg.
Let us examine things with a good microscope, and we shall
be immediately convinced that the utmost power of art is only
a concealment of deformity, an. imposition upon our want of
sight; and that our admiration of it arises from our ignorance
of what it really is.
This valuable discovery of truth will prove the most boasted
performances of art to be ill-shaped, rugged, and uneven, as
if they were hewn with an axe, or struck out with a mallet
and chissel ; it will chew bungling, inequality, and imperfections
in every part, and that the whole is disproportionate and
monstrous. Our finest miniature painting appeared before this
instrument as mere danbings plastered on with a trowel, and
entirely void of beauty, 'either in the drawing or the colouring.
Our most shining varnishes, our smoothest polishings, will be
found to be mere roughness, full of gaps and Haws.

IMPOSITION OF A FINE FOR REFUSING TO TAKE
A JUDICIAL ()ATM—A t the Cork City Criminal
Court, on Saturday last, the 16th inst., Mr. CON.
NELL, a pawnbroker, Was culled on the trial of
three noted thieves, to give evidence respecting
some itolers articles which had been pledged at
his shop. On being put into the witness box,
he declined being sworn; on the grounds of reli-
gious scruples.
Ilardn PENNEVAT/Inn.—Are you a Quaker, Sir ?
Mr. Connell.--No,. my Lord, but I have a scruple relative
to the taking an oath
Baron PENNEFATDER.--,The Court will recognize no such
sczuplea—a Pawnbroker should be the lust person to have
scruples for taking an oath, 'when so much depends on him in
his line of life to detect persons.
g ord
Mr. Connell appealed to the Rev. Dr. Quarry, who was sit.,
tin near his l ship,
"and that Rev. Gentleman replied that
he knew hint to have those scruples, and knew hint before to
make objections.
Baron PENNE.PATIIEIt said he must commit him for con-
tempt of Court, unless he gave testimony, as he had no idea of
having public justice defeated in such a manner.
Mr. Connell said he would be sorr to treat the Court with
contempt. but would respectfully submit to whatever punish-
ment his Lordship thought proper to inflict.
Baron PENNErsTIIErt.--Infiteadof committing this person,
let him be tined 100/.--4, Cork Constitution.

TIP herring fishing continues to be. successful
on the
coast of the West Highlands. In Lochuirn, the (wan.
tity was so
great, as stated.by an eye witness. that shoals of
y
them wertuoriting on shore ; they are very fat, but rather smitll
in size. A Considerable uantit
was caught last week at Kin-
tail; and there never was a better appwance of a good fishing
on the CODA!: of Skye.

We have this forenoon received the following
intelligence from LLOYD'S, by tOtitli it appears
that Corunna and Vigo have fallen into the hands
of the French :

LISBON, Auo. 9.—Sir ItonEwr WILSON ar.
rived here a few days ago, on his way to Gib-
raltar, in a small English schooner from Vigo.—
The French army was entering that place when
she sailed. This morning, by another arrival, we
learn that Comma has capitulated. Three Por-
tuguese brigs of war sailed from hence a few
days ago, with stores for the French fleet and
army at Cadiz and Seville.

In our preceding' columns we have given ex-
tracts of Paris Papers, and other articles of
Foreign Intelligence.