Page:Reflections upon ancient and modern learning (IA b3032449x).pdf/213

 Hour have received very little Increase. For when the Images, the Proportions, and the Distances of those things wherein a Writer intends to instruct his Reader, are fully and minutely engraven in Prints, it not only saves Abundance of Words, by which all Descriptions must of Necessity be obscured, but it makes those Words which are used, full and clear; so that a skillful Reader is thereby enabled to pass an exact Judgment, and can understand his Authors without a Master, which otherwise it would be impossible to do; so as to be able to discern all, even the minutest Mistakes and Oversights in their Writings, which puts an end to Disputes, and encreases Knowledge.

These are general Instruments, and more or less serviceable to all sorts of learned Men in their several Professions and Sciences: Those that follow are more particular: I shall begin with those that assist the Eye, either to discern Objects that are too far off, or too small.

The Imperfections of Distance are remedied in a great Measure by Telescopes; whose chief Use, that comes under our Consideration, is to discern the Stars, and other celestial Bodies.

To find out the first Inventor of these sorts of Glasses, it will be necessary to