Mirzapore:  April 26th, 1841.

“Request —–­ to refrain from abusing compound microscopes.  Why should not compound and simple microscopes each have their merits?  Valentine, who is a great authority, and an unrivalled dissector, says, the simple lens must be suspended.  I only wish I could dissect with a compound microscope:  what things might not one get access to.  The simple lens is quite useless with opaque objects; it only does for transmitted light.  Now dissections of opaque objects have been too much neglected.  How odd it is that all improvements are ridiculed at first.

“I enclose a bit of Sphagnam, a curious moss, with curious incomplete spiral cells in the leaves.  I dare say it will bear preservation in Canada balsam.  I have received a new microscope, a queer-looking thing, very portable; one object glass of a quarter inch focus, by Ross; two eye-pieces magnifying linearly 200 to 300 times.  I have put it up, but I am not well enough to decide on its merits.  Now that I have arranged all my things, I am literally frightened at the work I have to do.

“I am quite annoyed at the idea that German artists make better microscopes than English.  I was aware that the lenses were better, but otherwise I imagined that any comparison would be vastly in our favour.  I am curious to know the price, and where to apply for one, as your account makes me quite ashamed of mine.  Who knows what a fine penetrating power of 1100 may not disclose.  I am very much pleased with your idea of anointing cuts with nitrate of silver; this hint I will bear in mind.

“I enclose the first list of fish, No. 2, not that it is of much use.—­What nonsense it is to collect without knowledge.

No.  Native Name.  Family.  REMARKS.

1 Kuggur, Siluridae. 2 Soonnee, Cyprinidae, Back greenish,
                                                otherwise pearly-white.
3 Dhurra, Cyprinidae, Fins reddish, red spot
                                                on opercule, back
          
                                      greenish-brown.
4 Moogullee, " Perilampoid, Diaphanous, silvery,
                                                head reddish.
5 Peedur, " " Like the preceding. 6 Moorr, " " Ditto ditto. 7 Bhanghun, " " Ditto ditto. 8 Kundura, " Perilampus, Back greenish,
                                                otherwise quite
          
                                      silvery.
9 Pullee, " " Same as 4,5,6,7. 10 Goolla Ciprinidae. 11 Khunnuree, Percidae, Chanda
                         of Buchanan, Diaphanous.
12 Sur-ri-rha, Cyprinidae Perilamp, Silvery-green