"I began to have a wish for a telescope, by means of which I
might be able to see a little more than with my naked eyes. But
I found that I could not get anything of much use, short of 20L.
I could not for a long time feel justified in spending so much
money for my own personal enjoyment. My children were then young
and dependent upon me. They required to attend school--for
education is a thing that parents must not neglect, with a view
to the future. However, about the year 1875, my attention was
called to a cheap instrument advertised by Solomon--what he
called his '5L. telescope.' I purchased one, and it tantalised
me; for the power of the instrument was such as to teach me
nothing of the surface of the planets. After using it for about
two years, I sold it to a student, and then found that I had
accumulated enough savings to enable me to buy my present
instrument. Will you come into the next room and look at it?"
I went accordingly into the adjoining room, and looked at the new
telescope. It was taken from its case, put upon its tripod, and
looked in beautiful condition. It is a refractor, made by Cooke
and Sons of York. The object glass is three inches; the focal
length forty-three inches; and the telescope, when drawn out,
with the pancratic eyepiece attached, is about four feet. It was
made after Mr. Robertson's directions, and is a sort of
combination of instruments.
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