AS PRODUCED IN THE SPECTRE DRAMA, POPULARLY ILLUSTRATING THE MARVELLOUS OPTICAL ILLUSIONS OBTAINED BY THE APPARATUS CALLED THE DIRCKSIAN PHANTASMAGORIA: BEING A FULL ACCOUNT OF ITS BY HENRY DIRCKS, CIVIL ENGINEER, LIFE MEMBER OF THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION (1837), &c. &c. 1863. [The right of translation is reserved]. 250. l. 1455 PREFACE... CONTENTS. Preliminary remarks on Spectral Illusions, and the character of The original communication made to the British Association at their meeting in Leeds, September 1858, in a paper-" On an Appa- ratus for exhibiting Optical Illusions, illustrating spectral phe- 27 40 80 PREFACE. FEW inventions on their first presentation to the public meet with popular acceptance. The popularity of inventions in arts and sciences is usually slow and uncertain. Among scientific inventions, it was the fate of the kaleidoscope, patented by Sir David Brewster, 10th July, 1817, that hundreds of thousands of that beautiful philosophical toy were manufactured in a very short time throughout England and the continent. Forty-six years have elapsed without any similarly popular optical instrument making its appearance, except, perhaps, the stereoscope. But the modern reader may either have forgotten or not be aware of the reverse of this picture of brilliant success. Ignorant persons, as well as designing philosophical instrument manufacturers defrauded the successful inventor of all emolument from his invention; and, driven to screen themselves from legal proceedings for either unknowingly or designedly having infringed a patent right, strenuous efforts were made to deprive Sir David Brewster of all right or title to originality. The public cannot be too generally informed, that it is a prevalent feeling among inventors that the pro B |