The artists repository and drawing magazine: exhibiting the principles of the polite arts in their various branches (3.1789)

[ 33 ]
arises from the obliquity and declination of the
centre beam of one eye, caused by the unequal
strength of the eyes, whereby one shoots it’s
beams well, the other with infirmity ; now
as this is regulated very much by the sttuation
of the nose, a gradual addition of some thin
substance to that side of the nose next the afsedted
eye, I am persuaded, would in time diredt the
center beam of that eye, from its false to its
true direction.
To support what has been said on the nature
of the angle under which objedts are viewed,
I appeal to all magnifying glasies, which adt
by extending the angle, and which may be
considered as an eye in advance ; and as
counteracting that diminution of objects which
is the basis of perspedtive.
I shall just remark further, that if the bodily
powers of man are in many instances exceeded
by creatures of inferior rank in the creation,
yet his mental abilities make him ample
amends ; and he has no reason to complain. Os
this the subjedt of sight is a direct proof: since
however confined by nature, art has extended its
powers immensely cc beyond this visible diurnal
sphere.” Not only are the splendid luminaries
from whence we derive light and heat, inspedted
25 £ by