File:Galileo, his life and work (1903) (14766608445).jpg

Identifier: galileohislifewo00fahi (find matches)
Title: Galileo, his life and work
Year: 1903 (1900s)
Authors: Fahie, J. J. (John Joseph), 1846-1934
Subjects: Galilei, Galileo, 1564-1642 Astronomy Astronomers
Publisher: London, J. Murray
Contributing Library: Wellesley College Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Boston Library Consortium Member Libraries

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nted in Holland, and, according to allaccounts, its discovery was the result of an accident.Long ago Epicurus defined the universe and allthat it contains as the result of a fortuitous con-course of atoms, and so it is very often in thearts and sciences of man, great discoveries are theresult of the fortuitous juxtaposition of two andtwo. In the present case, and as the story goes,an apprentice, playing with spectacle lenses in theshop of one Hans Lipperhey, an optician ofMiddleburg, noticed that by holding two of themin a certain position a large and inverted view ofobjects was obtained. On hearing of this themaster fixed two glasses in a tube, so that theweather-cock on a neighbouring church spire couldbe seen apparently nearer and upside down. Thistoy was shown in his window, where one day theMarquis Spinola chanced to see it, and enteredthe shop to examine it. Struck by the strangephenomenon it presented, he purchased the instru-ment, and afterwards gave it to Prince Maurice of 74
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l!lll;;;;;;;;;liili.l!llli;;i;!!!il!;;;i!;;il!!l;;ffllliyillllllllillilliy^^ Torlrait nf Cialileo, aged ahout 40. (To/ace p. 7i. I592-I6IO) INVENTION OF TELESCOPE 75 Nassau, whu thought it might be useful in miHtaryreconnaissances. Among the Acts of the States-General pre-served at the Hague, Professor Van Swinden foundsome interesting papers relating to this matter.On 2nd October 1608 the States Assembly tookinto consideration a petition of Lipperhey for theexclusive right of making and selling an instrumentfor seeing at a distance. They suggested that theinstrument should be arrans^ed so as to enable oneto look through it with both eyes. A trial wasfixed for the 4th October, and it was resolved that,if it should be found useful, an engagement shouldbe entered into with the inventor to make threesuch instruments of rock crystal, and that heshould be bound not to divulge the secret toanybody. The trial on the 4th was apparentlysatisfactory, for two days later the Assemblyvoted Lipperh

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