Persons who are somewhat acquainted with the manner in which such paragraphs are got up, well know what importance is to be attached to them; the uninitiated, however, are led to suppose that Messrs. Dollond and Curtis were not of the opinions expressed, but that some of the trade, jealous of the advertisers’ “high character,” had maliciously questioned the “superior refractive property,” “light modifying,” “cool,” and “soothing” attributes of the admirable amber. But what ought we to think of the professional and literary characters who countenance the system of fraud and delusion practised by puffing advertisers. We might in charity suppose that the signatures of those eminent persons were surreptitiously obtained; and in that case, the straight-forward course they ought to adopt, should be publicly to disavow all connection with the cheats. But if they really hold the opinions attributed to them, we are bound to declare that, opposed as such idle notions are to truth and common sense, their presumption is ridiculous in publishing opinions on a subject of which they are grossly ignorant—ay, grossly ignorant! however capable and popular they may be in their own professions. Indeed many names of able and skilful surgeons are enumerated in the list of patrons and testimonial writers, who would smile at the effrontery of self-dubbed opticians, and the credulity of the public, conscious that they had no pretensions to any superior acquaintance with the subject. The ingenious and talented Dr. Neill Arnott remarks, in his “Elements of Physics,”—“Will it be believed that _there are medical men_ who neither understand mechanics nor hydraulics, nor pneumatics, nor optics, nor acoustics, beyond the merest routine; and that systems of medical education are put forth at this day, which do not even mention the department of physics or natural philosophy;” But a general diffusion of knowledge is changing the condition of society, and elevating the human character. At first we almost tremble at our own boldness, in demanding proofs of the capability of our teachers; but the mind, gathering power, and unfolding its strength, with every opportunity for its manifestation, insists on having positive proofs, rather than vague pretensions, and demands solid information, instead of empty nothingness, however gorgeously arrayed, or pompously introduced. FOOTNOTES: [6] As for operators on the teeth, they have multiplied exceedingly in the land. Their successful career is a _biting_ satire on the credulity of their supporters.