But we should not believe that we had attained the end which we had proposed to ourselves if we had not placed young students in a situation to repeat at their own houses, at little cost, and with the greatest facility, the experiments which are necessary to familiarise them with the sciences. It is with such a view that we present to them this little Treatise, which is destined to teach them the simplest, the most expeditious, the least expensive, and the most effectual methods of constructing themselves the various instruments which they require in the prosecution of their studies.
The word glass-blower, generally speaking, signifies a workman who occupies himself in making of glass and enamel, the instruments, vessels, and ornaments, which are fabricated on a larger scale in the glass-houses: but the domain of the sciences having laid the art of glass-blowing under contribution, the artists of the lamp have divided the labours thereof. Some apply themselves particularly to the construction of philosophical and chemical instruments; others occupy themselves with little ornamental objects, such as flowers, &c.; and, among the latter, some manufacture nothing but pearls, and others only artificial eyes. Finally, a few artists confine themselves to drawing and painting on enamel, which substance is previously applied to metallic surfaces by means of the fire of a muffle.
As we intend to treat separately of these different branches of the art, we commence with that of which the manipulation is the simplest.
Paris, 1829.