Giovanni Battista Amici, an Italian optician and astronomer, born in Modena, March 25, 1784, died in Florence, April 10,1863. He became eminent at an early age for his mathematical and general scientific attainments, and directed for upward of 30 years the Florence observatory, He also lectured on astronomy, and was a member of almost all the learned academies of Europe. Science is especially indebted to him for his improvement of the telescope, of several microscopes, and of the camera lucida, invented by Hooke and Wollaston. In 1827 he made dioptric microscopes, which are sold with his name attached, and, notwithstanding the improved microscopes of Oberhauser, are still in great favor. He was assisted in his labors by his son Vincenzo, who is professor of mathematics at the university of Pisa.