'24-2 Biographical Account of [Oct. 



stead of playing among other boys, he always busied himself in 

 making curiosities, and models of wood of different kinds. For 

 this purpose he had got little saws, hatchets, hammers, and all 

 sorts of tools, which he knew how to use with great dexterity. 

 He even went so far as to make a wooden clock. A new wind- 

 mill was set up about this time near Grantham, in the way to 

 Gunnerby. Young Newton's imitating genius was excited; and 

 by frequently prying into the fabric of it, as they were making 

 it, he contrived to make a very perfect model, which was consi- 

 dered at least equal to the workmanship of the original. This 

 sometimes he set upon the house-top where he lodged, and 

 clothing it with sails the wind readily turned it. He put a mouse 

 into this machine, which he called his miller; and he contrived 

 matters so that the mouse would turn round the mill whenever 

 he thought proper. He used to joke too about the miller eating 

 the corn that was put into the mill. Another of his contrivances 

 was a water clock, which he made out of a box that he begged 

 from the brother of his landlord's wife. It was about four feet 

 in height, and of a proportionable breadth. There was a dial 

 plate at top, with figures for the hours. The index was turned 

 by a piece of wood which either fell or rose by water drop- 

 pins. This stood in the room where he lav, and he took care 

 every morning to supply it with its proper quantity 01 water. 



These fancies sometimes engrossed so much of his thoughts, 

 that he was apt to neglect his book, and dull boys were now and 

 then put over him in his form. But this made him redouble his 

 pains to overtake them; and such was his capacity that he could 

 soon do it, and outstrip them when he pleased ; and this was 

 taken notice of by his master.* Still nothing could induce him 

 to lay aside his mechanical inventions : but during holidays and 

 every moment allotted to play, he employed himself in knocking 

 and hammering in his lodging room, pursuing the strong bent 

 of his inclination, not only in things serious, but likewise in 

 ludicrous contrivances, calculated to please his schoolfellows as 

 well as himself: as, for example, paper kites, which he first in- 

 troduced at Grantham. He took pains to find out their proper 

 proportion and figures, and the proper place for fixing the string 

 to them. He made lanterns of paper crimpled, which he used 

 to go to school by in winter mornings, with a candle, and he 

 tied them to the tails of his kites in a dark night, which at first 

 frightened the country people exceedingly, who took his candles 

 ♦or comets. He was no less diligent in observing the motion of 



* Sir Isaac used 10 relate that he was very negligent at school, and very 

 low in it, till the boy above him gaT« him a kick on the belly, which put him 

 to great pain. Not content with h;iv:ng thrashed hit adversary, hir Laac could 

 nut rest till he had got before him in the school ; auJ tYoai that time he conti- 

 nued rising till he was the head boy, 

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