the philosopher, and that he derived 

 his information from his grandmother, 

 Michell's daughter, considerable import- 

 ance has naturally been attached to his 

 contribution, and its statements have been 

 quoted, though sometimes with hesita- 

 tion, in various biographical notices of 

 his eminent ancestor. It ran as follows : 



After William Herschel's appointment as 

 organist of Halifax, he became acquainted 

 with the Rector of Thornhill, (a village about 

 nine miles from Halifax and six from Wake- 

 field) whose name was John Michell a man 

 of fortune, whose whole life was devoted to 

 science, and whose writings are to be found 

 in considerable numbers in the journals of the 

 Royal Society, during the latter half of the 

 last century, one of the most prominent papers 

 being that on the great Lisbon Earthquake 

 of 1 755. John Michell may perhaps be better 

 known rs the builder of the mathematical 

 bridge across the Cam at Queens' College, 

 Cambridge 1 . He was no mean violinist in 



1 This family tradition is probably an exaggera- 

 tion of any connection which Michell may have 

 had with, the bridge. He obtained his Fellowship 

 at Queens' on 3Oth March 1749. In October of 

 that year it is recorded in the Magnum Journale of 



