his day, and his soirees where not only the 

 first musical talent, but also the first scientific 

 men of the day, such as Cavendish, Black 

 and Priestley used to meet occasionally were 

 well known in the West Riding of Yorkshire, 

 and to which Wm Herschel used to come to 

 perform on the violin. At the period of 

 these visits Michell was and had long been 

 engaged in making what was at that time a 

 large telescope a ten-foot reflector. The 

 perfect combination for a perfect reflector, 

 and the grinding the same, had long occupied 

 MichelFs attention, in which he at last suc- 

 ceeded, and I believe I am correct in saying 

 that Herschel there became a willing and able 

 pupil, and obtained the germs of his great 

 astronomical renown. At the death of John 

 Michell, all his scientific apparatus were sent 

 to Queens' College, Cambridge, save and ex- 

 cept his large reflecting telescope, which by 

 purchase or gift came into the possession of 

 Wm Herschel. I have been told by the only 



the College that Mr Etheridge was paid 21 for 

 the design and model of the bridge. The construc- 

 tion was not completed until September of the fol- 

 lowing year when the cook was paid 175. <)d. for a 

 supper to the workmen on finishing their work. 

 Michell could not fail to be interested in the opera- 

 tions, and may quite possibly have been able to give 

 useful help to the designer, as well as to James Essex, 

 the builder of the bridge. 



15 



