telescope construction from the learned 

 Rector of Thornhill must thus be dis- 

 missed as unfounded. Each of these two 

 men of science worked independently 

 and ground his own mirrors. They 

 were first brought into correspondence 

 with each other through the medium of 

 Dr Wm Watson, F.R.S., who, being at 

 Bath and knowing Herschel there, sent 

 to Michell an account of what the astro- 

 nomer had been doing. On 2 1 st January 

 1781, Michell replied: "I look upon 

 myself as very much obliged to you for 

 your favour from Bath, and particularly 

 for the very interesting account, both of 

 what Mr Herschel has done and what 

 he has seen, both of which seem to be 

 very important. I shall be very happy if 

 I should be able to succeed as well, or 

 near as well, as from your account he 

 seems to have done, and I should be very 

 glad of the favour of his correspond- 

 ence : at the same time I think it very 

 probable that I may be more likely to 

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