reside at Thornhill till his death on 

 2ist April 1793 in the sixty-ninth year 

 of his age 1 . 



In reviewing the scientific work ac- 

 complished by John Michell it will be 

 convenient to consider it in three sec- 

 tions : first, his contributions to Geology ; 

 second, his contributions to Physics ; and 

 third, his contributions to Astronomy. 



1 MichelFs tombstone at Thornhill records in 

 characteristic eighteenth century language his life, 

 work and character : "In the Chancel of this Church 

 are deposited the Remains of the Rev d . J n . Michell, 

 B.D., F.R.S., and 26 years Rector of this Parish. 

 Eminently distinguished as the Philosopher and the 

 Scholar, he had a just claim to the character of the real 

 Christian, in the relative and social duties of life. 

 The tender Husband, the indulgent Father, the affec- 

 tionate Brother and the sincere Friend were promi- 

 nent features in a character uniformly amiable. His 

 Charities we re not those of Ostentation, but of feeling; 

 His strict discharge of his Professional duties, that 

 of principle, not form. As he lived in possession of 

 the esteem of his Parishioners, so he has carried 

 with him to the grave their regret. He died the 

 21 st April 1793, in the 69* year of his age.*' 



