JOHN MICHELL 



AMONG the men of science in England 

 during the latter half of the eighteenth 

 century there was one specially remark- 

 able for the wide range of his genius and 

 the originality of his methods of research. 

 As Rector of a quiet country parish in 

 Yorkshire, he lived remote from the centre 

 of the intellectual life of his day, but in 

 that retreat he had time and opportunity 

 for reflection and experiment. Moreover, 

 as he was able to visit London each year, 

 he could keep in touch, not only by cor- 

 respondence but by personal contact, with 

 the leaders of enquiry. Though much 

 esteemed and respected by his contem- 

 poraries, he has perhaps hardly received 

 from subsequent generations the recog- 

 nition lo which the merit of his work 

 justly entitles him. It is true that some 



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