The only record which I have been 

 able to recover of an actual meeting of 

 the two astronomers was one made by 

 Herschel during a tour in the year 1792 

 when he passed through Thornhill and 

 called at the rectory. But the Rector, 

 now near the close of his life, was dis- 

 abled and frail. Herschel has noted : 

 "We saw Mr Michell's telescope; it is 

 on an equatorial stand, being without 

 cover behind. I put my hand into the 

 opening and felt the face of the object 

 speculum so wet as to moisten my fin- 

 gers. Mr Michell was very indifferent 

 in health." 



When Herschel, in the course of a 

 holiday trip with his wife next year, 

 spent a couple of hours at the place, 

 Michell had already passed away, and 

 the instruments that had gradually been 

 accumulated at the rectory were about 

 to be removed. He took another look at 

 the collection and made a note that he 

 had "bought Mr MichelTs great tele- 



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