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in order to retain amongst them so valuable an auxiliary in their 
pursuits, obtained for him the situation of managing clerk at the 
New Mills : through these gentlemen he was introduced to Mr. 
Henry Baker, F.B.S. and A.S., who published in 1743 and 1745, 
his works on the Microscope,* in two vols. 8vo., to which Mr. 
Arderon largely contributed, his papers on subjects of Natural 
History are varied, and abridgments of which are to be found in 
the ‘ Transactions’ of the Royal Society. 
“Dawson Turner, Esq., who is in possession of his correspondence 
[now in the British Museum] with Mr. Baker, considered him an 
extraordinary man, and considering the difficulties he had to 
struggle with, certainly superior to Gilbert White, author of ‘The 
Natural History of Selborne.’” 
He died in 1767, after a long and painful illness, and was 
interred on the north side of Heigham churchyard. Within the 
church is a mural tablet with the following inscription : — 
“In the churchyard 
at the hack of this monument are deposited the remains of 
William Arderon, F.B.S., 
who departed this life November 25th, 1767, aged 64, 
together with those of Susan his first wife, 
and William their Son, 
the former of whom died June 20th, 1759, aged 47, 
the latter August 14th. 1748, aged 17, 
and also Sarah his second wife, who died January 18th, 1762, 
aged 31.” 
Mr. S. Woodward also adds his testimony to the abilities of 
W. Arderon. “ He was a man of great natural abilities and 
research, as his journal in my possession evinces. [This journal 
cannot now be found.] To him we are indebted for the theory of 
the subsidence of the German ocean.” 
To this very meagre account I can add but little. In one of his 
letters to the Royal Society dated July, 1746, lie says, that “This 
insect [the cockchafer] to his own knowledge had been more or 
less common in Norwich for the last twenty years,” consequently 
he could not have been more than twenty-three years of age, and 
probably younger, when he commenced his duties as an officer of 
* Employment for the Microscope, and The Microscope made Easy. 
