Memoir of Samuel George Morton. 155 
In the autumn of 1813 he was in his fifteenth year, and for 
the purpose of higher teaching was transferred to the school then 
eld at Burlington, New Jersey, under the auspices of John Gum- 
mere, of the Society of Friends, a gentleman of enviable repu- 
tation as an instructor of youth and as a highly cultivated and 
conscientious man. Here he spent six months under Mr. Gum- 
mere’s tuition, devoting himself principally to the study of the 
mathematical sciences. In after years he was wont to reflect 
with much satisfaction upon this portion of his life, as one very 
profitable for his instruction and improvement, and he expressed 
the opinion that it was the only school in which he “derived 
Knowledge commensurate with the time and labor consumed in 
study,” yet even here he had occasion to lament that he did not 
learn as much as was to be expected ; because he was wanting in 
the first principles of education. This was a reflection that ap- 
Pears to have distressed him; yet to it is perhaps due the great 
pains he subsequently took to make amends for early deficiencies. 
Although placed under Mr. Gummere’s care, and loving his 
Work, Morton did not even there acquire-any strong bias or affec- 
tion for mathematics. Hee still preferred history, in the reading 
of which he took extravagant delight. Mr. Gummere’s school 
Was the last one that he attended. mee 
duties of his station there. Yet while strictly observant of his 
Place, he found occasions in the pauses of his work to gratify his 
ooks 
oe 
In the year 1817, he lost his mother, which was a grievous 
loss to him. He fervently loved her on account of the tender 
regard she merited by her gentle and affectionate deportment to 
her children.  # ss - 
0 the autumn of the same year, he got possession of acopy 
of Dr. Rush’s sixteen bosom Lectures, which he read with EA 
Stch delight that he definitively resolved, after their perusal, to ~ 
adopt the profession of their celebrated author, and he nev 
afterwards had r occasion to repent his determination” 
* important a step. ae fe 
