Eminent Living Geologists — Frof. John Morris. 483 



tion, and the Croj'^don Microscopical Society. For many years he 

 lectured at the Coal Exchange before the Coal Factors Society, on 

 " Coal and Coal Mining " ; and for two years he acted as Deputy- 

 Wood wardian Professor of Geology in the University of Cambridge, 

 for his old friend Professor Sedgwick. Between 1870 and 1872, and 

 from 1877 to the present time, he has filled the office of President of 

 the Geologists' Association, and for many years he has been ac- 

 customed to lead the country excursions of this Society in almost 

 every district in England, ever ready in the Field as in the Class- 

 room, to impart valuable and timely information, and elucidating the 

 geology of each district visited with untiring energy and good will. 



His printed papers are fewer in number than veould have been 

 expected from so able and experienced a geologist and palfBontolo- 

 gist, but they are of extreme value, from the large and philosophical 

 views which the author takes of the subjects treated on, and for the 

 careful and extensive bibliographical references they always contain, 

 doing full justice to his predecessors. 



He has been a most constant and diligent student of the current 

 literature of geology, ever adding new facts to his store of know- 

 ledge. But he has a strong antipathy to appear in print, and much 

 of his knowledge would inevitably be lost to science were it not for 

 the fact, that he is always ready to communicate information to in- 

 quii-ers. He is moreover so indifferent to the matter of receiving 

 recognition, that many of his views have become common property. 



We have heard one who has frequently acknowledged publicly 

 his indebtedness to Professor Morris, say, that it w^as often difficult 

 for him to distinguish what was his own work, and what he owed to 

 Prof. Morris, seeing that the Professor so freely communicated his 

 knowledge in conversation, that it became incorporated with the 

 author's own store, and there being no written or printed record to 

 appeal to, it was difficult to determine where the obligation begaa 

 or ended. Many, we believe, could bear similar testimony. 



But it is not alone in Geology and Paleeontology that Professor 

 Morris has proved himself an. efficient master ; among his varied 

 acquirements must specially be mentioned his extensive and accurate 

 acquaintance with Mineralogy, upon which science he gave regular 

 lectures and demonstrations in University College. Nor is his ac- 

 quaintance with practical Mining and Metallurgy less remarkable. A 

 disinclination to engage in mercantile mining operations has, how- 

 ever, debarred Professor Morris from accepting many remunerative 

 professional offers, which, " taken at the flood," might have " led 

 on to fortune " ; but Fortune's wheel was never the ambition of 

 Professor Morris's life — his greatest happiness has been derived from 

 traversing some well-exposed geological section, and explaining its 

 salient features to an eager and willing class of students. 



Honours, well-earned, have been bestowed upon Professor Morris, 

 and testimonials of a more substantial nature have not been wanting 

 to express appreciation of his services to science. 



On July 14, 1870, a meeting (at which nearly a hundred gentlemen 

 occupying prominent positions in geological science and in mining 



