46 
SOME OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE SOCIETY. 
exist. But iron was beginning to supersede wood in various depart- 
ments of construction ; and coal was being consumed in larger 
quantities, owing to the increase and extension of population and 
trade. The great landowners, in the middle ages, being the onl}^ 
persons who could employ labour extensively, were accustomed to 
work the mineral beds superficially ; and Lord FitzwilHam took great 
interest, and incurred great responsibilities, without always reaping 
a beneficial return, both in mining operations and iron works, which 
were carried on by his agents. Geology was a favourite study with 
him, as well as the science of agriculture ; and his knowledge was 
practically applied to the management of his Coollattin estate in 
Ireland, as well as his property in England. 
Earl Fitzwilliam was the first president of the British Associa- 
tion for the advancement of science, founded at York in 1831. In 
conjunction with the Rev. W. Vernon Harcourt, third son of the 
Archbishop of York, and Professor John Phillips, who acted as 
secretary, his Lordship assisted in preparing the scheme for its 
formation and the rules for its guidance. 
Six years later, in 1837, his lordship took an equally active part 
in the institution of tlie West Riding Geological and Polytechnic 
Society, and accepted an invitation to preside over it. He held the 
position of president up to the time of his decease in 1857. He 
presided at nearly all its annual meetings, and took a deep interest 
in the general proceedings of the Society. He subscribed freely to a 
museum at Wakefield, and contributed many geological specimens 
from the neighbourhood of his own residence. He showed at the 
meetings of its members how well he was acquainted with geology, as 
a science, and especially in its application to mining purposes in his 
own district, and also its important bearing on agriculture. He 
strongly supported the proposal, that this Society should be amalga- 
mated with the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, and that they should 
form an united museum at York ; but this was ultimately declined 
in 1841. The study and attention thus bestowed upon science have 
resulted in the fact, that the miner and ironworker on the Went- 
worth estate have had their safety and comfort regarded and secured 
with as much care as the labourer can enjoy, who works in the garden 
or on the farm. 
