62 
SOME OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE SOCIETY. 
agent of the Earl of Durham), to whom he was articled, and with 
whom he lived. At the end of his apprenticeship he went to 
Edinburgh University for several sessions, and there, I believe, he 
took honours in chemistry and geology, and in mathematics. He 
returned to Sheffield, and I know had much to do, for a time, with 
the Chapeltown Ironworks, near that town now the property of 
Newton, Chambers and Co., of Thorncliff. He also, for a time, was 
acting for Messrs. Chambers of the Holmes Colliery, near Rotherham. 
He took an active part as scientific witness in the parliamentary 
contest for, what was then, the new Gas Light Co., of Sheffield (the 
present Sheffield United Gas Co.) ; also as a witness for the Leeds 
Gas Co., then seeking additional powers from parliament. 
My brother was the first to bring the science of geology before a 
popular audience in Sheffield. He gave a course of lectures to the 
j\Iechanics' Institute (which society he took chief part in founding), 
and these lectures were highly appreciated, although with many they 
were most objectionable, as a denial of the Mosaic record. I believe 
it is a fact that Dr. Holland, a medical man much respected in 
Sheffield, and my brother were pelted with rotten eggs during their 
delivery. 
In 1836, my brother came to New Market House, near Wakefield, 
as manager of Messrs. Charlesworths' Collieries. He held this 
appointment 3 years, until his health gave way. It was whilst 
residing at New Market House that Mr. Morton became associated 
w^ith the gentlemen, some of whom have been already mentioned, 
in the formation of the society. He was from the first a member of 
the council, and his active and energetic sympathy conduced in no 
small degree to place the society in the high position it almost 
immediately assumed. Mr. Morton contributed a number of impor- 
tant papers to its meetings, which are recorded in the proceedings 
of the society, (and in other parts of this work) ; he took gTeat 
interest in the preparation of the geological sections to connect the 
Yorkshire with the Lancashire coal-fields, and in December, 1839, 
presented a report on the subject, which led to much discussion, 
and eventually to the active preparation of the sections. The 
museum formed at Wakefield always secured his hearty co-operation. 
