THE MUSEUM OF THE SOCIETY. 
161 
Mr. Booth for specimens of minerals and manufacture at their two 
works ; to Mr. Briar for fossils generally. ^Ir. Hartop I saw, and he 
has promised both fossils and a collection of min'^rals and iron. 
I am, my dear Sir, yours sincerely, 
Thomas Wilson. 
The principal contributors of specimens to the museum at this 
time were Earl Fitzwilliam, Rev. T. Barnes, and Messrs. Morton, 
Farrer and Embleton. At the annual meeting held at Wakefield on 
the 23rd September, 1841, Earl Fitzwilliam in the chair, it was stated 
in the report that " the Council cannot but express regTet that the 
museum has not received those contributions from the Society at 
large which might be made with so much ease by each member, and 
which collectively would be so much value to the Society. In the 
meantime the Council would earnestly invite the members to an 
inspection of their collection, which has been carefully arranged by 
Mr. Embleton, and will be found, even in its present imperfect state, 
well worth a visit." In the early part of the following year, the 
Council decided to appoint a Resident Curator, whose duty it should 
be to systematically arrange the numerous specimens in the museum, 
secure further contributions, and generally to take charge of the 
collections. It was thought desirable that the appointment should, 
in the first instance, be a temporary one ; but with a view to its 
permanent continuance if experience rendered that course desirable. 
Mr. Martin Simpson of Whitby received the first appointment. 
Shortly after entering the service of the Society the following 
correspondence took place : — 
J/r. Wilson to Mr. Embleton. 
Leeds, 7th May, ISJfi*. 
My Dear Sir, 
Mr. Simpson, our new curator, has applied to me for the catalogue 
of the museum, that he may commence arranging and naming the 
fossils, how far he is equal to the latter task we shall soon judge. I 
think the catalogue is in your hands, and should be glad if you could 
send it down to the office, when I will call for it, as well as the 
section, which I did not get yesterday, as I was suddenly called in 
another direction. 
