THE GEOLOGICAL MAGAZINE. THE NEW SERIES. DECADE II. VOL V. No. XI.-NOVEMBER, 1878. ORIGINAL ARTICLES. I.-EMINENT LIVING GEOLOGISTS. (No. 3.) PROFESSOR JOHN MORRIS, M.A. Cantab., F.G.S., etc.;1 (WITH A PORTRAIT.) THERE are left to us at the present day but a few of those naturally-gifted masters in science whose career may be fitly likened to that of the illustrious Faraday; to this type of man belongs Professor John Morris among geologists. Though occupying a modest position in society, and possessing but few of the advantages which the world offers, Professor Morris has achieved for the science of his choice a vast amount of popularity and recognition; and during a long career he has by his eloquence, his unassuming manner, and straightforward, earnest, and warm-hearted friendship, exercised a powerful influence over all with whom he has been brought in contact. Professor Morris was born at Homerton, near London, February 19th, 1810. His father, Mr. John Morris, was a timber-merchant in the City of London, and his son is a Freeman of the Wheelwrights Company and a Freeman and Liveryman of the Turners Company, and Citizen of London, of which his father also was a Citizen. His early education was received at a private school at Clifton, near Nuneham, Berks, and afterwards at Parson's Green, Fulham. His first ideas of science were derived from some occasional lectures delivered at the Clifton School, from which he imbibed an ardent interest for Astronomy; one of his earliest papers being entitled, "A Few Observations on the Aurora Borealis visible at Kensington, on the evening of Oct. 5, 1836" (Mag. Nat. Hist., 1836, p. 574). For many years he was engaged as a Pharmaceutical Chemist in Kensington, but although devoting part of his time to business, he was from a very early date (as his published papers demonstrate) ardently addicted to scientific pursuits, which in time engrossed all his thoughts. So early as 1836, Mr. Morris began to collect materials for a Catalogue of British Fossils. Previous to this date, the only work available for the student in this country was "A Synoptical Table of 1 We perhaps owe an apology to our coadjutor for publishing in our pages the above memoir, but he will, we doubt not, give us his indulgence when he knows that our imperfect record will gratify a large circle of friends who entertain for him the warmest regard.-EDIT. GEOL. MAG. DECADE II.-VOL. V.-NO. XI. 31 British Organic Remains," published in 1830, by Samuel Woodward, of Norwich. This well-known geologist, however, died in 1837, and his second son, Dr. S. P. Woodward, at that time a youthful assistant under Mr. William Lonsdale, in the Museum of the Geological Society, not attempting to bring out a new edition of his father's book, the task of supplying geologists with a work meeting this desideratum devolved upon Professor Morris. Whilst engaged in preparing this catalogue, he published a valuable series of preliminary notes in the Magazine of Natural History for 1839. These were continued, section by section, for some time previous to the appearance of the first complete edition of the Catalogue in 1845. In recognition of the task upon which he was engaged, the Council of the Geological Society awarded Mr. Morris the Balance of the Proceeds of the Wollaston Fund for 1842 and 1843. The second edition of Morris's Catalogue appeared in 1854, the Council again recognizing the importance of the work by the award of the Wollaston Fund in 1850 and 1852. We believe it is the intention of the author shortly to publish a third edition, for which he has long been engaged in accumulating materials. This Catalogue may be placed among the most important contributions to modern geology. It is far from being a mere compilation, as every one who has worked with it can testify. Every group, every genus, every species, was made the subject of exact study, and in each department the specialist is surprised to find the advanced views of this great master in Palæontology. This work, with its wonderful accuracy in detail, has contributed largely to the elaboration of stratigraphical geology by supplying the life-data so necessary for such a task. In the year 1855, after two geological tours through Europe, in 1853 and 1854, with Sir Roderick I. Murchison, Professor Morris was induced by that eminent geologist to offer himself as a candidate for the Chair of Geology in University College, to which he was appointed, and which he continued to hold until June, 1877,— a period of 22 years,-when the Rev. T. G. Bonney, M.A., F.R.S., was elected to succeed him. During this time Baron Goldsmid gave a small endowment to this Chair, which thenceforward bore his name. Mr. James Yates, M.A., F.R.S., also took a warm interest in Geology, and bequeathed a handsome sum for the same purpose, to be available after the death of Mrs. Yates. But few are aware of the amount of preparation required and mental wear and tear sustained by a scientific man holding the office of Professor. During his occupation of the Chair of Geology Professor Morris delivered over 1100 lectures to his class, besides directing field-excursions and giving demonstrations in the Museum. In addition to these lectures he delivered courses of lectures at the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester; the Natural History Society, Newcastle; the Yorkshire Philosophical Society; the Birmingham Natural History Society; the London Institution; the Royal Institu tion, and the Croydon 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 DeputyWoodwardian 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 accustomed to lead the country excursions of this Society in almost every district in England, ever ready in the Field as in the Classroom, 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 would have been expected from so able and experienced a geologist and paleontologist, 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 knowledge. 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 inquirers. 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 was 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 began or ended. Many, we believe, could bear similar testimony. But it is not alone in Geology and Palæontology 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 acquaintance with practical Mining and Metallurgy less remarkable. A disinclination to engage in mercantile mining operations has, however, 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 |