A special general meeting of subgeribers to the Library was held there Monday evening.
—Rev. C. H. Butcher in the chair, Messrs. D. Anderson, R. W. M. Bird, Wolff, J. W. Maclellan, F. H. Parker, H. Cordier, G. W. Courts, J. Buchanan, C. L. Simpson, and J. L. Mullins, hon. secretary.
The CmaraMan introduced the business of the meeting as follows:-—It has been apparent for some time that public interest in the Shanghai Library has been diminishing. The Committee have been assured /of the fact by continual murmurs amongst the subscribers, by the secession of meniders, and by the forming of private Book Clubs to fill the place which this institution should occupy. The complaint has been ever the same. We have not got oura sufficient number of new books! Works of interest and importance are published in London in January. We deem ourself fortunate if we get them out here in December! This has been the burden of the complaint. Now of course there is some justice in it, but what is the reason. think I may say there has been no lack of desire to get Books out, but there has been a great lack of -funds.. This was accounted for by the fact of our paying such heavy rent for this room. We had scarcely any money to lay out in Books, owing to our being burdened with Tls. 480 a year fora place to put them in. This being the case, the Commitee, on entering upon their term of office, in August last, began to consider how they could possibly secure cheaper premises. Various schemes presented themselves, and at last it occurred to some of us who are on the Countil of the Asiatic Society and on the Committeo'of the Library as well, to. try and'effect " union of the and by-indueing the Asiatic to increase their new buildings, to put two indrad associations under one The matter was talked over, and at last Messrs. Forbes and Kingsmill on behalf of the 'Asiatic Society, and Messrs. Maclellan and Mullins on behalf of the Library, conferred, and the result was the scheme that' has been circulated. It will be proposed form~ ally, and it lies with you to accept or to reject it. For my.own part it seems to promise well. It will give us a house of our ed own; and we trust that the awakened interest in the Library will give us more subscribers, and each additional subscription will represent so much more to be wholly ut in obtaining a larger supply of Books.
That the Committee be authorized to conclude an agreement with the Council of the Royal. Asiatic Society on the following terms, wa 1, That the Library provide the funds for building the new wing to be added to the premises now being erected fora Public Museum, ing to the plan exhibited by Mr, T. W. Ki C. E., the, property in which is to bbe vested in the Trastees of the Museum.
2 The Trustees to give the Library a lease for a further 10 years, at a rent of Tls. 50 per annum for one room, and Tls. 100 per annum for two rooms.
At the end of 20 years the building to become the absolute property of the Royal Asiatic Society.
4. During the entire 20 years the Library to pay half the cost of the external repairs of the whole building, and all their own inter-
5. After the expiry of 5 years the the expiry of 6 years the Royal Asiatic Society to have the option of the building on payment of the coat of the building less Tls. 100 per annum from the inning of the lease.
The Royal to give the in return Asiatic ures, but if those come to onerony, it will sation for his services.
Mr. Anpxnson had pleasure in seconding the resolution.
Mr, Muums mentioned that it was probable they would have Tls. 100 a year rent for the upper room, which sum was not now included in the scheme. The Phil Posed which was now riaing ae Asiatic were inclined, from what he had learnt, to present.room, would want one, an take the Library's spare accommodation.
Mr. Brep asked how the money was to be raised.
Mr. Muziaxs said that would be brought forward in the second resolution. The success of the scheme would of course depend chiefly on more subscribers coming forward.:
Mr. Axperson thought that by canvassing the number might be increased, first resolution was then put and passed unanimously.
"Mr. Macueitan proposed—That the Committee be authorized to raise the funds necessary for the proposed grrange-1, By withdrawing the sum now at credit of the Library in a Hongkong and Shanghai 2. By the lose of debentures for Ts, 1,600, ion.
in amounts of Tls. 20 and Tls. 40; such debentures to carry with them a bonus of Tls. 5 and Tls. 10 ively.
expe) eskiog ofthe clean our (including bonus): be drawn for payment 3, That a sam of not less than Tis, 150 manning fran Jexeery. 1873.
4. That on the repayment of the. whole amount of the debentures, an annual sum of not less than Ts. 100 be set aside as a Reserve Fund until the expiration of the. agreement.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.