The annual meeting of subscribers to the above institution was held on Frida Present, Rev. Canon Butcher in the chi Dr. Macgowan; Messrs, Allum, Kent, Kingsmill, MeUlellan, and A.
J, How, Hon, Sec. and Treasurer.
letter was read from Mr. W. H. Medhurst, regretting his inability to attend the meeting, in consequence of having to be present at a meeting of the Church Trustees; also from Mr, Cordier, who was detained by other business; and it was stated that Mr, FitzGerald was prevented being present by indisposition, The minutes of the last mooting wore road, confirmed, and signed.
The Cmarrstax than rose and said—Moed not detain you long on the prosont occasion with words of preface and introduction, It la my pleasing task to draw your attention to a Report which shows that a favourable change has passed over the prospects of the Shanghai Library. Still, we must not imagine that our Gifficultien are finally got rid of. If this institution is to be preserved in a state of olticiency, and to prove equal to the growing literary wants of this increasing Settlement, we must all work hard and constantly to keep it up. Not only are the exertions of the Committee needod—the active ce-operation of. all subscribers imperatively demanded. We have tided over a crisis, but in order that this crisis may notrecur, we must endeavour to keep can interest in the Institution, And I mustard, we must individually observe its Bye-Laws. The great sectotof the success of a Library is a brisk demand, met by an adequate supply of books. Unless people get the volumes they want—feel that there is a necessity-for reading them quickly, return them with promptitude and get more out, a Library stagnates. There is nothing so fatal as reputation for not having the volume required, in. We have known the evils of a day of stagnation, but 1 hope we shall know them no more, Revollect, however, we atill require more subscribers, and more subscribers will mean more books. In many departments of Literature our shelves are scantily nished. Many standard books are wanted. French and Italian and German works ought to be ordered, In a word, great deal more to be dono before the we have done something, but there is a Shanghai Library is as efficient as-its well-wishers desire to see it, I will now request the Hon. Secretary and Treasurer to read the Report.
Mr. A. J, How read as follows The Committee of the Shanghai Library congratulate the subscribers upon. the proved condition and prospects of the Ins tation, At the beginning of the year 1874, there was a marked falling off in the income of the Library, and it seemed at one time probable that the valuable collection of books accumulated during twenty-six years would have to be sold. The Recreation Fund was applied to, but the Trustees did not consider that they would be justified in using their means for such a purpose, and the Shanghai Club refused to entertain the proposal of purchasing our collection, The real finally appealed to, and sixty-four scriptions had the effect of recovering the Institution from its apparently hopeless" condition, At this critical period it became necessary to elect a Librarian, and considerable difficulty was found in choosing a suitable Person for the post. The appointment was ultimately conferred on Mr. and Mrs, Woodward, and there iso far every reason to be satisfied with the selection, A now Record Book of all works issued and returned, modelled on the Register used in the best london Cibraries, has been introduced, For the guidance and better information of subscribers, every volume will have a label with the Byo Laws, which have bera lately revised, printed it.' Greater strictness in requiring the ro-turn of Books within the prescribed time has been observed, but except when the same book is required by numerous applicants, the greatest latitude in this respect is allowed to the subscribers, and their convenience only consulted. Advertisments of missing books have been inserted with satisfactory results in the daily papers. Messrs, Sotheran, the London agents, have been instructed to forward a liberal supply of new publications, and have been furnished with a list of approved writers in all departments of Literature whose books should be sent to the Library immediately on publication, Imperfect sots of standard Yorks, are' being gradually filed up. The Committee trust that by these and similar means the wishes and requirements of the subscribers may be mot.
Mr. How concluded by saying that ho must omit the remainder, The Cxarnuay.—Oh, no, gentlemen the remainder is this 'They cannot close without thanking Mr. T. Payne, of the Comptoir D'Escompte, for auditing the' accounts, and expressing their grateful acknowledgments to. J How, and "treasurer has been mainly instrumental indi double capacity of Secretary in_ bringing about this favourable state of affairs, which the Committee trust the increasing support of the Community will render permanent, They have to add that they feel themselves justified in recommending' the payment of G Debenture Bonds, (Hear, hear.)
The statement of accounts was as follows Accorsr OF zie IxcoME AXD EXCESDITORE oF THE Sinsxouar Linn Fon 1615.
Dec. Slst, 18; Dr, Th, To Amuouvts received from 186 Subscribers and for Crtalogue e 1415.46 Mequest Uy th 30 718
Shanghai Taels 1,49
Dec. St, 1874, or. Th, By Balance due Treasurer for 1878 8.92 Fre lwaranc, Tie 2209 on Bulag 18.00 Do. {ieoon Books "3500 43.00
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.