'The annual meeting of the members of the North-China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society was held on Monday graning in the Society's rooms, at the rary. Mr. T. W, Kixoswm,—the President, occupied the chair, and' there were preseut:—The Very Rev. Dean Butcher, H.E. the Netherlands Minister, Dr. Macgowan, Messrs, Dulberg, Fryer, Haas, G. H. Kleinwiichter, Slevogt, Vachell, Stripling, and the Hon. Secretary, Mr. J. Rhein, The minutes of the last two meetings were read and confirmed.
'The Pxeswevr said that a lotter had been received from M. Serruys, Charge des Affaires for Belgium, promising to forward the invitation extended by' the Council to His Majesty the King of the Belgians to become an honorary member of the Society. He also read'a letter from Mr. R. W. Little, Chairman of the Municipal Council, saying that that body had made an appropriation of Tis, 500 as a contribu. tion to the funds of the Society.
Messrs. G. H. Kleinwiichter and 0, Whitty were proposed for membership, and were duly elected.
The Prxstbexr said he might mention that arrangements were under contem-piation, by which the library might be made more useful to the Shanghai public, to whom situation in relation to the Shanghai Library would giv ready access. It was the more easy to do this, as the Society had received a contribution from the Recreation Fund. All the members of the Society were anxious that readers should be attracted. Hitherto there had not been much difficulty experienced in obtaining access to the books, and he hoped that arrangements would goon be made whereby anyone! could refer to any book at any time. The next thing to be done was to elect Officers and Councillors for the present year, As far as he himself was concerned, he could only repeat the statement he made at the last meeting. An old and worthy member of the Society had been suggested as his successor, and he thought he would be advancing the best interests of the Society in giving up the chair to him.
BLE. Mr. Feravsoy, (the Netherlands Minister), was sorry to hear what the President had just said, and asked if he had quite made up his mind on the point.
The Prestorsr thought that a change would be advantageous to the Society, but of course he should always continue to work for its interests in the same way as he always had done. (Applause.)
HE. Mr. Fencuson heard with regret that Mr. Kingsmill had taken that position, However, a list of names of gentlemen had been placed in his hand for nomina-in Broposing them. He then proposed the tion as officers, and he had much pleasure Very Rey. Dean Butcher as President for the ensuing year.
Mr. Faye seconded the nomination.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.