The minutes of the last meeting were taken as read, and the Report and Accounts as already published were on th Mr. Hodges seconded by Dr. adopted.
Mr. Hodges asked the Hon. Secretary was there any immediate likelihood of the R val Asiatic Society wanting to take over the premises at present occupied by the Shanghai Library.
Mr. Moxse replied that it was not so likely now as it had been some little time ago, but they would by and bye probably have to face such a contingency and would have to look out for new premises. The wing of the building which they at pre: sent vecupied was built by the Library which, got a ten years' lease from theR. A. Societ; which the Library was to pay " nominal rental Tls. 100 a year for their portion of the wing, while the upper storey was rented to the Society at Tis, 190 per am nom, the lease being renewable at the end of the ten years. So that they had an me 30a tal ut the p mised instead of an expenditure, But that lease uld run out in 1892 when the right tw this income would also of course cease, Mr, Monnisoy said that they would probably be allowed tu retain the present rvonts, but at a rental. The present library was well worth Tls, 150 if the upper room was worth Tls. 150, The difference including the profit of Tls. 50 W the rental and: the Tls. 190 which they would have to pay 5 would Ts. 200. eckerany said this would set aside for the purchase of books which was at present only about Tls. 900, so that, a difference of Tis, 200 in their expenditure would reduce their buck purchasing power 25 per cent., for there were charges which had to be made before they Bought any books, and an increase in expenditure fell first-on the books upon which at present they were able to spend about 50 per cent. of their income. Every tael added to their expenditure was sv auch taken ff the money for books.
Mr. Moxxisos thought they would get more subscribers if they had w better position. The present site of the library was very bad.
The Cuammax said he supposed there was no chance of the Town Hall.
Mr. Moxnixox—I don't think there's Tu reply to Mr. Hodges, Mr. Morst chance of it. said that the amount from the subscriptions last year was only a tael less than in 1887, and with the single exception of 1886, which was the best year they ever had, no year had exceeded 1888. Though the popula: tion of Shanghai was increasing, the number of subscribers to the Library had not increased in proportion.
The Cuaraas said he would like to hear the opinion of the meeting en the question of asking the Municipal Cornell to take jover the whole stock and establish a froe public library, but if there seemed no chance of the'Town Hall there would be hardly any use in communicating with the To be conveyed by General Mesny to Nanking thence to the different dis. tricts where itis most needed asdirected_ Tis. by the Viceroy To be remitted Consul at Newchwang *,.10,000 To be remitted by wire Consul at Chefoo 10,000
Atthe request of the Committee, General Mesny also undertook to give his services in supervising the distribution of the funds at the different centres of relief. ud Mr. Morse were both of opinion that it was premature to-do anything in reference to changing the library at prevent, and that it might be left to the the new committee.
Mr. Moxrisos said he was in favour of increasing their expenditure for a better position. If they could get sume place in the Nanking Road, people would yet into the habit of coming to the library themselves to change their books and they would get more subscribers,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.