The annual meeting of the China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society was held in the Society's rooms, Museum Road, on Wednesday evening, under the presidency of Mr. von Méllendorff. The minutes of the last general meeting having been read and Approved, the annual report was read by the Hon. Secretary, the Rev. 5. T. Williams, as follow:
The Council of the China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society bes to present their report for the year ended on the 10th inst.
The Council.—The office-bearers elected at the annual meeting of the Society held on the 10th of June, 1896, were President, P. G, von Méllendorff, Esq. Vice-Presidents 9. Badkios, 2.0: Hon. Secretary Hon. Librarian Jos. von Haas, Esy. Hon. Curator.,...F. A. de St. Croix, Esq. Hon. Treasurer 0) sq.
Councillors. 4) Dr. A. Forke, er, D. Theol. Bottu, Esq.
Mr. de St. Croix, however, declined to serve and the Museum was without an Hon, Curator until the 13th of January, 1897, when Mr. A. Vosy-Bourbon was elected to the post.
In August we were deprived of the valuable services of the Hon. Librarian by the sad accident which resulted in his death. Mr. Z. H. Volpicelli was at once elected to fill the vacancy. In November Dr. Forke resigned his position as Councillor owing to his removal to Chefoo and on the 3rd of March, Mr. Brown, being about foreturn to England, resigned the post of Hon, Treasurer. On the Ist of March, Mr. 'T. W. Wright was elected to succeed Mr, Brown. An appropriate ntico of the death of Mr. von Has lis been prepared coming number of the Journal. Fourteen by Dr. Baking and will appear in the foxthmeetings of the Council were held during the year.
Members.—Twenty now members have been added to the list.
AMeetings.—Seven meetings of the Society were held during the year at which papers and lectures were presented on the following themes Bist October, 1896.—' The Relation of Copper and Silver in China," by the Rev. J. Edkins, pv.
26th November.—' Traces of the Origin of Chinese Writing from Ancient Inseriptions," by T. W. Kingsmill, Esq.
13th January, 1897.—"'The Empress Wu of the T'ang," by ©. A. V. Bowra, Esy 16th February.—'t Chinese Poetry," by the Rev. W. A. P. Martin, p..
3rd March,—'''The Réntgen Rays," by Dr. R. H. Cox.
24th March.—' Ancient Writing," by the Rey. J. Edkins, p.v.
Qist April—"The Silver Question in China and Fluctuations of Prices," by Z. H. Volpicelli, Esq.
The Journal,—The first fascicule of the Journal is ready for issue and will appear within a few days.
Officers: Reports.—The condition of the Treasury, it will be seen from the report of the Hon. Treasurer, has been considerably improved. The thanks of.the Society are due to. our former and present Hon. Treasurers, Messrs. Brown and Wright, for their efforts to collect subscriptions in
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.