The native Anti-Opium Society of Peking held a meeting in the domestic chapel of the American Board on Friday afternoon, January 27th, the Rev. W. Ament presi ing, when an address was delivered by Dr. Dadgeon on the present state of the anti-opium agitation in and out of Parliament, in England and in India, Chi in Australia." He described the visit to England of Mr. Cheong from Victoria and of Miss Power from India and of the creased interest among the churches and people of Great Britain. The present time seemed an opportune one for the Chinese Government to take action against the native growth and to approach our Government with a view to a mutual preli of the drug. He pointed out the difficulty connected with the financial aspect of the question, and the important fact that there was a growing belief in Parliament that no action which Kngland might take would benefit China, who would continue to grow her own opium and the only result that would accrue to it would be a greatly diminished revenue in India and consequent difficulty to govern that large dependency. The great full in silver and the necessity of Jarge military expenditure to guard our northern and western frontier made the question one of great difficulty for both the home and Indian Governments. The Anti-Opium Society at home had proposed to help India for a few years until she could adjust her Sinances but this would be a sorivus tax on the British taxpayer. Something would be done som in response to the growth of public opinion against the immorality of the Government manufacturing the drug and pandering to the vice of the Chinese. Now was the time for the Emperor, whose reign designation was "*Glorious Continuance," to follow up the policy of his grandfather Glorious Virtue" by an anti-opium policy in conjunction. with England. The native society was strongly urged to keep themselves in evidence and to issue monthly urgent appeals to the Emperor, officials, and people to stop the cultivation and adopt a policy to save their country and people. An influential and large committee was afterwards appointed to carry out these and other suggestions, Tis meeting was a very large one. It was agreed also to send a jetter to the English Society and also to the Christians in Indi 'A committee of three (Chinamen) was inted to write a letter to the native evils of opium in North Chin ce-operation in the agitation, Ten literary native gentlemen were invited to write short sheet tracts on the evils of opium-using, to be posted on walls throughout the vity of Peking. Short statements of the objects of the Society are also to be posted and information given as to how to leave off opium and the places where they will find help. The Rev. J. N. Young was elected Treasurer in place of Dr. Atterbury, returned to the United States. Pledges were distributed to several men recently delivered from the vice who had joined the Society and paid the adm fee.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.