There was a fair attendance of members and their friends at the opening meeting of the Literary and Debating: Society on Thursday evening (11th Nov.) The Rev. E.
Williams presided, and in the course of a short address he spoke of the needjof such a Society in Shanghai. He contended that, to keep in touch with the political and social questions which were being discussed in the West. He urged upon the tnembers the importance of cultivating the art of public speaking, and to learn to think upon their feet, so that when necessary they would be able to voice the opinions and sentiments of the community when public questions exe up for discussion, fe announced that the Committee would do their best to arrange a syllabus which would suit the different tastes of the members and that the meetings would be held on the second and last Wednesdays of each month. Mr, J. P. Donovan was then called "upon to open the debate on the following resolution: That women pos sessing sufficient property qualification should be entitled to vote at Parliamentary elections."
Mr. Donovan, in, the course of his speech, contended that the exclusion of woman only an injustice to her, but projudicial to from her rightful share in public life was not
the growth of elracter avd public opinion, and injurious to the community. Women had to contribute equally with men to local and imperial taxation, though, in regard to the latter they were, with several notable exceptions, denied inmost countries any voice in levying it or in its expenditu Women who earned a separate Ti hood might be counted by millions and in every decade in England they increased at the rate of thirty per cent. Having alluded to the extent to which women had distinguished themselves in nearly all the fessions, the speaker pointed out that the resolution only asked the suffrage for those women who fulfilled all the qualifications which the law of England demanded of th male elector, On the authority of history he declared that the at women were inferior to men even phy-ically was a rel in. The noblest, the wisest, and Sin,—I beg to own reevipt of No. 1147 of the dth instant, stati woitld be a great convenience to masters of steamers compelled to anchor at sung if the typhoon signals display Shanghai were also exhibited at Woosung, and that any assistance this office could render in this direction would be much appreciated by the Mercantile Marine of this Port.
While in fall accord with your Committee as to the advantage of such meteor Togical signals at Woosung, T must that the matter is one that will nec an increased staff and the ere additional flag.statf at Woosung, involving an initial outlay of over Tis, 2,090 and an annual expenditure of about Tls. 609.
As, howerer, the benefits to be derived by the shipping are real and in keeping with the progress of meteorology, and as, further, H.E, Sheng, Director-General of the Telegraph Administration, has genetously agreed to transmit such weather telegrams to Woosung free of charge. Zam now referring the question to Peking for the consideration and approval of the Tnspector-Ceneral of Customs, feeling sure of his sanction if official funds are available for this purpose.
Thave the honour to be, Your obedient servant, L. Rocuér, Commissioner of Customs. To E, F, Atrorv, Esq,, Chairman of the Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce. and literature had tive the question the m off the debate ion, stid that it neither 2 wise nor slitic reform which was sought to be established.
Women as a whole were neither physic mentally prepared for change in the constitution of the country would be wrought by granting them the parliamentary franchise. The speal proceeded to humorously depict the House of Commons with Indy members in a majority, some of whom perchance might be divssed in rational costume, and be so carried away by their emotional feclinzs themselves practically unfit for wus business of legislation. He did not believe the great majority of women desired the parliamentary vote and_ would not ex sphere. found in the domain of home life, and if she were deprived of her great influence in this respect, there would be created a gap in her life, which no_ other fancied privilege could supply. He concluded a forcible and pithy speech by asking the audience not to support a motion which although apparently designed with a view to woman's progressive onward march was in reality a retrograde step, and one inimical to her highest and best interests.
Dr. Edkins, Mr. Goodnow, the U. S. Consul-General, and Mr. A: H. Harris continued the discussion, after which the Teaders replied. When a vote was taken the resolution was carried by a majority of six, 23 being for it and 17 against.
The President announced that the next meeting would be held on Wednesday, the 24th, when the members would spend a night with their favourite posts.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.