neral meeting of the subscribers to the Shanghai Public Library was held in the Library on Tuesday evening. Sir Nicholas J. Hannen was in the chair and there were also present the Rev. H. Hodges, M.A., Messrs. F. S. A. Bourne, Bent, Richards, Ezra,. D. Kerr ud (Bon. Secretary).
The Chairman said the only regret of the Committee was that last year owing to various circumstances there was not a meeting of the subscribers to the Library. However, everything was going on so quietly and well that no inconvenience was felt on that account. The frequent ch which had been necessary m the office of secretary and treasurer had been an inconvenience. However, th state of things as shown in the report at the present time was fairly satisfactory. The accounts showed that at the end of 1897 they were $462 to the yood, and at the end of 1898 only $23, It was certain, however, that they would be in "a better position than that at the end of this year when the accounts were fully made up. When some two years nye they were in difficulties owing to want of funds they had been obliged to restrict the number of boxes of books ordered from home. They had now returned to the old condition of things, and got wut 13 boxes a year. They had heard no complaint, moreover, as to any want of books. The Chairman went on to speak of the great difficulty which had been experienced in collecting subscriptions by taels, and added that the Committee had thought it best to suggest that for the future the equivalent in dollars should be substituted. He thought it would be found very much more convenient. The Com-himself, the Rev. H.C. Hodges, and ere retiring, wished, finally, to thank Mrs. Gale and Miss Jeffrey for the way they had carried on the work of the Library for the past two years. He proposed that the report and accounts be adopted.
Mr. Richards seconded.
Mr. Bent raised some discussion on the method of selecting the books sent out.
The Rev. H. C. Hodges said that Mr. Bain of the Haymarket, London, was in the habit of going through the review columns of the Times, and sending out such as were favourably noticed. He thought that this could not have been so thoroughly done lately, however.
After some consideration of this matter it was decided that the best way out of the difficulty was the use of the Suggestion Book.
The Rev. H. C. Hodges mentioned that they had had trouble by reason of the fact that some people came to read and took away books. Also valuable plates had been abstracted from volumes.
The report was then passed.
'The Chairman proposed that Rule 12 be amended to read_as follows:—* The subscription to the Library is 816 per annum, but subscribers may be admitted for shorter periods, viz.:—For three months $5,00; for six' months $9.00 in lieu of Rule 12 now reading:—"* The subscription to the Library is Tls. 12 per annum, but payments inay be made for shorter periods at the rate of Tls. 1 per month, with one tael added (i.e., Tls. 4 for
etc.)"
months, is. 5 for four months, Mr. Bourne having seconded, this was carried.
Mr. Richards proposed, and Mr. Bent seconded the re-election of the Committee, which was also carried, And the meeting adjourned.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.