Mr. W. J. Keswick, managing dir-odor of Messrs. Jardine, Matheson Ca, Lid, told a representative of the "North-China Herald" on Thursday that numerous offers had been made for. these archives, partly cularly by American universities, but they were donated to Cambridge University. The archives, with the one exception of the old record® of the East India Company, are unique and trace not only trading development of the company, but of foreign trade "all over China. They were sent from Hongkong and are also exceptional as they have withstood the Favages of time—ravages in such destructive forms as typhoons and white ants, Included with the archives are collection of stamps and old seals, which are valued at over £5,000.
A record of this nature must be. priceless, for it contains documents, Which if lost or destroyed could never be replaced. There are bills of lading from earliest times, They were then of simple nature and always ended with a prayer that the "good ship" would reach its destination, and. with the word "Amen." The evolu tion of the sailing ship to the steamship Is traced on these bills of lading. The earliest documents have in the top left hand corner the picture of a sailing ship, Later the picture is combined steam and sail ship; then paddle steamer, and finally only steam. Many of these carly bills of lading are. beautifully engraved.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.