152
i
altered, that the actual deficit on the fund became known to the Trustees.
great
We consider that had it not been for great care on the part of the present Surveyor General, and unremitting attention by him to minute details in the work, we might at this period have had Walls without even a roof for the very lowest Tenders made were for the erection of the entire Building £3,000 above the amount available, and it was only by subdivision of labor that the Edifice has been raised to its present state. While fully admitting the justice of His Lordship's second reason that a Steeple is necessary for the performance not absolutely of Divine Worship, we would at the same time submit, whether it be not desirable that this the first Protestant Church created in the Colony - (a Colony 7 years existence) and which is not merely to be a place of Worship for Protestant Residents,
247 May, 184[?], Victoria, Hongkong,
but also to serve as a symbol of the Religion they profess - whether it be not desirable that this Church be complete, instead of being left, as at present, in an unfinished state - while Roman Catholic and other places of Worship have been long since erected.
Long since our former letter was written - few individuals, anxious for the completion of the edifice, have agreed to subscribe the sum of 2,100 Dollars towards this purpose, and we have therefore to request that you will be good enough to solicit the aid and co-operation of His Excellency the Governor to obtain the sanction of the Right Honorable the Earl Grey, to a grant for the small sum wanting to make up the amount required, and which will not exceed 1250 Dollars or £260 Stg.
At the same time we beg respectfully also to point out that the funds acted for, are not merely for the Steeple, but for