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Report of the Morrison Education Society.
Ост.
conducted, and the progress it has made, under very unfavorable circumstances, are fully developed in the eeveral accompanying reports, which I transmit for your information. In the fullest confidence that the objects of this establishment will be deemed highly deserving of your countenance and support, I proceed without further preface to state the more immediate motive for my addressing you.
"The friends of the Society have determined that the period has at length arrived for extending its operations, and that the British settlement of Hongkong, presents a peculiarly oligible opportunity for that purpose, as there alone in this country can exist protection and scope for carrying out its views to advantage.
I have therefore to request n behalf of the Society that your excellency will be pleased to grant sufficient ground at Hongkong, in an eligible site, for a dwelling.house, school-room, &c.
“I have the honor to be
“Your excellency's most obedient servant,
"LANCELOT DENT,
"Macao, Feb. 21st, 1842.
President of the M. E. Society."
The reply was given the next day, promptly meeting the wishes of the Society, as follows—
"Macao, February 22d, 1842. “Sir,—I am directed by his excellency sir Henry Pottinger, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday's date, with its accompanying reports of the Morrison Education Society.
"His excellency's public and private feelings most warmly enter into the senti ments you have expressed, and on his return to Hongkong in a few days, he will take an early opportunity of appropriating for the purposes you describe, a suitable location, subject to such rules as her majesty may hereafter prescribe for similar laudable and charitable institutions.
“I have the honor to be, sir,
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Your most obedient servant.
"J. ROBT. MORRISON,
Acting secretary and treasurer to the superintendent of trade. "To Lancelot Dent, esq., president of the Morrison Education Society."
Subsequently to the foregoing correspondence, the trustees, in consideration of the kind and prompt attention given by his excel- lency, to the representations made to him on behalf of the Society, appointed a deputation of three from their number to wait on him, for the twofold purpose of thanking him for the grant he had promis- ed to make, and to request that he would allow himself to be nomi- nated a patron of the Society. The next day, April 3d, the depu- tation performed the agreeable errand, and gave the following me- morandum of their enterview with sir Henry.
"Macao, 5th April, 1842.
"The deputation appointed by the trustees of the Morrison Educa- tion Society, consisting of the Rev. Dr. Bridgman, Messrs. A. Ma- theson and W. Leslie, waited on sir Henry Pottinger, soon after