Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 559

1842

Report of the Morrison Education Society.

241

ART. III. The fourth annual report of the Morrison Education

Society, read September 28th, 1842.

In making their fourth annual report to the members and friends. of the Morrison Education Society, the trustees can but acknow- ledge the good hand of Divine Providence, that has enabled the So- ciety to pursue a course of steady but noiseless advance, in the pro- secution of its objects, and congratulate its friends, upon the amount of good that has been accomplished, and the still brighter prospects that open before them.

During the twelve months elapsed since the last meeting of the Society, several changes have occurred, to which it is necessary to allude. Within this period, some of the earliest and best supporters of the Society have removed from China. Three vacancies have been made in the board of trustees, by the departure to England of Messrs. Bell, Matheson, and Dent. Mr. Leslie was appointed by the trustees to act in the place of Mr. Bell, vice-president; Mr. Alexan- der Matheson, to succeed Mr. James Matheson, treasurer; the Rev. Dr. Bridgman to perform the duties of president, in the room of Mr. Dent; while Mr. Brown consented to act as recording secretary, in place of Mr. Morrison, whose official engagements have detained him with the expedition on the northeast coast of China through a good part of the year. These temporary arrangements, the trustees hope,

will receive the approbation of the Society.

The state of the Society's funds will be exhibited in the treasurer's account, accompanying this. The list of subscribers has been con- siderably increased in the course of the year, in some instances by very liberal donations, though unsought, but particularly by the recent call of the trustees upon the foreign community for funds, to enable them to place the school upon a better footing, and to enlarge their operations. Still there are a few more residents in China that will give their names, and their support to the Society.

In February last, after the arrival of H. B. M. plenipotentiary from the north, the trustees through their president, addressed to him the following letter.

"To his excellency sir Henry Pottinger, bart., C. B.

H. M. plenipotentiary, governor of Hongkong, &c., &c.

“Sir,-As president of the Morrison Education Society, I take the liberty of bringing that Society to your excellency's notice. The principles on which it is