Old Hong Kong-3 — Page 132

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DR. ROBERT MORRISON THE MORRISON LIBRARY

(Contd.)

this is of course an additional reason why they should not be allowed to perish. It is at least satisfactory that the collection is well housed and will shortly be well displayed also.

"But now that the books are there, a question of great interest to the public is yet pending between the trustees of the Morrison Education Society and the new guardians to whose care the library has been transferred. The books, as we have above hinted, are by no means in a state which permits them to be shelved offhand. On the contrary, nearly 2,500 require re-binding not a mere making good of deficient covers and loosened sewing, but a process which shall restore torn and worm-eaten leaves, sort from a large mixed bundle the title pages and deficient portions, and as far as possible supply, or at least note, the defects. We understand that the lowest estimates given for this work would involve an expense of from $900 to $1,000, and the pending question now is "where is the money to come from?"

"As the Trustees of the Morrison Society have in handing over the volumes stipulated for their being kept separate in name and locality from other book collections which may go to form the general library it is but natural to expect that they will come forward and appropriate at least a portion of the funds under their control to the purpose in view. The City Hall Committee can hardly be asked not only to give accommodation to books not their own but to incur a heavy outlay beforehand to render them sufficiently strong to place upon the shelves. More than this, the expense of the cases or shelves will in itself form a heavy item, and in consideration of the fact that there is really no other purpose to which the funds could be usefully employed, it is not unreasonable to suggest that the Morrison trustees devote it to aiding in fitting up the library; the sum remaining in their hands over and above that required for binding being by the way only just enough to "shelve" the books of their own collection.

"That there exists a very strong popular feeling in favour of a first-class library being formed is quite certain, and this ought to produce some appreciable aid in a public undertaking of so much importance. Whether it will do so remains to be seen."

These references are obviously to the formation of the public library in the City Hall. The Morrison collection or such part of it as could be salved was housed there in due course,

but after the founding of the Hong Kong University these valuable books were sent up to be housed in the University's library. There at least, we can be sure they are having every care and attention, and have been saved from destruction by book-worms.

MR. J. R. MORRISON

Coming to the name Morrison, this is another commemoration of the sinologue, Mr. J. R. Morrison, who was Chinese Secretary to Captain Elliot, the first administrator of the Colony. The name is one famous in the annals of Anglo-Chinese intercourse, "J. R." being the son of the noted Dr. Robert Morrison. (see 3-8-33).

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DR. ROBERT MORRISON THE MORRISON LIBRARY (Contd.) this is of course an additional reason why they should not be allowed to perish. It is at least satisfactory that the collection is well housed and will shortly be well displayed also. "But now that the books are there, a question of great interest to the public is yet pending between the trustees of the Morrison Education Society and the new guardians to whose care the library has been transferred. The books, as we have above hinted, are by no means in a state which permits them to be shelved offhand. On the contrary, nearly 2,500 require re-binding not a mere making good of deficient covers and loosened sewing, but a process which shall restore torn and worm-eaten leaves, sort from a large mixed bundle the title pages and deficient portions, and as far as possible supply, or at least note, the defects. We understand that the lowest estimates given for this work would involve an expense of from $900 to $1,000, and the pending question now is "where is the money to come from?" "As the Trustees of the Morrison Society have in handing over the volumes stipulated for their being kept separate in name and locality from other book collections which may go to form the general library it is but natural to expect that they will come forward and appropriate at least a portion of the funds under their control to the purpose in view. The City Hall Committee can hardly be asked not only to give accommodation to books not their own but to incur a heavy outlay beforehand to render them sufficiently strong to place upon the shelves. More than this, the expense of the cases or shelves will in itself form a heavy item, and in consideration of the fact that there is really no other purpose to which the funds could be usefully employed, it is not unreasonable to suggest that the Morrison trustees devote it to aiding in fitting up the library; the sum remaining in their hands over and above that required for binding being by the way only just enough to "shelve" the books of their own collection. "That there exists a very strong popular feeling in favour of a first-class library being formed is quite certain, and this ought to produce some appreciable aid in a public undertaking of so much importance. Whether it will do so remains to be seen." These references are obviously to the formation of the public library in the City Hall. The Morrison collection or such part of it as could be salved was housed there in due course, but after the founding of the Hong Kong University these valuable books were sent up to be housed in the University's library. There at least, we can be sure they are having every care and attention, and have been saved from destruction by book-worms. MR. J. R. MORRISON Coming to the name Morrison, this is another commemoration of the sinologue, Mr. J. R. Morrison, who was Chinese Secretary to Captain Elliot, the first administrator of the Colony. The name is one famous in the annals of Anglo-Chinese intercourse, "J. R." being the son of the noted Dr. Robert Morrison. (see 3-8-33). 708-132

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DR. ROBERT MORRISON THE MORRISON LIBRARY (Contd.) this is of course an additional reason why they should not be allowed to perish. It is at least satisfactory that the collectio is well housed and will shortly be well displayed also. "But now that the books are there, a question of great interest to the public is yet pending between the trustees of the Morrison Education Society and the new guardians to whose care the library has been transferred. The books, as we have above hinted, are by no means in a state which permits them to be shelved offhand. On the contrary, nearly 2,500 require re- ginding not a mere making good of deficient covers and loosened sewing, but a process which shall restore torn and worm-eaten leaves, sort from a large mixed bundle the title pages and deficient portions, and as far as possible supply, or at least note, the defects. We understand that the lowest estimates given for this work would involve an expense of from 900 to 1,000 dollars, and the pending question now is "where is the money to come from?" "As the Trustees of the Morrison Society have in handing over the volumes stipulated for their being kept separate in name and locality from other book collections which may go to form the general library it is but natural to expect that they will come forward and appropriate at least a portion of the funds under their control to the purpose in view. The City Hall Committee can hardly be asked not only to give accommodation to books not their own but to incur a heavy outlay beforehand to render them sufficiently strong to place upon the shelves. More then this, the expense of the cases or shelves will in itself form a heavy item, and in consideration of the fact that there is really no other purpose to which the funds could be usefully employed, it is not unreasonable to suggest that the Morrison trustees devote it to aiding in fitting up the library; the sum remaining in their hands over and above that bequired for binding being by the way only just enough to "shelve" the books of their own collection. "That there exists a very strong popular feeling in favour of a first class library being formed is quite certain, and this ought to produce some appreciable aid in a public undertaking of so much importance. Whether it will do so remains to be seen." These references are obviously to the formation of the public library in the City Hall. The Morrison collection or such part of it as could be salved was housed there in due course, but after the founding of the Hong Kong University these valuable books were sent up to housed in the University's library. There at least, we can be sure they are having every care and attention, and have been saved from destruction by book-worms. MR. J. R. MORRISON * * Coming to the name Morrison, this is another commemoration of the sinologue, Mr. J. R. Morrison, who was Chinese Secretary to Captain Elliot, the first administrator of the Colony. The name is one famous in the annals of Anglo-Chinese intercourse, "J. R." being the son of the noted Dr. Robert Morrison. (see 3-8-33). 708 -132

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DR. ROBERT MORRISON THE MORRISON LIBRARY

(Contd.)

this is of course an additional reason why they should not be allowed to perish. It is at least satisfactory that the collectio is well housed and will shortly be well displayed also.

"But now that the books are there, a question of great interest to the public is yet pending between the trustees of the Morrison Education Society and the new guardians to whose care the library has been transferred. The books, as we have above hinted, are by no means in a state which permits them to be shelved offhand. On the contrary, nearly 2,500 require re- ginding not a mere making good of deficient covers and loosened sewing, but a process which shall restore torn and worm-eaten leaves, sort from a large mixed bundle the title pages and deficient portions, and as far as possible supply, or at least note, the defects. We understand that the lowest estimates given for this work would involve an expense of from 900 to 1,000 dollars, and the pending question now is "where is the money to come from?"

"As the Trustees of the Morrison Society have in handing over the volumes stipulated for their being kept separate in name and locality from other book collections which may go to form the general library it is but natural to expect that they will come forward and appropriate at least a portion of the funds under their control to the purpose in view. The City Hall Committee can hardly be asked not only to give accommodation to books not their own but to incur a heavy outlay beforehand to render them sufficiently strong to place upon the shelves. More then this, the expense of the cases or shelves will in itself form a heavy item, and in consideration of the fact that there is really no other purpose to which the funds could be usefully employed, it is not unreasonable to suggest that the Morrison trustees devote it to aiding in fitting up the library; the sum remaining in their hands over and above that bequired for binding being by the way only just enough to "shelve" the books of their own collection.

"That there exists a very strong popular feeling in favour of a first class library being formed is quite certain, and this ought to produce some appreciable aid in a public undertaking of so much importance. Whether it will do so remains to be seen."

These references are obviously to the formation of the public library in the City Hall. The Morrison collection or such part of it as could be salved was housed there in due course,

but after the founding of the Hong Kong University these valuable books were sent up to housed in the University's library. There at least, we can be sure they are having every care and attention, and have been saved from destruction by book-worms.

Old Hong Kong-3 — Page 132

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