RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1973 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/8910rj06r # THE LIBRARY OF THE HONG KONG BRANCH ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY # REPORT FOR THE YEAR 1972-73 A catalogue of the library, printed by the offset method from the existing card catalogue, was issued in August. It was hoped that by making the contents of the collection better known to members, greater use would be made of the books. This has not, however, been noticeably so, and it seems that the main deterrent is accessibility. This problem will only be overcome, as has been frequently stated, when the Branch has its own premises. Copies of the catalogue were distributed free of charge to members of the Branch resident in Hong Kong, and to a few institutions overseas with which we have exchange arrangements, including the parent body in London and other branches of the Royal Asiatic Society. The small number of copies remaining in stock will be distributed to newly joining members. It is proposed to issue annual supplements, of which the first will appear shortly, until it becomes necessary to produce a complete new catalogue. By far the most important accession during the year was a collection of nineteenth-century bills of lading formed by Rear-Admiral M. A. McMullen, C.B., O.B.E., R.N. (Rtd.), obtained as a gift through the offices of Dr. J. R. Jones, Past President of the Branch. The bills are for various consignments to and from China ports, and there is a brief description of the collection on p. 37 of the printed catalogue. Xerox copies of the bills of lading have been made for ready consultation, and a calendar with index will be appended to the first supplement to the catalogue.* There were again no purchases for the Library, since the small use made of the collection does not merit such expenditure. However, we are grateful to the numerous donors who have kindly added to our stock, which now totals 325 books (including 17 in Chinese) and 46 pamphlets. *In view of the interest of the subject, the calendar with index has been included in the Notes and Queries section of this issue of the Journal on p. 175 seq. ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1973 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/8910rj06r 154 NOTES AND QUERIES MCMULLEN COLLECTION OF BILLS OF LADING As stated in the Hon. Librarian's report, printed on page 11 of this issue, the most important accession during the year was the collection of nineteenth century bills of lading formed by Rear-Admiral M.A. McMullen, C.B., O.B.E., R.N. (Rtd.),* The bills are for various consignments to and from China ports, and there is a brief description of the collection on p. 37 of the printed catalogue of the Library of the Branch. A calendar with index has been prepared by the Hon. Librarian. *This was obtained as a gift for the Branch through the offices of Dr. J. R. Jones, Past President of the Branch. The following text of his letter to Mr. Rydings, our Hon. Librarian, explains how this came about: H. A. Rydings Esq., The Librarian, The University of Hong Kong. HONG KONG. Dear Rydings, Old Bills of Lading 3 Abermor Court, 15 May Road, HONG KONG. 25th April, 1972. Two years ago I had some discussions with Mr. J. G. Young of Messrs. Andrew Weir and Company Limited of Baltic Exchange Buildings, 21 Bury Street, of London E.C.3. concerning a number of bills of lading dating from the time of the Canton Regime. They include Bills of Lading from Jardine Matheson and Company Limited and their predecessors, Magniac and Company and Augustine Heard and Company and others trading in Canton and later in Hong Kong. They were owned by Admiral McMullen who wished to find a suitable home for them and I considered that they were of great interest historically and otherwise, and of special interest to Hong Kong, and I have accepted them in the name of the Royal Asiatic Society. I enclose a package concerning these documents and hope that the Society will accept them. Yours sincerely, J. R. JONES. P.S. The owner of the collection of the old bills of lading was Rear Admiral M. A. McMullen who entrusted them to Mr. J. G. Young of Messrs. Andrew Weir and Co. Ltd. with whom I was put in touch by Mr. H. B. Neve, formally of the Bank Line (China) Limited of Hong Kong. Amongst the collection Jardine Matheson and Company appears twice, once as receivers of 10 chests of Opium, whilst Gilmans are also mentioned as shippers of 100 half chests of tea from Shanghai to Hong Kong. There is also reference to Macondray & Co. who are presumably related to the Arm of that name now operating in the Philippines. ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1997 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/wp98g7579 177 ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY HONG KONG BRANCH POSSESSIONS ON PERMANENT LOAN TO OTHER INSTITUTIONS DAN WATERS In addition to our Branch's Library, which is on permanent loan to the Urban Council and is at present situated on the ninth floor at the City Hall, the following are in the safe custody of other institutions: (1) Held by Hong Kong University, Hong Kong Collection, Main Library (a) McMullen, M.A. Collection of 38 bills of lading relating to shipments to Canton, Macao, Lintin and Hong Kong during the period 1825-75. This collection, formed by Rear Admiral McMullen, was obtained through the kind offices of Past President Dr J.R. Jones. For full details see RASHKB Journal, volume 13 (1973), pages 154-162. (b) Royal Asiatic Society, China Branch Transactions [parts 1-6, 1847-1859] in Hong Kong, printed at the Office of the 'China Mail' from 1848-1859. Six volumes illustrated, 20 1/2 centimetres. Microfilm 1 reel, 35 millimetres. Originally in University Library, Cambridge, class-mark P624.c.21.1-2. A contents list of the Transactions is in Cordier, H. Bibliotheca Sinica second edition, Paris, 1904-24, volume 4, columns 2401-2. (c) It has not been possible to trace the microfilm extracted from the Journal of occurrences at Canton during the cessation of trade in 1839. This has, however, been published in volume 4 (1964) in the RASHKB Journal pages 9 to 41. This microfilm is listed on page 83 of... ================================================================================