These Papers consist of a single document - a handwritten manuscript with label, 'Notes on China and the Chinese'. This label also reads 'Read 7th April 1847. This is inaccurate - the General Meeting Minutes of the Society record that Sir George Staunton read the paper from the Reverend George Smith at the meeting of the 17th April 1847. The manuscript relates details of geography, politics, education, religion and culture. The manuscript is dated London, April 7th 1847 in the same hand as the creator and 'Read 17 April 1847' in a different hand.
Papers of the Reverend George Smith
Archive Collection
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- ReferenceGB 891 GS
- Dates of Creation1847
- Name of Creator
- Language of MaterialEnglish
- Physical Description1 folder Handwritten, 12 sides + handwritten label
Scope and Content
Administrative / Biographical History
George Smith was born in Wellington, Somerset, and educated at Oxford, In 1841 he was appointed vicar of Goole, Yorkshire. In 1844 Smith and Thomas McClatchie sailed to China as the first two Christian Missionary Society missionaries in that country, arriving in Shanghai in September of that year. Poor health forced an early return to England, but Smith's Narrative of his period in China was published in 1847. In 1849 was made bishop of the new diocese of Victoria, Hong Kong, and warden of the newly founded St Paul's Missionary College. His diocese included the whole of China and Japan. He learned Mandarin, and became fluent enough to conduct services in it. Smith left Hong Kong for the last time in 1864, retiring from the bishopric early the next year. He died in 1871 at his home in Blackheath, Kent.
Access Information
Open. Please contact the archivist. Details can be found here . The archive is open on Tuesdays and Fridays 10-5, and Thursdays 2-5. Access is to any researcher without appointment but it will help if an appointment is made via phone or email. Please bring photo ID.
Acquisition Information
The paper was sent to the Royal Asiatic Society by George Smith for reading at a General Meeting of the Society.
Archivist's Note
This material was catalogued by Nancy Charley, RAS Archivist, in 2022.
Conditions Governing Use
Digital photography (without flash) for research purposes may be permitted upon completion of a copyright declaration form, and with respect to current UK copyright law.
Custodial History
The paper was written by George Smith.