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Anglo-Chinese College
Deed.
I, Robert Morrison, D. D. of the University of Glasgow, having been sent to China in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Seven, by a Society of Christians, meeting in London, and composed of members of various British Churches, for the purpose of learning the Chinese language, rendering the Sacred Scriptures into the said tongue, and composing an English-Chinese Dictionary, with the ulterior view of the diffusion of the Christian Religion in China, and the Extra-Ganges nations; and having, in the year 1818, nearly brought these several works to a conclusion, my mind was led to pray to God for direction, and to meditate on what farther means could be used to bring about the final object of my Mission.
The Divine Providence having increased my personal property in a small degree, I determined to appropriate One Thousand Pounds sterling to found a College, to be called the Anglo-Chinese College, the object of which should be the cultivation of English and Chinese literature, in order to the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
As the above preamble shows, the cultivation of literature is not to be considered the final object of the Institution, but attended to as a means of effectuating, under the blessing of God's Holy Spirit, the conversion to the faith of Christ of the Extra-Ganges nations, who read or speak the Chinese language; so, on the other hand, the College must never be considered as a mere dwelling-house for Christian missionaries, but as a place devoted to study, with apartments only for the Principal of College, and such other persons engaged in tuition, or the appropriate studies of the College, as it can accommodate with rooms.
Having entrusted the building of the College to the Rev. William Milne, my first associate in the Chinese Mission, and we, unitedly, having laid our views and wishes before the public, soliciting their pecuniary aid, and they
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having confided in the sincerity of our intentions, and deemed our object laudable, and deserving the pecuniary aid of Christians — all monies received from the donors and subscribers (whose names are written in the College record) are to be considered as appropriated solely and inalienably to the objects stated in the preamble.
The College, then, and its funds, shall never be diverted from the original object, stated in this deed, by any authority whatever; whether by the will of the Founder, or of the first Principal of the Anglo-Chinese College, the Rev. William Milne; or of any Trustees hereafter to be appointed.
May He, on whose shoulders is the government of the world — who has all power in heaven and on earth — recognise this offering, humbly designed to operate as a means of bringing many sinners to obedience and happiness; and may He secure the performance of this Deed. To His Providence the Anglo-Chinese College is reverently committed; and may the whole Eastern hemisphere be soon filled with the glorious light of His gospel, and be taught to ascribe to Him the glories of creation! Amen, and amen!
Since neither Doctor Morrison nor Mr. Milne, although the Founders of the Institution, have any power to alienate either the Buildings or the Funds of the Anglo-Chinese College, So, as long as they adhere to the original object of it, as stated above, it is but equitable and seemly that the first-named should be a perpetual Trustee, and the last-named perpetual Principal, during their lives.
The Honourable the East India Company's Pinang Government having granted, at the request of Mr. Milne, a piece of ground in Malacca, to the Missionary Society (usually called the London Missionary Society), and that Society having, at the request of Dr. Morrison and Mr. Milne, allotted part of that ground to be the site of the College; the ground, as well as the building and funds (already or hereafter to be received) cannot be alienated from the aforesaid object of the College.
All Books given by Dr. Morrison, and various other Donors (whose Names are recorded), to the Anglo-Chinese
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College Library, shall be inalienable.
I will not anticipate the failure of the object for which these grants have all been made, and therefore I shall not insert any reservation of my personal property, in case of the object failing; nor stipulate that in case of such an event occurring, it shall revert to my heirs and successors. I have a firm reliance on the Divine Providence.
But should it happen that circumstances render it impracticable to conduct the studies of the College at Malacca, the premises shall, in that case, be sold, and the College be removed to some other place in Extra-Ganges India. No merely local difficulties shall put an end to the Institution. If it be stopped in one place, from any unforeseen cause, let it be re-commenced in another.
The records of the College shall always be open to the inspection of the local Christian authorities in the place where it may be situated; and annually, at least, a statement of its affairs, whether showing its progress or its decline, shall be laid before the Christian public in a printed document.
To the Spiritual Church of Christ on earth — to the learned, the scientific, and the opulent, and also to poor and unlearned Christians — to those who, next to their own salvation, desire the happiness of their fellow-creatures, of every nation and of every tongue, the Anglo-Chinese College is, by this Deed, respectfully commended.
In case of a failure of Trustees, appointed according to the constitution of the College, or the demise of Mr. Milne, its temporary management shall devolve on the senior member of the Chinese department, and the acting committee of the Ultra-Ganges Missions; and in case of the failure of regularly appointed Trustees, and of such senior member and committee, the management of the College shall devolve on the above-named Missionary Society in London.
Sealed, signed, and delivered, at Canton, in China, where no stamps are used, this twentieth day of March, A.D. One Thousand Eight Hundred and Twenty.
[Signed] Robert Morrison.
In the presence of us, who have hereunto set our names,
[Signed] J. B. Urmston,
Chief for all affairs of the Honourable East India Company in China.
[Signed] J. Reeves.
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Anglo-chinese College
Deed.
I do hereby certify and solemnly declare that I am well acquainted with the hand-writing of the late Rev. Robt. Morrison D.D., and that to the best of my knowledge and belief the signature appended to this Document on the preceding pages of that of the above named Rev. Robt. Morrison D.D.
Malacca. Samuel Dyer
21st Feby 1842. Sworn and Signed before me.
M. Mulhouse [?]
Just. of the Peace
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