Chinese progress in science
Print Edition
YESTERDAY an influential meeting took place at the Polytechnic Institution, Regent Street, to witness some of the most interesting phenomena connected with the popularization of light and other branches of optics as shown by a new apparatus intended for an institution at Shanghai.
The demonstration were conducted by Mr. J.L. King of the Polytechnic who delivered a brief lecture explanatory of the scientific principles, which determine the phenomena and who stated that the occasion derived its chief interest from the fact that it marked an awakening in the Chinese mind to the importance of scientific instruction.
The Chinese Institution owns its origin mainly to the influence and exertions of Sir Walter Medhurst, lately our Consul in Shanghai who was Chairman of the Shanghai Committee and Mr. Fryer who acts as Honorary Secretary.
Their views have been energetically supported by our ambassador, Sir Thomas Wade, and by many of the leading mandarins, among them Li Hung-Chang, whose name has a European celebrity; Feng Chu-ju, Taotai of Shanghai, Hsu-Tsuch-Tsun and his sons, who are well known throughout their own country for their technical skill and scientific enlightenment; and by many others who favor the importation of Western knowledge of every kind as calculated to render the most important service to their country.
The design of the new institution is to make a first step towards satisfying this patriotic aspiration. A building has been erected at Shanghai, within which lectures are to be given and interesting apparatus and processes shown, and a reading room provided with suitable works is already in active operation. These measures are expected and designed to lead up to a Chinese International Exhibition at which the most interesting productions of the East and West will be brought into juxtaposition. A new Scientific Magazine, in the Chinese language, has been established in Shanghai edited by Mr. Fryer.
Mr. King’s lecture gave great satisfaction to his visitors and was in every respect most successful. Among the articles being sent out to China by Messrs. Bourne & Co. are several of their new high speed engines, which are believed by the most competent judges to be destined to become the steam engines of the future.
One of these engines will be employed to drive an emery wheel, which acts like a rotating file in rapidly polishing metals and sharpening cutting instruments. This machinery attracted much attention. Messrs. Bourne & Co. are also sending out some fine specimens of porcelain, mostly of Minton’s make.
The most promising feature in connection with the present movement in China is that it is adopted and presented on by Chinese themselves. The first step in all such innovations is the most arduous, and it appears now likely to be taken with success.
— Excerpt from the North-China
Herald (July 2, 1877)
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