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Preface to the Seventh Edition.

The preparation of this edition of the late Dr. Chalmers’ English and Cantonese Dictionary has engrossed the whole of my limited leisure during the past three years. The labour entailed has been peculiarly fascinating, and with special significance for me, since it was partly under the distinguished and safe guidance of Dr. Chalmers that I acquired my first quickening insight into the Chinese language, script and spoken. I still vividly retain very clear recollection of a periodical after-dinner meeting which I was privileged to attend, in the middle eighties, at the former London Mission House, where, round a lamp-lighted table, under the personal presidency of the then venerable head of the London Mission, sat the late Dr. Faber, Mr. J. H. Stewart Lockhart (now His Honour the Commissioner for Wei-hai-wei), Mr. (now Dr.) G. H. Bateson Wright Head Master of Queen’s College, Mr. Addys of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank, the late Mr. A. Faleoner Second Master of the old Government Central School, and others, eagerly discuasing, assiduously comparing, commenting on, and revising, translations of portions of a minor Chinese classic made, since the previous session, by individual

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