Wellcome Collection: Morrison and Hobson Families: MS.5839 Letters to Benjamin Hobson MD from other correspondents

Wellcome Collection: Morrison and Hobson Families: MS.5839 Letters to Benjamin Hobson MD from other correspondents, including leading missionaries

Letters to Benjamin Hobson M.D. from other friends and missionary colleagues. Correspondents include Alexander Anderson M.D.; James Legge D.D. (1814-1897) of the L.M.S., translator and director of the Anglo-Chinese College in Malacca and of the Anglo-Chinese Theological Seminar in Hong Kong; and William Lockhart, F.R.C.S. (1812-1896), medical missionary with the L.M.S. in South and Central China 1840-57 and Jane Wills, [wife of William D. Wills, treasurer of the Bristol branch of the L.M.S.] 1843-1862. 

1 Jane Wills to B. Hobson M.D. in China. Bristol, 24 Dec 1843 

2 Alexander Anderson to B. Hobson M.D. at the Medical Missionary Society Hospital, Hong Kong. Victoria, Hong Kong, 8 Feb 1844 

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Victoria Hong Kong 

8th February 1844. 

Dear Sir 

It affords us much pleasure to bear witness to the profi- ciency in Ophthalmic Surgery exhibited by your Chinese Pupil Apoon, during the examination at which we were yesterday present, and to express our satisfaction at the intimate knowledge which he showed of the anatomy of the eye of its Diseases and of the methods of cure adapted to those prevalent among his own countrymen 

In forwarding to you a certificate of proficiency to be presented to him, we would wish to return you our thanks for the opportunities you have given us, of witnessing your labours for the good of the natives of China, by spreading among them the benefits

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of rational Medicine, and our admiration of the ability and preseverance displayed in the management of your Hospital, and in imparting to your pupils so large an amount of professional Knowledge 

The Obstacles to conveying information in a language so different and difficult as the Chinese, where, not only the subject to be taught, but every term of explanation has to be made intelligible, renders the teaching of medicine peculiarly arduous, and the manner in which you have overcome those difficulties, and the attention bestowed on the studies of the young men under your care, confer high honor on yourself as a teacher; such careful instruc- tion of Chinese youths, will increase the power of doing good and rapidly extend your means of usefulness.

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The Cause in which you are engaged is a noble one, conferring direct and immediate benefit on a large number of your fellow men and on the hands of the able & zealous men labouring with you in the same vineyard, while exciting the Chinese to seek for natural truth thro’ channels of scientific physical Knowledge – it will prove a powerfull means towards the propagation of the Gospel among the millions of this country. 

We beg to subscribe ourselves 

Dear Sir 

Yours with respect 

Alex. Anderson 

John Wilson M.D 

Inspector of Hospitals & Fleets 

John Hall Reed Surgeon RN Ship Agincourt W. B. Cormack B.A. Assistant Surgeon Ship Agincourt 

To Revd. Hobson B.A. 

in Charge of the Med: 

Miss: Society Hospital. Hongkong

3 William Lockhart, F.R.C.S., to B. Hobson M.D. Devonport, [Hong Kong], 20 Sept 1856 

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Devonport Sept 20 – 1850 

My dear Hobson 

I received some days ago your letter of June 26th giving me the sad account of the death of Mrs Hobson – I am much obliged to you for giving me so much the details of the case which was a very interesting one in every respect – The loss to Hobson is very great, but with a couple of the most kind and generous friends there at the time, for both you and your friend. They would doubtless have found that all was not done that might have been done, but your presence, was the greatest of comforts to his friends & I was rejoiced to know all this from your letter – I also took by this mail first account from Mrs Hobson in which she expresses the depth of her gratitude to you for all your kind & I am sure her feelings will be expressed to you the first time any time, but this I suppose is rather short space. My being so much obliged – It is a

4 James Legge D.D. to B. Hobson M.D. [in Canton]. Hong Kong, 27 Oct 1856. Endorsed 'Oct 28, 1856' 

5 John Coldstream M.D. to B. Hobson M.D. Valley field, Penicuik, [Edinburgh], 16 May 1859. Endorsed 'May 1859'. Written at the time of B. Hobson's return to England from China 

6 Joseph Toomer to B. Hobson M.D. 5 May 1862. Endorsed 'May 6, 1862'