Letters from his father, the Revd Robert Morrison

Letters to John Robert Morrison from his father the Revd. Robert Morrison 1824-34.

Some letters are written jointly to J. R. Morrison and his sister Mary Rebecca Morrison and jointly from the Revd. R. Morrison and his second wife Eliza.

Letters 1-35 (Sept 1824 - March 1830) cover J. R. Morrison's schooldays and attendance at the Anglo-Chinese College in Malacca. Letters 36-40 (Jan 1831 - Nov 1832) are from a period in Canton prior to his departure with the 'Peacock expedition', (see also MS 5830). Letters 41-158 (June 1833 - July 1834) form a sequence of correspondence to J. R. Morrison in Canton from his father in Macao and Canton, including references to the work of the Albion Press, the publication of the Evangelist, the Register, the Chinese Quarterly, tracts, dictionaries and the Bible translation of the Revd. Walter Henry Medhurst, (1796-1857), missionary printer for the London Missionary Society.

Many items are endorsed, both with a date of receipt and of writing, and summaries of contents are often given. The following list records only the dates of receipt.

[1 - 35 Letters received by J. R. Morrison whilst at school and a student.]

1/1-2 The Revd. R. Morrison to his son. 1 York Street, Foley Place [London], 14 Sept 1824

2 The Revd. R. Morrison to his son at the Academy, Mill Hill [Hendon]. 5 Grove, Hackney, 7 May 1825. Endorsed 'May 8, 1825'

3 The Revd. R. Morrison to his son. 5 Grove, Hackney, 3 Nov 1825

4 The Revd. R. Morrison to his son. 5 Grove, Hackney, 10 Dec 1825

5/1-2 The Revd. R. Morrison to his son. Macao, 8 March 1827. Endorsed 'Malacca'

6 The Revd. R. Morrison to his son in [Malacca]. Macao, 23 March 1827

7 The Revd. R. Morrison and his wife to his son at the Anglo-Chinese College, Malacca. Macao, 4 May 1827. Endorsed 'Malacca, Sept 13, [1827]'

8 The Revd. R. Morrison and his wife to their son at the Anglo-Chinese College, Malacca. Macao, 31 May 1827. Endorsed 'Malacca, Sept 15 [1827]

9 The Revd. R. Morrison to his son and daughter in Malacca. Macao, 15 June 1827

10 The Revd. R. Morrison to his son at the Anglo- Chinese College, Malacca. Macao, 19 June 1827. Endorsed 'Sept 15, [1827]

11 The Revd. R. Morrison to his son and daughter at the Anglo-Chinese College, Malacca. Macao, 12 July 1827. Endorsed 'Oct 11, [1827]. Refers to the birth of his son Martin Crofton Morrison, by his second wife Eliza

12 The Revd. R. Morrison to his son and daughter in Malacca. Macao, 9 Aug 1827

13 The Revd. R. Morrison to his son at the Anglo- Chinese College in Malacca. Macao, 20 Aug 1827

14 The Revd. R. Morrison to his son at the Anglo- Chinese College in Malacca. Canton, 3 Oct 1827. Endorsed 'Malacca, Nov 12, [1827]'

15 The Revd. R. Morrison to his son at the Anglo- Chinese College in Malacca. Canton, 15 Oct 1827. Endorsed 'Malacca, Nov 12, [1827]

16 The Revd. R. Morrison to his son in [Malacca]. Canton, 22 Oct 1827

17 The Revd. R. Morrison to his son at the Anglo- Chinese College, Malacca. Canton, 2 Nov 1827. Endorsed 'Malacca, Nov 20, 1827'

18 The Revd. R. Morrison to his son in [Malacca]. 19 Nov 1827

19 The Revd. R. Morrison to his son in [Malacca]. 21 Nov 1827

20/1-2 The Revd. R. Morrison to his son at the Anglo- Chinese College in Malacca. Canton, 6 Dec 1827

21 The Revd. R. Morrison to his son at the Anglo- Chinese College, Malacca. Macao, 24 Dec 1827

22 The Revd. R. Morrison to his son. Canton, 31 Jan 1828. Endorsed 'Malacca, Feb 27, [1828]

23 The Revd. R. Morrison to his son in [Malacca]. Canton, 25 March 1828

24 The Revd. R. Morrison to his son in [Malacca]. Canton, 19 April 1828

25/1-2 The Revd. R. Morrison to his son. Macao, 14 June 1828; with a pen and ink sketch of a Chinese figure enclosed

26/1-2 The Revd. R. Morrison and his wife to his son. Macao, 28 Aug 1828. Endorsed 'Nov 2, [1828]'

27 The Revd. R. Morrison to his son. Canton, 8 Oct 1828. Endorsed 'Malacca, Nov [1828]'

28 The Revd. R. Morrison to his son in [Malacca]. Canton, 4 Nov 1828

29 The Revd. R. Morrison to his son in [Malacca]. Canton, 4 Dec 1828

30 The Revd. R. Morrison to his son. Canton, 19 Feb 1829. Endorsed 'April 11, [1829]'

31 The Revd. R. Morrison to his son. Macao, 14 Oct 1829

32 The Revd. R. Morrison to his son. Macao, 19 Dec 1829. Endorsed 'Jan 8, 1830'

33 The Revd. R. Morrison to his son. Macao, 16 Jan 1830. Endorsed 'Feb 14, [1830]'

34/1-2 The Revd. R. Morrison to his son. Canton, 21 Feb 1830

35 The Revd. R. Morrison to his son. Canton, 15 March 1830. Endorsed 'Malacca, April 8 [1830]'

[36 - 40 Letters received by J.R.M. whilst working as a translator, prior to joining the Peacock Expedition.]

36 The Revd. R. Morrison to his son in Canton. Macao, 3 Jan 1831. Endorsed 'Jan 6, [1831]'

37 The Revd. R. Morrison to his son. Macao, 12 Nov 1831. Endorsed 'Canton, Nov 17, [1831]'

38/1-2 The Revd. R. Morrison to his son in Macao. Canton, 1 Jan 1832

39 The Revd. R. Morrison to his son. Macao, 16 Sept 1832. Endorsed 'Sept 18, 1832'

40 The Revd. R. Morrison to his son. Canton, 19 Nov 1832. Endorsed 'Nov 21, 1832'

[41 - 158 Letters received by J.R.M. in Canton from his father in Macao and Canton.]

41 Macao, 16 June 1833. Endorsed 'June 17, 1833'

42/1-2 Macao, 19-20 June 1833. Endorsed 'June 21, 1833'

43 Macao, 24 June 1833. Endorsed 'June 25, 1833'

44 Macao, 26 June 1833. Endorsed 'June 30, 1833'

45 Macao, 29 June 1833. Endorsed 'June 30, 1833'

46/1-2 Macao,, 2-3 June 1833 (sic, recte 2-3 July). Endorsed 'July 5, 1833'

47 Macao, 6 July 1833. Endorsed 'July 8, 1833'

48/1-2 Macao, 8-9 July 1833. Endorsed 'July 12, 1833'

49 Macao, 11 July 1833. Endorsed 'July 13, 1833'

50 Macao, 15 July 1833. Endorsed 'July 18, 1833'

51/1-2 Macao, 16 July 1833. Endorsed 'July 18, 1833'

52 Macao, 18 July 1833. Endorsed 'July 20, 1833'

53 Macao, 22 July 1833. Endorsed 'July 24, 1833'

54/1-2 Macao, 25 July 1833. Endorsed 'July 27, 1833'

55 Macao, 29 July 1833. Endorsed 'July 31, 1833'

56 Macao, 30 July 1833. Endorsed 'July 31, 1833'

57 Macao, 6 Sept 1833. Endorsed 'Sept 9, 1833'

58/1-2 Macao, 9 Sept 1833. Endorsed 'Sept 11, 1833'

59 Macao, 12 Sept 1833. Endorsed 'Sept 15, 1833'

60 Macao, 13 Sept 1833. Endorsed ' Sept 15, 1833'

61 Macao, 14 Sept 1833. Endorsed 'Sept 16, 1833'

62 Macao, 17 Sept 1833. Endorsed 'Sept 20, 1833'

63/1-2 Macao, 19 Sept 1833. Endorsed 'Sept 22, 1833'

64 Macao, 25 Sept 1833. Endorsed 'Sept 27, 1833'

65/1-2 Macao, 27-30 Sept 1833. Endorsed 'Oct 1, 1833'

66 Macao, 1 Oct 1833. Endorsed 'Oct 7, 1833'

67 Macao, 1 Oct 1833. Endorsed 'Oct 3, 1833'

68/1-2 Macao, 2 Oct 1833. Endorsed 'Oct 4, 1833'

69 Macao, 3 Oct 1833. Endorsed 'Oct 7, 1833'

70/1-2 Macao, 4 Oct 1833. Endorsed 'Oct 12, 1833'

71/1-2 Macao, 7 Oct 1833. Endorsed 'Oct 12, 1833'

72/1-2 Macao, 8 Oct 1833. Endorsed 'Oct 12, 1833'

73 Macao, n.d. Endorsed 'Oct 9, 1833'

74/1-2 Macao, 12 Oct 1833. Endorsed 'Oct 18, 1833'. Includes a note from Eliza Morrison to her step-son J. R. Morrison and a memorandum from the Revd. R. Morrison

75 Macao, 14 Oct 1833. Endorsed 'Oct 17, 1833'

76 Memorandum. Endorsed 'Oct 19, 1833'

77 Macao, 16 Oct 1833. Endorsed 'Oct 21 1833'

78 Macao, 18 Oct 1833. Endorsed 'Oct 19, 1833'

79/1-3 Macao, 21-22 Oct 1833. Endorsed 'Oct 24, 1833'

80 Macao, 24 Oct 1833

81/1-2 Macao, 25 Oct 1833. Endorsed 'Oct 27, 1833'

82 Macao, 28 Oct 1833. Endorsed 'Oct 31, 1833'

83 Canton, 4 Nov 1833. Endorsed 'Nov 6, 1833'

84 Canton, 5 Nov 1833. Endorsed 'Nov 8, 1833'

85 Canton, 9 Nov 1833. Endorsed 'Nov 12, 1833'

86 Canton, 12 Nov 1833. Endorsed 'Nov 12, 1833'

87 Macao, 15 Nov 1833. Endorsed 'Nov 17, 1833'

88 Macao, 19 Nov 1833. Endorsed 'Nov 20, 1833'

89 Macao, 22 Nov 1833. Endorsed 'Nov 24, 1833'

90 Macao, 20 Nov 1833. Endorsed 'Nov 22, 1833'

91 Macao, 23 Nov 1833. Endorsed 'Nov 25, 1833'

92 Macao, 24 Nov 1833.

93 Macao, 25 Nov 1833. Endorsed 'Nov 29, 1833'

94 Lintin, 15 Dec [1833]. Endorsed 'Macao, Dec 16, 1833'

95 Canton, 1 Jan 1834. Endorsed 'Jan 3, 1834'

96/1-2 Canton, 2 Jan 1834. Endorsed 'Jan 4, 1834'

97 Canton, 3 Jan 1834. Endorsed 'Jan 6, 1834'

98 Canton, 4 Jan 1834. Endorsed 'Jan 6, 1834'

99 Canton, 4 Jan [1834]. Endorsed 'Jan 6, 1834'

100 Macao, 4 Feb 1834. Endorsed 'Feb 7, 1834'

101 Macao, 5 Feb [1834]. Endorsed 'Feb 8, 1834'

102 Macao, 7 Feb 1834. Endorsed 'Feb 15, 1834'

103 Macao, 11 Feb [1834]. Endorsed 'Feb 13, 1834'

104 Macao, 12 Feb [1834]. Endorsed 'Feb 15, 1834'

105 Macao, 12 Feb [1834]. Endorsed 'Feb 15, 1834'

106 Macao, 13 Feb [1834]. Endorsed 'Feb 19, 1834'

107 Macao, 18 Feb 1834. Endorsed 'Feb 19, 1834'

108 Macao, 18 Feb 1834. Endorsed 'Feb 22, 1834'

109 Macao, 22-23 Feb 1834. Endorsed 'Feb 26, 1834'

110 Macao, 24 Feb 1834. Endorsed 'Feb 27, 1834'

111 Macao, 27 Feb 1834. Endorsed 'March 2, 1834'

112/1-2 Macao, 2-3 March 1834. Endorsed 'March 9, 1834'

113/1-2 Macao, 7 March 1834. Endorsed 'March 12, 1834'

114/1-2 Macao, 10-11 March 1834. Endorsed 'March 18, 1834'

115 Macao, 13 March 1834. Endorsed 'March 16, 1834'

116/1-2 Macao, 15-17 March 1834. Endorsed 'March 19, 1834'

117/1-2 Macao, 18 March 1834. Endorsed 'March 20, 1834'

118/1-4 Macao, 19-21 March 1834. Endorsed 'March 23, 1834'

119 Macao, 22 March 1834. Endorsed 'March 26, 1834'

120/1-2 Macao, 24-27 March 1834. Endorsed 'March 28, 1834'

121 Macao, 28 March 1834. Endorsed 'March 29, 1834'

122 Macao, 1 April 1834. Endorsed 'April 4, 1834'

123/1-2 Memorandum: Macao, 3-[4] April 1834. Endorsed 'April 8, 1834'

124/1-2 Memorandum: Macao, [6]-7 April 1834. Endorsed 'April 9, 1834'

125 Memorandum: Macao, 7-9 April [1834]. Endorsed 'April 11, 1834'

126 Memorandum: Macao, 9-11 April 1834. Endorsed 'April 13, 1834'

127/1-2 Macao, 13-15 April 1834. Endorsed 'April 19, 1834'

128 Macao, 17 April 1834. Endorsed 'April 19, 1834'

129/1-3 Macao, 19-21 April 1834. Endorsed 'April 24, 1834'

130/1-3 Macao, 21-24 April 1834. Endorsed 'April 26, 1834'

131/1-2 Macao, 29 April - 3 May 1834. Endorsed 'May 5, 1834'

132/1-2 Macao, 6 May 1834. Endorsed 'May 12, 1834'

133/1-2 Macao, 7-11 May 1834. Endorsed 'May 13, 1834'

134 Gdoumun, [14 May, 1834]

135/1-2 Macao, 15 May 1834. Endorsed 'May 19, 1834'

136 Macao, 17 May 1834. Endorsed 'May 19, 1834'

137 Macao, 18 May 1834. Endorsed 'May 19, 1834'

138 Macao, 19-21 May 1834. Endorsed 'May 23, 1834'

139/1-2 Macao, 22-24 May 1834. Endorsed 'May 28, 1834'

140 Macao, 28 May [1834]. Endorsed 'May 31, 1834'

141 Macao, 1-3 June 1834. Endorsed 'June 5, 1834'

142/1-2 Macao, 4-5 June 1834. Endorsed 'June 8, 1834'

143/1-2 Macao, 7-10 June 1834. Endorsed 'June 12, 1834'

144 Macao, 11 June 1834. Endorsed 'June 13, 1834'

145/1-2 Macao, 12-13 June 1834. Endorsed 'June 15, 1834'

146 Macao, 16-17 June 1834. Endorsed 'June 20, 1834'

147 Macao, 19-20 June 1834. Endorsed 'June 21, 1834'

148 Macao, 21-23 June 1834. Endorsed 'June 25, 1834'

149 Macao, 23-26 June 1834. Endorsed 'June 28, 1834'

150 Macao, 28 June 1834. Endorsed 'July 1, 1834'

151/1-2 Macao, 30 June - 1 July 1834. Endorsed 'July 3, 1834'

152/1-3 Macao, 3-5 July 1834. Endorsed 'July 6, 1834'

153/1-2 Macao, 5-6 July 1834. Endorsed 'July 8, 1834'

154/1-2 Macao, 7-8 July 1834. Endorsed 'July 10, 1834'

155/1-3 Macao, 9-11 July 1834. Endorsed 'July 14, 1834'

156/1-2 Macao, 12-14 July 1834. Endorsed 'July 17, 1834'

157 Macao, 15-16 July 1834. Endorsed 'July 18, 1834'

158 Macao, 17 July 1834. Endorsed 'July 19, 1834'

1824-1834

158 items

Database description taken from that in: Richard Palmer, Catalogue of Western Manuscripts in the Wellcome Library for the History & Understanding of Medicine: Western Manuscripts 5120-6244 (London: The Wellcome Library for the History & Understanding of Medicine, 1999).