In the transcription that follows, italic text is denoted by _underscores_ while bold text is denoted by =equal signs=. Small capitals in the original text have been transcribed as ALL CAPITALS. Superscripted text is prefixed by a caret (^) symbol. ———— See end of this document for details of corrections and other changes. —————————————————— Start of Book —————————————————— [Illustration: Decorative illustration facing the title page] THE ATTACHE AT PEKING BY A. B. FREEMAN-MITFORD, C.B. AUTHOR OF ‘TALES OF OLD JAPAN,’ ‘THE BAMBOO GARDEN,’ ETC. London MACMILLAN AND CO., LIMITED NEW YORK: THE MACMILLAN COMPANY 1900 _All rights reserved._ PREFACE These letters were written many years ago, but in China, and especially at Peking, the old order changes slowly, and they are at any rate a faithful record of the life which was led by those whose duties lay, as the Chinese say, “within the walls.” They profess no more than that. Those who wish to learn more about China and Chinese manners must go to that monumental work of the late Dr. Wells Williams, _The Middle Kingdom_, to Sir John Davies’s fascinating book, _The Chinese_, or to Professor Douglas’s book on Chinese society.