The sovereign is not referred to by name, the terms Kwanghsu, Tungchih, and so forth, being the Chinese characters chosen to designate, or, as we might say, idealise the reign, in the same way as impersonal titles are selected for houses of business. I desire to express my deep obligation to Sir Rutherford Alcock's stepdaughter Amy, Lady Pelly, without whose efficient aid the book could not have been compiled. It is a subject of regret to all concerned that Lady Alcock herself did not live to see the completion of a task in the inception of which she took a keen and loving interest. To the other friends who have in different ways helped in the production of the book, and particularly to Mr William Keswick, M.P., for the loan of his valuable Chinnery and Crealock drawings, my best thanks are due. A. M. LONDON, _November 2nd, 1900_. _Postscript._--The legend on the front cover is a paraphrase of Chapter xxiii., Book xv., of the Analects of Confucius, Dr Legge's translation of which has been adopted by me as the motto of these volumes. CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME. CHAP. PAGE I. THE ARMY SURGEON-- I. YOUTH 1 II. THE PENINSULA, 1832-1837 8 III. ENGLAND, 1838-1844 23 II. SENT TO CHINA 29 FOREIGN RELATIONS WITH CHINA 31 III. ANTECEDENTS OF THE WAR-- I. THE OPIUM TRADE 42 II. THE SEQUEL TO THE SURRENDER OF OPIUM 55 IV. THE FIRST CHINA WAR, 1839-1842 60 V. THE TREATY OF 1842 78 VI. THE FRUITS OF THE WAR AND PROSPECTS OF PEACE 86 VII. THE NEW INTERCOURSE: CANTON, 1842-1847 93 VIII. THE NEW TREATY PORTS--FOOCHOW, AMOY, NINGPO 112 IX. SHANGHAI 124 I. THE TSINGPU AFFAIR 129 II. REBELLION 135 III. THE CHINESE MARITIME CUSTOMS 143 IV. CREATION OF THE FOREIGN CUSTOMS 149 V. MR ALCOCK'S DEPARTURE FROM SHANGHAI 156 X. CONSUL ALCOCK'S VIEWS ON GENERAL POLICY 161