Category: Biographies
Born in the same year as Mr Gladstone, May 1809, John Rutherford Alcock[1] predeceased that statesman by only six months. His birthplace was Ealing, and he died in Westminster, after a residence there in retirement of twenty-seven years. Being a delicate infant, he was baptise...
Spontaneous fulfilment of treaties not to be expected -- Retreating attitude of foreign Ministers -- Repression of British tourists -- Hostility of Pekingese -- Conciliation fai...
17. CHAPTER XVII.Lorchas -- Outrage on the Arrow -- Question of access to city -- Tone of British Foreign Office -- Firm tone of British Government -- Destruction of Canton factories and flight...
11. CHAPTER XI.Trade the sole motive in all British and American dealings with China -- Simplicity of this trade -- Chief staple imports and exports -- Data for any review of Chinese trade --...
12. CHAPTER XII.The East Indiaman -- Opium clippers -- Coasting craft -- Trading explorations -- Yangtze -- Japan -- Ocean trade -- American shipping -- Gold in California -- Repeal of British...
9. CHAPTER IX.Shanghai -- Importance of its situation -- Consul Balfour -- Germ of municipal institutions -- The foreign settlements -- Confidence and civility of the natives -- Alcock appoin...
1. CHAPTER I.Born in the same year as Mr Gladstone, May 1809, John Rutherford Alcock[1] predeceased that statesman by only six months. His birthplace was Ealing, and he died in Westminster,...
13. CHAPTER XIII.In the preceding portions of this narrative it has been shown how much the character of the principal officials on both sides influenced the progress of events. There was, howev...
7. CHAPTER VII.The fundamental difficulty of giving effect to the treaty -- Necessity for thoroughness -- Character of Kiying, Imperial Commissioner -- His amicable relations with British Supe...
3. CHAPTER III.Its increase caused alarm to Chinese Government by throwing the balance of trade against China -- English manufacturers deplored the same fact -- Drain of silver -- Government o...
4. CHAPTER IV.Captain Elliot despatches his only ship to India with a report of the situation -- The helplessness of the British community and persecutions by the Chinese during three months...
14. CHAPTER XIV.Two British landmarks -- Chinese customs and Hongkong -- Choice of the island -- Vitality of colony -- Asylum for malefactors -- Chinese official hostility -- Commanding commerc...
2. CHAPTER II.Importance of appointment -- New position created by Treaty of Nanking -- Exceptional responsibility of the new consuls -- The evolution and scope of foreign intercourse -- Pion...
15. CHAPTER XV.Contrast with Hongkong -- An interesting survival -- Trading facilities -- Relations with Chinese Government -- Creditable to both parties -- Successful resistance to the Dutch...
8. CHAPTER VIII.Visit of Chinese commissioners to Hongkong -- A supplementary treaty negotiated -- Chinese thereby obtain control of junk trade of colony -- Vain efforts to recover the lost gro...
16. CHAPTER XVI.Association with Hongkong and Macao -- Activity of British navy in suppressing piracy -- Its historic importance -- Government relations with pirates -- The convoy system -- Gro...
5. CHAPTER V.A one-sided bargain -- Not deemed by Chinese obligatory -- Condemned by powerful parties -- The Chinese conscience against it -- Fulfilment therefore could not be voluntary -- T...
6. CHAPTER VI.Pretensions of British and Chinese irreconcilable -- International equality inconceivable by Chinese -- British aims as set forth by merchants -- The inadequacy of their demands...
10. CHAPTER X.Among serious students of the international problems arising out of the forced intercourse of the Western nations with China, Sir Rutherford Alcock occupies the first rank. In t...