A Short History of China An Account for the General Reader of An Ancient Empire

Excerpt from the book: “This book, which I may be pardoned for saying is not an abridgment of my original work, but entirely re-written and re-arranged with the view of giving prominence to the modern history of the Chinese Empire, may appeal, although they generally treat Asiatic subjects with regrettable indifference, to that wider circle of English readers on whose opinion and efforts the development of our political and commercial relations with the greatest of Oriental States will mainly de