xii Preface to the Third Edition 



written in 1883, it will be seen that I predicted the 

 collapse that was then imminent, and demonstrated 

 the folly of continuing our attempts to conciliate 

 the corrupt camarilla ruling in Peking, and the worth- 

 lessness of China as an ally. It was this yielding 

 to the worst features of Chinese conservatism that 

 frustrated my original attempt to open the Upper 

 Yang-tse to steam. Now, at last, thanks to the 

 determination of the Japanese, and to our own 

 Government's fortunate change of front, since the 

 appointment to Peking of our present energetic 

 Minister, Sir Claude Macdonald, a pioneer steamer 

 has ascended to Chung-king, and the account of the 

 voyage is set forth in the last chapter of the book. 



Oriental Club, London, 

 October Tth, 1898. 



