A D V E R T I S E M E N T .
T he fentiments advanced in the prefentWork, and the point
o f view in which feme of the fads are confidered, being fo very
different, from the almoft univerfally received opinion, and
fome of them from the opinion of thofe to whole friendihip the
Author is particularly indebted for various literary communi-
cations, he thinks it right to declare, that they are the unbiaffed
conclufions of his own mind, founded altogether on his own
obfervations ; and he trufts that the Public, in confidenng him
alone refponfible, will receive them with its ufual candour.
T R A V L E S
T R A V E L S
I N
C H I N A.
C H A P . I.
, P R E L IM IN A R Y M A T T E R .
1-ntroduBion,— General View of what travellers are likely to meet with in .China,—
Mißaken Notions entertained with regard to the Britijb ErnbaJfy~correßed by the
Reception and treatment o f the fubfequent Dutch Embaßy,—- Suppofed Points' of
Failure in the former, as ßated by a French Mifftonary from Pekin, refuted
Kien Long’s Letter to the King o f Holland*— Difference of treatment experienced
by the two Embafftes explained,— Intrigues o f Mißionaries in foreign Countries,—
Pride arid Self-Importance o f the Chinefe Court,— L iß o f European Embafftes,
and the time o f their Abode in Pekin,— Goncliifton o f Preliminary Subject,
I T is hardly neceffary to obferve that, after the able and inte-
refting account of the proceedings and refult o f the Britilh
Embaffy to the court of China, by the late Sir George Staunton
(who was no lefs amiable for liberality o f fentiment, than
remarkable for vigour of intellect) it would be an idle, and,
indeed, a fuperfluous undertaking, in any other perfon who ac-
B companied