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breadth of China, he will perhaps see cause to modify his opinion that Sir T. Wade withdrew the archives of the Legation from Peking on "insufficient grounds." The "insufficient grounds" connected with the question related rather to the Minister's earlier concessions than to the later acts of firmness he permitted himself to display. The complimentary address presented to Sir Thomas Wade at Shanghai judiciously shelves any allusion to the question of satisfaction, and the Minister's answer is far more honest and outspoken in this connection than the address which called it forth. He refers to the way in which his acts have been at times, "emphatically denounced," and rightly ascribes the compliment paid him to the respect always felt for rectitude of purpose. No one will deny him the credit due on this account. But the interests at stake are too large to allow a conscientious critic to lose sight of the injury done to them, because the official criticised is not open to disparagement on the score of honesty or scholarship.
But it is needless to enlarge on this question. The home press may safely be trusted to deal with the stultification of Her Majesty's speech which Sir Thomas Wade's diplomacy has secured, and a word in conclusion to Sir Charles Dilke is all that is necessary. He has utterly misrepresented foreigners in China both as to their views and their acts. He has gathered up the hasty expressions of opinion so often promulgated at the dinner table and used them as the basis of arguments both erroneous and unjust. His talents, his social influence, and his power of writing or saying a good thing increase the weight of dicta communicated to the public through the pages of an influential magazine. For all this he owes us some reparation. I have pointed out many of his mistakes and might point out more; but enough has been said to show that there is another side to the questions upon which
he pronounces in such ex cathedra style. It remains to be seen whether Sir Charles will attempt to justify or will withdraw his allegations.
3
N. B. DENNYS.
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391