Desultory Notes on the Government and People of China, and on the Chinese Language

Preface; 1. On the false notions extant in England regarding China and the Chinese; 2. On the business style of the Chinese written language; 3. On the difficulty of learning the Chinese language; 4. On the colloquial Chinese as spoken by the Manchoos; 5. A new orthography adapted to the Pekin pronunciation of the colloquial Chinese; 6. On the intonations or tones, called Sheng by the Chinese; 7. Sketch of Kwang-tung; 8. On the rank, duties, and salaries of the mandarins; 9. On the Yamun and the various inhabitants; 10. On the Ti pau and the Tai shu; 11. On the cause of the long duration of the Chinese empire; 12. On the principal defects of the Chinese government; 13. On personating criminals; 14. On the extortions and oppressions of the mandarins; 15. On the internal stability of the Chinese empire; 16. On some of the more prominent features in the character and manners of the Chinese; 17. On the Chinese ignorance of foreign countries; 18. On the best means of putting an end to the general use of opium in China; 19. Application of the conclusion arrived in at note 11, to the policy and prospects of our own country.