My dear MacGregor,
You write me that you are at work on the story of the tea-trade from China under sail.

Foreword.

There is a glamour attached to everything connected with tea clippers that raises them above the level of the other already over-publicized clippers.

Preface.

The story of the British trade with China falls into three parts: the monopoly of the East India Company when all trade was centered on Canton; the days of free trade at Treaty Ports when the sailing ship was still supreme; and thirdly, the rapid expansion of trade in the age of steamers.

Part one. The trade.