A Study On The Superintendents Of The Trade Of British Subjects In China, 1833-1838

After the failures of trying to establish diplomatic relations between Britain to China, the British government established the post of "Superintendents of the Trade of British Subjects in China" in 1833. The British government tried to adapt the Sino-Anglo intercourse by gentle means and intermediate state. The essential of the Superintendents is the special consular between Celestial Systems and the western world. This dissertation traces the origin, orders, admission, organization and practices of the Superintendents, and draws an outline of. the Superintendents before the end of 1838, thus tries to correct the misapprehension on the Superintendents and provides supplements to the historical fact on the Superintendents. So it may be helpful for the further study on the Superintendents of the Trade of British Subjects in China, and even on the modern Sino-foreign relations.