About two years ago I had occasion to go thoroughly into the question ofthe opium-trade between India and China. Up to that time, knowingpractically nothing about the matter except what the Anti-Opium Societyand their supporters had to say on the subject, I was as zealous anopponent of the traffic as any of them could wish. But as soon as I cameto read both sides of the question, and consult original authorities, Ifelt myself forced, much against my will at first, to abandon my previousopinions. And I may as well say at once that I have no personal interestwhatever, direct or indirect, in the maintenance or defence of thetraffic. My only wish has been to treat the[Pg iv] question on the broadprinciples of practical justice, and not in deference to that cosmopolitanpatriotism which would have us love our neighbour not indeed as ourselves,but much more than ourselves. The object therefore of this little work isto clear the fair name of England from the foul aspersions cast upon it bya comparatively small body of well-meaning but misguided philanthropists.

C. R. HAINES.

Dover, June 16, 1884.