first-class power; it is too near the sea."

The second memorandum was of greater importance and more general
application. In it he compressed the main heads of his advice into the
smallest possible space, and so far as it was at all feasible to treat
a vast and complicated subject within the limits of a simple and
practical scheme, he therein shows with the greatest clearness how the
regeneration of China might be brought about.

"In spite of the opinion of some foreigners, it will be generally
acknowledged that the Chinese are contented and happy, that the
country is rich and prosperous, and that the people are _au fond_
united in their sentiments, and ardently desire to remain a
nation. At constant intervals, however, the whole of this human
hive is stirred by some dispute between the Pekin Government and
some foreign Power; the Chinese people, proud of their ancient
prestige, applaud the high tone taken up by the Pekin Government,
crediting the Government with the power to support their strong
words. This goes on for a time, when the Government gives in, and
corresponding vexation is felt by the people. The recurrence of
these disputes, the inevitable surrender ultimately of the Pekin
Government, has the tendency of shaking the Chinese people's
confidence in the Central Government. The Central Government
appreciates the fact that, little by little, this prestige is
being destroyed by their own actions among the Chinese people,
each crisis then becomes more accentuated or difficult to
surmount, as the Central Government know each concession is
another nail in their coffin. The Central Government fear that
the taking up of a spirited position by any pre-eminent Chinese
would carry the Chinese people with him, and therefore the
Central Government endeavour to keep up appearances, and to skirt
the precipice of war as near as they possibly can, while never
intending to enter into war.

"The Central Government residing in the extremity of the Middle
Kingdom, away from the great influences which are now working in
China, can never alter one iota from what they were years ago:
they are being steadily left behind by the people they govern.
They know this, and endeavour to stem these influences in all
ways in their power, hoping to keep the people backward and in
ignora