a-k'ing died in 1820. The event fraught with the
greatest consequences to China which occurred in his reign (though at
the time it attracted little attention) was the arrival of the first
Protestant missionary, Dr R. Morrison (q.v.), who reached Canton in
1807.

Tao-kwang (1820-1850), the new emperor, though possessed in his early
years of considerable energy, had no sooner ascended the throne than he
gave himself up to the pursuit of pleasure. The reforms which his first
manifestoes foreshadowed never seriously occupied his attention.
Insurrection occurred in Formosa, Kwang-si, Ho-nan and other parts of
the empire, and the Triad Society, which had originated during the reign
of K'ang-hi, again became formidable.

War with Great Britain, 1840.

More important to the future of the country than the internal
disturbances was the new attitude taken at this time towards China by
the nations of Europe. Hitherto the European missionaries and traders in
China had been dependent upon the goodwill of the Chinese. The
Portuguese had been allowed to settle at Macao (q.v.) for some
centuries; Roman Catholic missionaries since the time of Ricci had been
alternately patronized and persecuted; Protestant missionaries had
scarcely gained a foothold; the Europeans allowed to trade at Canton
continued to suffer under vexatious regulations--the Chinese in general
regarded Europeans as barbarians, "foreign devils." Of the armed
strength of Europe they were ignorant. They were now to be undeceived,
Great Britain being the first power to take action. The hardships
inflicted on the British merchants at Canton became so unbearable that
when, in 1834, the monopoly of the East India Company ceased, the
British government sent Lord Napier as minister to superintend the
foreign trade at that port. Lord Napier was inadequately supported, and
the anxieties of his position brought on an attack of fever, from which
he died at Macao after a few months' residence in China. The chief cause
of complaint adduced by the mandarins was the introduction of opium by
the merchants, and for years they attempted by every means in their
power to put a stop to its importation. At length Captain (afterwards
Admiral Sir Charles) Elliot, the superintendent of trade, in 1839 agreed
that all the opium in the hands of Englishmen should be given up to the
native authorities, and he exacted a pledge from the merchants that they
would no longer deal in the drug. On the