Primary Sources, Historical Collections

"The War in China: Narrative of the Chinese Expedition" offers a firsthand account of the First Opium War (1839-1842) from the perspective of Duncan MacPherson. This historical narrative details the formation and execution of the British military expedition to China, providing valuable insights into the strategies, challenges, and experiences of the British forces involved. MacPherson's account captures the complexities of this conflict, which significantly impacted China's relations with the West and shaped the course of 19th-century geopolitics.

With a foreword by T. S. Wentworth, this primary source document offers readers a unique opportunity to understand the events and perspectives of the time. The book sheds light on the naval aspects of the war, the cultural clashes between the British and Chinese, and the broader implications of the conflict for both nations. This edition ensures that MacPherson's important narrative remains accessible to historians, students, and anyone interested in this pivotal moment in world history.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.