28 NOVEMBER 1891, Page 15

CHINESE SECRET SOCIETIES.

[To THE EDITOR Or THE "SPECTATOR."]

notice in the Spectator for August 29th, the resume of an article on "Chinese Secret Societies," by Mr. Frederick Boyle, in the course of which one not very important state- ment is credited to me by the reviewer.

Permit me to say that, as far as I can judge, nearly one- half the particulars therein given are taken bodily from my "Waifs and Strays from the Far East," published in the year 1876. Further, that all the details concerning Secret Societies -contained in that book—the result of original research— were embodied by me, with the addition of many others, in a -paper read before the Manchester Geographical Society on March 4th, 1891.-1 am, Sir, &c.,