20 FEBRUARY 1904, Page 14

WHEN WE SAVED CHINA.

[TO THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—With reference to the letter from Mr. Adkins in your last issue, will you allow me to say that I cannot for the moment lay my hand on my authority for the statement that Lord Elgin had it almost in his power to have reorganised China upon European principles, and to have assumed control of the Government with that idea ? I believe the statement was made by Dr•. Martin in his " Cycle of Cathay," but I must ask your correspondent to be patient pending my verification