"The friction and fog or The pharmacological War" Topic

"In 1834, the British Government could not have sent a worse person with the worst set of instructions to China. The British Parliament chose William Napier, a Scottish lord, to be the Chief Superintendent of Trade in East Asia. Lord Napier had no experience with Chinese culture or traditions, but was nonetheless sent to Canton to take-up residence as the King's representative and to ensure unfettered access to the Chinese market. However, setting up residence on Chinese soil without first visiting the Chinese Imperial court and kowtowing to the emperor was a violation of the Middle Kingdom's laws. The importation of opium, something the British had been smuggling into China well before the arrival of Napier, was also illegal, and he ensured that it continued.

Through an epic series of miscommunication between Napier and representatives of the Chinese Emperor, naval clashes between the two sides erupted shortly after his arrival. The British use of naval power to force the Chinese to accept a drug that was illegal in both China and Great Britain laid the foundation for the Opium Wars. By the time of his death from typhus, Napier would still not know that the Chinese translated his name, not as Lord Napier, but as "Laboriously Vile."

Laboriously vile might have also described the widespread opium abuse that deeply affected the kingdom's ability to protect itself. The Chinese may have lost the Opium War due to the mismatch in firepower, but it did not help that 90 percent of the Emperor's forces were addicted to opium. Strung out or high is no way to face the Royal Navy…"
Full article here
link

Amicalement
Armand

Sorry… cannot crossport to Modern Media… maybe Bill can do it?…

Amicalement
Armand

Seems not…! (smile)

Amicalement
Armand