MICHIE, Alexander.

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The Chinese Times [volumes I-V, a complete run]. The only complete run recorded in commerce of this invaluable source on expatriate life and socio-political developments in north China, including the title page and index for each volume.The influential weekly was edited by the British merchant Alexander Michie (1833-1902), who left Scotland aged 20 to find his fortune in Hong Kong and took an active role in Chinese political and military affairs. "After the drafting of the treaty of Tientsin (Tianjin), ratified in 1860, which proposed to open new ports in the north of China, Michie engaged in a secret trading expedition to the Gulf of Pecheli (Beizhili) in the spring of 1859, and was one of the first European traders to gain direct knowledge of Weihaiwei, Chefoo (Yantai), Newchwang (Yingkou), and other places on that then unexplored coast" (ODNB). During the Taiping Rebellion, he assisted Admiral Sir James Hope in his negotiations, staying in the rebel camp for several weeks to gather valuable military intelligence. In his later years, he became the doyen of the expatriate community in Tianjin.As outlined in the opening issue, his purpose in founding the Chinese Times "was not to compete with the Shanghai newspapers but rather to focus on news in the north. The newspaper would have leading articles, Michie wrote, but their purpose would be to 'espouse progress.' In general, the news would be allowed to tell its own story. Michie held to his purpose, and the Chinese Times may

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