LETTERS FROM ALEXANDER MICHIE

Alexander Michie (1833-1902), writer, explorer, businessman, Times correspondent and editor of The Chinese Times of Tientsin, wrote to Addis in 1886 inquiring after Mills, who had promised him an article and asking if Addis, whom he knew slightly, would also contribute. Addis began to write his 'Peking notes' for this paper, and then continued to write for the Shanghai paper The North-China Herald as 'Quidnunc'. It seems that Addis wrote not only about social life, for example, dances and entertainments, arrivals and departures, but also more important articles on missions and Chinese leaders. Michie, a widower, wrote not only complimentary letters about Addis's newspaper articles, but also of his personal views, future plans and of his early days in the East in the 1860s and 1870s as a strong friendship grew up between the two. In addition, he mentions Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) affairs, the British in China and internal politics.Michie left China for London in 1893, two years after The Chinese Times ceased publication. He returned for visits and remained in contact with Addis and Mills and died in England in 1902. The letters are mainly written from Tientsin or London. His son Alexander and daughter-in-law Kathleen remained family friends and Addis was godfather to their daughter Joyce. A number of personal letters from Kathleen Michie are preserved among the letters series and also some from Alexander Michie junior (PP MS 14/144).

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