Subjection

Among human beings, the subjection of women is much more complete at a certain level of civilisation than it is among savages. And the subjection is always reinforced by morality.

Maſters commands come with a power reſiſtleſs / To ſuch as owe them abſolute ſubjection; / And for a life who will not change his purpoſe? / (So mutable are all the ways of men) / Yet this be ſure, in nothing to comply / Scandalous or forbidden in our Law.

The smallest incidents were to serve as pretexts for demonstrations of force and for demands for indemnities and reparations which increased China's subjection. For example, in 1876 China was constrained to sign the Conventions of Chih-fu (near Yen-tʻai, in north-eastern Shantung) with Great Britain after the murder of an English interpreter on the borders of Yunnan and Burma; the result was five new 'open ports' on top of the fifteen or so already existing.