世界近现代史的一个突出特点就是殖民扩张、殖民征服、殖民统治,鸦片战争正是这种殖民主义活动的必然结果。关于鸦片战争的历史,中外学者已有广泛的研究。然而,对鸦片战争前英国人在观察与认识中国的历史过程中对中国的评价,以及这种评价与英国对华政策有何关系却缺乏考察,本文 One of the salient features of the modern history of the world is colonial expansion. The colonial conquest, colonial rule and the Opium War are the inevitable result of such colonial activities. About the history of the Opium War, Chinese and foreign scholars have extensive research. However, the evaluation of China in the history of the British people before the Opium War in observing and understanding China and the relationship between this appraisal and the British policy towards China lacks the examination.