本文探討了晚清時期清朝駐英公使館嘗試影響英國輿論的案子。它主要探討 清朝駐倫敦公使館、在其英文秘書馬格里（Halliday Macartney）影響下的新聞戰略和關係。1877年至1896年，馬格里運用了精心的英文語文技巧，其本人的名聲和與英國報社之關係，將清朝描繪成一個新興、接受合理（歐式）國際原則的國家。在這種描繪下，他鼓勵了英國人民相信中國會退出「例外主義」（exceptionalism）以及走向歐洲「文明國家」的慣例。這種邏輯下，使英國按照自己所公開聲明的標準上更公平地對待中國。倫敦公使館所採用的媒體策略，於1877年至1893年取得了一些成功，然後因中國在甲午戰爭的失敗以及公使館企圖綁架孫中山的事件等原因，公使館對英國新聞的影響力有所下降。這個情節暗示中國十九世紀末期公使館被忽視的創新和活力，並提出了一個中國領域外的中國政府歷史。馬格里所扮演的角色，同時也提供了一個跨國歷史（transnational history）和跨國生活（transnational lives）於中國十九世紀後期國家發展中產生作用的例子。

This essay examines a late Qing effort to shape the image of China in the British press, as guided by the Qing's London legation and its representative Halliday Macartney. Between 1877 and 1896, this legation used carefully-crafted English rhetoric, as well as Macartney's press connections and standing as a British subject, to portray the Qing as an emerging nation committed to rational international principles. In this depiction of a “China in European dress,” the image spoke directly to British hopes that China was retreating from ”exceptionalism” and advancing toward the ”usages of civilized nations.” The representation logically mandated that Britain treat the Qing more equitably, in accordance with its own publically-stated standards. The initiative enjoyed some success, 1877-1893. Positive press coverage, however, had eroded by 1896 as a result of China's defeat in the Sino-Japanese War and the public disgrace incurred by the legation's attempted ”kidnapping” of Sun Yat-sen. These developments, suggestive of the innovation and vitality of China's late nineteenth century legations, constitute a case of Chinese governmental history occurring beyond China. In the role of Halliday Macartney, a Scotsman in Chinese service, they also provide an example of transnational history, and the role of transnational lives, in China's late nineteenth century national development.