Thomas Francis Wade

“ So much has been said and written for and against Sir Thomas Wade's system of transliteration that we will here add no more to this perennial argument than a request to the tyro: and that is, to remember that it is the only system of romanisation which has so far attained any widespread and lasting success. ”

“ In producing the present reprint of Sir Thomas Wade's great work in an abridged form, the Publishers have acted upon advice which was approved by Sir Walter Hillier — the joint Author of the 2nd edition published in 1886 — and also with the sanction of Sir Thomas Wade's executors.
Since 1886 so many new text-books on Colloquial Chinese have appeared, that much of the “Tzŭ Êrh Chi” has been superseded in the curriculum of studies prescribed for Student Interpreters in the British Legation. ”

“ The “Hundred Lessons” and “Graduate’s Wooing” have been abandoned for many years in favour of other works, and as the “Tzŭ Êrh Chi” was primarily intended for the use of Consular Students it was decided for the time being at least to reprint only those Parts which have continued to hold their own as a text-book. ”