Traces the earliest contacts between the United States and China from the years following the American Revolution until the advent of the steamship.

The war for independence ends -- An unfinished voyage -- The Empress of China sails away -- A new flag at Whampoa -- Arrival at Canton -- Hong merchants in the celestial empire -- Foreign life in Canton -- Americans in the hongs -- The brew of the immortals -- A chinese secret: silk -- Ships' ballast -- Life aboard a China trader -- New York takes the lead -- The first millionaire in America -- Captains from Salem -- The Cleveland family -- Adventurers from Salem -- Boston makes its mark -- Boston's captains and merchants -- Sailing ships and cotton mills -- Sails, seals, and sandalwood -- The Baltimore clippers -- Philadelphia sends its ships -- Illegal opium -- The opium war -- The clipper ships.