On realising that he had the edge on his rivals, music publisher John Brand moved quickly to secure one of Haydn’s peerless Quartets.

Aeneas Anderson, who accompanied Lord Macartney on Britain’s first embassy to China, shared a tale illustrating the Qianlong Emperor’s notion of fair play.

Edmund Burke expressed his frustration at the arrogance of politicians who have no regard for our Constitutional heritage.

Richard Price argued that the true patriot does not scold other countries for being worse than his own; he inspires his own country to be better than it is.

Ann Sancho would be in better health, said her husband, if she did not worry quite so much about him.

Chinese merchant Lien Chi tells a colleague that English liberties have little to do with elections, taxes and regulations.