I would say it's safe to assume that Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel, "Uncle Tom's Cabin," was hugely popular with abolitionists around the world. The book was the 2nd-best selling book of the 19th century -- coming in behind only the Bible (the perennial bestseller).
The 26 leather bound volumes contained signatures from British women from all across the globe who implored their sisters in America to keep up the fight to free the slaves. The impact of Stowe's book shows that what can be done fighting with the pen is just as mighty as what might be done with a sword!
it was easier for Europeans to cross the Atlantic than for Chinese to cross the Pacific. Secondly, Europeans were motivated by the desire to access China's legendary wealth whereas Chinese had no such incentive for exploration. However, both these reasons are debatable.
