An Authentic Account of an Embassy from the King of Great Britain to the Emperor of China
Taken Chiefly from the Papers of His Excellency the Earl of Macartney

A two-volume account of Britain's 1792 diplomatic mission to China published in 1797 by a member of the delegation.

George Staunton (Author)

9781108045612, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 10 May 2012

656 pages, 20 b/w illus.
29.7 x 21 x 3.3 cm, 1.55 kg

George Leonard Staunton (1737–1801) arrived in China in 1792 as a member of a British delegation whose objective was to improve trade and establish better diplomatic relations with the Chinese, who, at the time, restricted economic activity with foreigners to the port of Canton (Guangzhou). Although the group managed to secure an audience with the Qianlong Emperor - to whom the British envoy Lord Macartney famously refused to kowtow - their mission failed. Staunton kept detailed notes throughout his time in China, and in 1797 this two-volume account of the visit was published, and later translated into French and German. Volume 2 describes in detail the Emperor's reception of the British delegation - including a description and discussion of the kowtowing incident - thus giving a rare glimpse into the Imperial court at a time when Westerners were almost never allowed access. Staunton also provides further descriptions of the delegation's travels around China.

1. Progress of the embassy along the River Pei-Ho, towards the capital of China. Departure of the ships from the Gulf of Pe-Che-Lee
2. Embassy lands near Tong-Choo-Foo
proceeds through Pekin to a palace in its neighbourhood. Returns to the capital
3. Journey to the northern frontier of China. View of the Great Wall. Visit to the Emperor's court at his summer's residence in Tartary
4. Return to Pekin. Observations and occurrences there, and at Yuen-Min-Yuen
5. Departure from Pekin. Journey to Han-Choo-Foo, partly upon the Imperial canal
6. Han-Choo-Foo. Journey from thence to Chu-San
and also to Canton. Passage of the Lion and Hindostan from the former to the latter
7. Residence of the embassy at Canton, and at Macao
8. Passage to St. Helena
notices of that island. Return home
Appendix.

Subject Areas: Asian history [HBJF]