China - Lot 702

China STAUTON (George Leonard), Sir - [MACARTNEY] An authentic account of an embassy from the King of Great Britain to the Emperor of China... with a relation of the voyage undertaken on the occasion by this Majesty's Ship the Lion, and the ship Hindostan... London, Bulmer and Co, 1797. 2 volumes in-4; illustrated with 2 frontispiece portraits of Emperor Tchien Lung and Lord Macartney. Some mid-text figures. A large atlas in folio with 43/44 plates, including a large folding map and 6 double-page plates. Contemporary speckled fawn calf, ornate smooth spines, black title-pieces, black tomaisons with small central mosaic pieces, rubbing to the spines, a split spine at the head, fine garland framing the boards, double fillet on rubbed edges, rubbing and minor defects (text). ½ period fawn basane, smooth ornate spine, black title-piece, leather missing at head and foot, jaws split at head, old rose paper boards, paper missing at edges and on cuts, rubbing. Official account of Lord Macartney's famous and unsuccessful journey to the Chinese emperor in 1792-94, by George Staunton, Macartney's principal secretary. Staunton accompanied Lord Macartney's embassy to China in 1792 as Principal Secretary. The stated aim of the embassy was to establish diplomatic relations and improve trade relations with China. Following an audience with the Chinese Emperor, their proposals were rejected. Staunton was a gifted observer, and this book recounts his observations, which extend to the botanical field. Staunton's account also describes the places visited during the expedition, including Madeira, Tenerife, Rio de Janeiro, Java, Sumatra and Cochinchina (Sinica 2382). This failure led to the establishment of the English colony of Hong Kong.