A Narrative of the British Embassy to China, in the Years 1792, 1793 and 1794: Containing the Various Circumstances of the Embassy, with Accounts of Customs and Manners of the Chinese, and a Description of the Country, Towns, Cities, &c.

London for J. Debrett, 1795, Contemporary tan calf, marbled boards, red morocco gilt title-piece, a little scuffing to marbled boards, otherwise a very nice copy.

First Edition. The account made by Aeneas Anderson of Macartney’s British Embassy to Peking in 1792-1794.. This was the first account of the embassy to be published and as Macartney’s personal servant Anderson was well-placed to record the course of events, which ended in disappointment for the British. In addition to a chronological description Anderson provides a “list of the gentlemen who composed the retinue of Earl Macartney”, an appendix containing “an account of the transactions of the squadron during the absence of the embassy, till their return on board his Majesty’s ship the Lion at Wampoa” and a short “glossary of Chinese words”. Anderson was assisted in preparing the work by the writer William Combe.

Bookplate of Lord Forbes