An Authentic Account of An Embassy from the King of Great Britain to the Emperor of China; ...Together with a relation of the Voyage undertaken on the occasion by H.M.S. The Lion, and the Ship Hindostan, in the East India Company's service, to the Yellow Sea, and Gulf of Pekin; ... Taken chiefly from the papers of His Excellency the Earl of Macartney, ...

2 vols. plus Atlas. Lond: Printed by W. Bulmer, 1797. Text vols. in 4to. full diced calf, hinges repaired, Atlas folio, matching half calf over marbled sides, rebacked to match text. Spines uniformly gilt, with 2 engraved frontispieces, 26 engravings in text, and 44 plates & maps in Atlas some of which are folded.

On September 21, 1792, Lord Macartney set sail from Spithead charged with Britain’s first official embassy to China. The embassy was conceived on a grandiose scale for the aim was to break down the aged Emperor Chien-Lung’s disdain and suspicion of Europeans; he was to be dazzled by the grandeur of the British delegation and the cargo of rich presents. Staunton, a medical doctor and friend of Dr Johnson, had already served in many diplomatic posts, some as aide-de-camp to Lord Macartney, when governor of the Caribbee Islands in the West Indies. When Macartney was appointed governor at Madras, Staunton accompanied him as secretary. After a period of retirement he was again called to serve Macartney, as secretary to the embassy to China. He compiled this book chiefly from the papers of the Ambassador and his fellow envoys. His work was remarkably successful: fifteen editions were issued in seven countries in thirty years. The account of this famous Embassy was prepared at Government expense. Apart from its Chinese importance, it is of considerable interest owing to the descriptions of the various places en route which were visited, including Madeira, Teneriff, Rio de Janeiro, St. Helena, Tristan d’Acunha, Amsterdam Island, Java, Sumatra, Cochin-China etc.