General Description
This fine original
antique French edition Atlas of the
travels of
Ambassador Lord Macartney travels in China between 1792
& 1794 was translated from the English by M Henry & M
Breton and published by V Lepetit. Paris in 1817 -
dated.
This atlas contains 22 B&W copper-plate engraved
prints, listed below.
The atlas covers have been removed with front title page
Pages are generally clean with light
aging to borders, overall VG, 8vo, each page size is 7in
x 5in (180mm x 125mm) The prints in order are;
1. Lord Macartney
2. Arbe a pain de
Singe (Monkey Tree)
3. Feuille de
Nopal avec Cochenille qui s y Nourit
4. Barque
Cochinchinoise (Chinese Barge)
5. Mandarin de
Curon
6. Insects qui
produisent la Cire de la Cochinchine (Insects
that produce the wax of the Cochin China)
7. Maniere de lever les Filets (Net fishing)
8. Pieds des Dames Chinoisec (feet of Chinese Ladies)
9. Chaise a
Porteurs (Chair Porters)
10. Maniere de transporter les Fardeaux (Carrying
freight)
12. Vue de la Grande Muraille de la Chinese (Great Wall
of China)
13. Portrait de l Empereur Cohien Long
14. Bourse et Sceptre de L Empereur (Money & Sceptre of
Emperor)
15. Fondateur de l Empire Chinois (Founder of Chinese
Empire)
16. Maniere de
elever L Eau (Water irrigation)
17. Charrue Chinoise (Plough)
18. Pecheurs portant leur canot et les Oiseaux avec les
quels ils prennent le poisson (Using ducks to catch
fish)
19. Maniere de degager le Riz de sa pellicule (Rice
farming)
20. Cha-wha ou
Camellia sesanqua (Camilla flower)
21. Pompe a Chaine
(Irrigation)
22. Grotte du
Camoens
Macartney, Sir George,
Earl Macartney, was born at Lissanoure, in the
northern part of the County of Antrim, 14th May 1737.
Having passed through Trinity College, he entered the
Middle Temple, made an extended tour of Europe (becoming
acquainted with Rousseau and other persons of eminence),
and shortly after his return home in 1764, was, through
an intimacy with Lord Holland, appointed a special envoy
to negotiate a commercial treaty with Russia. His
biographer says: "His knowledge of European politics
alone fitted him for the undertaking; but a graceful
person, with great suavity of manners, a conciliating
disposition, and winning address, were considered as no
slight recommendations at a female court, where such
accomplishments, it was fair to conclude, might work
their way, when great and unaccommodating talents alone
would prove ineffectual."
From September 1792 to September 1794, he spent abroad
as ambassador to China. The country was then little
known, and Lord Macartney's published account of his
embassy long continued the standard book of information
on Chinese matters. Commenting on his mission, a writer
says: "The amount of the benefit gained by this first
diplomatic communication on the part of England with the
Court of Pekin has been matter of dispute; but it is
generally agreed that no other person could have
accomplished more than was done by Lord MaCartney, whose
conduct at least was well calculated to impress the
subjects of the Celestial Empire with a respect for the
country which he represented."[97] In 1795 he was sent
on a confidential mission to Italy; and from November
1796 to November 1798 he was Governor of the Cape of
Good Hope, then newly captured from the Dutch. "There is
no praise," says Lord Melville, "to which he is not
entitled on the score of his government of the Cape."
All his nerve and tact were called forth in 1797 by an
attempted mutiny of the British fleet in Simon's Bay,
following the news of the mutiny at the Nore.
Impaired health obliged him to give up this, his last
official post, and return home. The Union gave him
unbounded satisfaction: writing during the negotiations,
he said: "I bow with admiration and respect to those by
whose wisdom this great and important object has been
brought so near to its completion. Considering many
things that have happened in my time, painful to
recollect and invidious to mention, I little imagined to
see this happy day. Thank God! I have seen it. I thank
the Father of all mercies that he has been graciously
pleased to prolong my days to this auspicious period.
The measure before us has my dying voice. It will
annihilate the vain hopes of a vain insidious foe from
without, and, I trust, will contribute to defeat the
projects of a dark and treacherous enemy within." His
last years were passed in retirement at Chiswick; his
enjoyment of the society of a large circle of eminent
men being lessened by severe sufferings from gout. He
died, childless, 31st March 1806, aged 68, and was
buried at Chiswick. In 1792 he had been created a
Viscount; in 1794 an Earl; and in 1796 a British peer.
His features were regular and well proportioned, his
countenance open, placid, and agreeable. He possessed
all the dignity of the " old school," without its
stiffness, and retained it in his dress, which he did
not materially alter for the last forty years of his
life.
(Ref
Clancy; Tooley; M&B)
General Description:
Paper thickness and quality: - Heavy and stable
Paper color: - off white
Age of map color: -
Colors used: -
General color appearance: -
Page size: - 7in x 5in (180mm x 125mm)
Imperfections:
Margins: - Light age toning
Plate area: - None
Verso: - None
|