This fine original antique French edition Atlas of the travels of Sir John Barrow who accompanied Ambassador Lord Macartney during his travels in China in 1797 was translated from the English by M Henry & M Breton and published by V Lepetit. Paris in 1817 - dated.
This atlas contains 21 coloured & B&W copper-plate engraved prints, listed below.

The atlas covers have been removed with front title page - partially detached. The 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. Portrait de Van-ta-gin

2. Jonque pour les Voyages de long cours (Chinese Junks)

3. Chinois et Hottentot

4. Brouette a Voile (Wheelbarrow with sail)

5. Porte de Pakin

6. Palias de Yuen-min-Yuen

7. Parc oriental de Ge-hol

8. Jardins du Palais Imperial a Pekin

9. Caracteres Chinois & Medailles (Chinese Writing Characters & Money)

10. Artillerie, Mousquets &c. (Chinese Weapons)

11. Artillerie

13. Cloche de Pekin Gongs Cymbals &c.

14. Tcha ou Cangue, Exposition (Punishment of Prisoners)

15. Armes offensives & defensives (Chinese Weapons)

16. Ta ou Pagode (Chinese Pagoda)

17. Dame Chinoise avec son fils (Chinese Mother & Son)

18. Palais d un Mandarin

19. Village et Paysans (Village & Peasants)

20. Bateau passant sur un glacis (boats on a slipway)

21. Moulin a Riz (Rice thrasher)

Sir John Barrow (1764-1848),“Barrow's Travels in China. an Investigation Into the Origin and Authenticity in "Travels in China, by J. Barrow" Preceded by a Inquiry Into the Nature of the "Powerful Motive" and Influence on His Duties at the Chinese Capital, in 1793”.
Barrow an English statesman, was born in the village of Dragley Beck in the parish of Ulverston in Lancashire, on the ,9th of June 1764. He started in life as superintending clerk of an iron foundry at Liverpool and afterwards taught mathematics at a school in Greenwich. Through the interest of Sir George Staunton, to whose son he taught mathematics, he was attached on the first British embassy to China as comptroller of the household to Lord Macartney. He soon acquired a good knowledge of the Chinese language, on which he subsequently contributed interesting articles to the Quarterly Review; and the account of the embassy published by Sir George Staunton records many of Barrow's valuable contributions to literature and science connected with China.

Although Barrow ceased to be officially connected with Chinese affairs after the return of the embassy in 1794, he always took much interest in them, and on critical occasions was frequently consulted by the British government. In 1797 he accompanied Lord Macartney, as private secretary, in his important and delicate mission to settle the government of the newly acquired colony of the Cape of Good Hope. Barrow was entrusted with the task of reconciling the Boers and Kaffirs and of reporting on the country in the interior. On his return from his journey, in the course of which he visited all parts of the colony, he was appointed auditor-general of public accounts. He now decided to settle in South Africa, married Anne Maria Triiter, and in 1800 bought a house in Cape Town. But the surrender of the colony at the peace of Amiens (1802) upset this plan. He returned to England in 1804, was appointed by Lord Melville second secretary to the admiralty, a post which he held for forty years. He enjoyed the esteem and confidence of all the eleven chief lords who successively presided at the admiralty board during that period, and more especially of King William IV. while lord high admiral, who honoured him with tokens of his personal regard. Barrow was a fellow of the Royal Society, and in 1821 received the degree of LL.D. from Edinburgh University. A baronetcy was conferred on him by Sir Robert Peel in 1835. He retired from public life in 1845 and devoted himself to writing a history of the modern Arctic voyages of discovery (1846), of which he was a great promoter, as well as his autobiography, published in 1847. He died suddenly on the 23rd of November 1848.

Besides the numerous articles in the Quarterly Review already mentioned, Barrow published among other works, Travels in China (1804); Travels into the Interior of South Africa (1806); and lives of Lord Macartney (1807), Lord Anson (1839), Lord Howe (1838). He was also the author of several valuable contributions to the seventh edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica. See memoir of John Barlow, by G. F. Staunton (1852). (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

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