Chinese Documents on Trade Regulations with the English

There are three Chinese documents concerning trade and interaction with the English. With the documents are English abstracts and modern Chinese translations created in 2018.

George Thomas Staunton was born at Milford House near Salisbury. When 12 years old he accompanied his father on Macartney's mission to China. He had begun to learn Chinese prior to the mission and as such was able to converse in Chinese. In 1798 he was appointed a writer in the British East India Company's factory at Canton, and subsequently its chief. In 1805 he translated a work of Dr George Pearson into Chinese. Five years later, he published an English translation of a significant part of the Chinese legal code.

In 1816 Staunton acted as second commissioner on a special mission to Beijing with Lord Amherst and Sir Henry Ellis but the embassy was unsuccessful and shortly after it departed back to Britain Staunton decided to leave China permanently. In 1820 he purchased the Leigh estate in Hampshire. He was a founder member of the Royal Asiatic Society.

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It is unknown how these documents came into the Society. They were housed with a letter from Thomas Weeding to donate the chop (customs document) from the boat Sarah. However these are not related to that letter. They were possibly donated by Staunton as he presented the Society with a number of Chinese documents and artefacts.

George Thomas Staunton was born at Milford House near Salisbury. When 12 years old he accompanied his father on Macartney's mission to China. He had begun to learn Chinese prior to the mission and as such was able to converse in Chinese. In 1798 he was appointed a writer in the British East India Company's factory at Canton, and subsequently its chief. In 1805 he translated a work of Dr George Pearson into Chinese. Five years later, he published an English translation of a significant part of the Chinese legal code.

In 1816 Staunton acted as second commissioner on a special mission to Beijing with Lord Amherst and Sir Henry Ellis but the embassy was unsuccessful and shortly after it departed back to Britain Staunton decided to leave China permanently. In 1820 he purchased the Leigh estate in Hampshire. He was a founder member of the Royal Asiatic Society.

This material was catalogued by Nancy Charley, RAS Archivist in 2018 after translation by RAS Volunteer, Fu Yang.

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It is unknown who owned these documents. They mention within them Sir George Thomas Staunton, who presented other Chinese documents to the Society. It is therefore possible that they had belonged to him.

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