WILLIAMS (Samuel Wells).
[Shanghai].
1859.
Softcover.
PRINTED FOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION,WILLIAMS (Samuel Wells). Narrative of the American Embassy to Peking, in July, 1859. First edition. Good Copy of this Very Scarce Offprint from The Journal of The North China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. Vol.I. - No. III. - Art. VI, read before The Society, Shanghai, October 25th, 1859. Text block is clean. Covers have soiling. Spine is chipped and a very small 1/4 square inch piece is missing from the upper left cover corner. 8vo. 22 x 14 cm.Bound in original printed wrappers. 37pp. [Shanghai], 1859. An account of John Elliot Wards (1814-1902) mission to ratify the American portion of the Treaty of Tientsin which failed due to inopportune timing (Ward arrived just after the British had attacked the Taku forts) and his refusal to kowtow. In this brief narrative, two objects have been kept in view: One has been to describe the reception and proceedings of the American Embassy in its journey to the Chinese capital; the other to exhibit, more particularly, than would have been necessary had the Ambassador seen the Emperor, the discussions held with the Commissioners upon the ceremony required at the Chinese Court to show the views which it now entertains. (p. 29). No copy in OCLC.