Details
AMHERST, William Pitt (1773-1857, Earl Amherst of Arracan). Forty-one autograph letters signed to his wife, Lady Amherst, Madeira, Rio de Janeiro, 'Alceste at Sea', Cape of Good Hope, Batavia, China Seas, Hong Kong, 'Mouth of the White River', Canton, St Helena, Ascension and other places, 16 February 1816-22 July 1817, writing during his voyage to and from China, where he was to carry out a diplomatic mission to the Emperor, approximately 182 pages, 4to, address panels, four 'Ship Letter' marks, traces of seals (a few small tears). One autograph letter signed by his son Jeffrey, n.p. [Madeira], n.d., 10 pages, 4to and a copy in a contemporary hand of a letter by Jeffrey to his sister, Sarah, Batavia, 2 March 1817, describing the shipwreck of the 'Alceste'. Lord Amherst's 'visiting card' (described in a letter of 9 August 1816 as 'one of my dress and undress Visiting Tickets'), giving his titles and presenting his compliments, printed in English and in Chinese characters, on the outer fold of a scroll of pink paper (250 x 110mm. folded). McLEOD, John (surgeon on board the Alceste). Voyage of Her Majesty's Ship Alceste to China, Corea and the Island of Lewchew with an account of her shipwreck, 3rd edition, London 1819, 8vo. Five small portrait engravings (printed), and other related material.
Following the ending of the Napoleonic wars, the British Government, acting partly in response to the vociferous complaints of the English merchants at Canton of the injustices and extortionate practices of the Chinese mandarins, appointed Lord Amherst as Ambassador Extraordinary to the Emperor Kea K'ing, to make representations at the mandarins' behaviour, also to profess the friendship of the British Crown and inform him of events in Europe. Lord Amherst's letters describe his experiences on the voyage to undertake this difficult mission which culminated in a major diplomatic fiasco (reported, for reasons of discretion, only briefly in the letters to his wife). The homeward journey was violently interrupted by the shipwreck of the 'Alceste' off Batavia.
The long voyage to the China Sea was often tedious. In 'oppressive weather', Lord Amherst notes the effects on the health of the passengers and crew - the servants suffering more from the mercury prescribed as a cure than from their original complaints. But also he tries out his shower bath 'and enjoyed it exceedingly', records dancing on the decks, and writes of the novelty of seeing flying fish, Portuguese Men-of-War and porpoises. He reassures his wife of her son's safety, and often of his own devotion and nostalgia for home. News is received that the Emperor has arranged for Mandarins to await his arrival and conduct him to Peking, but Amherst is uneasy, 'I am still full of misgivings as to what may happen between here and Peking'.
His misgivings were more than justified when the mission foundered upon the insuperable obstacle of the Mandarins' demand that the ambassador should perform the Kow-Tow to the Emperor - prostrating himself to the ground nine times. Amherst steadfastly refused to promise more than the bow which he would have made to the Prince Regent in England, and the Mandarins were equally adamant in declining to 'Kow-Tow' to the Prince Regent's portrait as a reciprocal gesture. The embassy was summarily dismissed, from the outskirts of Peking.
After nearly five months' silence, the disconsolate Amherst was able to write again to his wife, on regaining the 'Alceste' at Canton on 4 January 1817. The remaining letters record the homeward voyage, including the shipwreck of the 'Alceste' which 'remained providentially on the rock on which she struck....', the long delay at Batavia, being entertained by Sir Hudson Lowe on St Helena where 'I had a long interview with Bonaparte, the particulars of which I must reserve till we meet', referring also to family matters and news from London, and many times declaring how much he misses his family. Despite the complete failure of his mission, and his evident anxiety and distress at the probable consequences, it was recognised that Amherst was not responsible, and in 1823 he was appointed Governor General of India.
John McLeod, the ship's surgeon, recorded in his book his own vivid recollections of the vicissitudes and adventures of the passengers and crew of the 'Alceste' on their long and hazardous undertaking. (41)
Following the ending of the Napoleonic wars, the British Government, acting partly in response to the vociferous complaints of the English merchants at Canton of the injustices and extortionate practices of the Chinese mandarins, appointed Lord Amherst as Ambassador Extraordinary to the Emperor Kea K'ing, to make representations at the mandarins' behaviour, also to profess the friendship of the British Crown and inform him of events in Europe. Lord Amherst's letters describe his experiences on the voyage to undertake this difficult mission which culminated in a major diplomatic fiasco (reported, for reasons of discretion, only briefly in the letters to his wife). The homeward journey was violently interrupted by the shipwreck of the 'Alceste' off Batavia.
The long voyage to the China Sea was often tedious. In 'oppressive weather', Lord Amherst notes the effects on the health of the passengers and crew - the servants suffering more from the mercury prescribed as a cure than from their original complaints. But also he tries out his shower bath 'and enjoyed it exceedingly', records dancing on the decks, and writes of the novelty of seeing flying fish, Portuguese Men-of-War and porpoises. He reassures his wife of her son's safety, and often of his own devotion and nostalgia for home. News is received that the Emperor has arranged for Mandarins to await his arrival and conduct him to Peking, but Amherst is uneasy, 'I am still full of misgivings as to what may happen between here and Peking'.
His misgivings were more than justified when the mission foundered upon the insuperable obstacle of the Mandarins' demand that the ambassador should perform the Kow-Tow to the Emperor - prostrating himself to the ground nine times. Amherst steadfastly refused to promise more than the bow which he would have made to the Prince Regent in England, and the Mandarins were equally adamant in declining to 'Kow-Tow' to the Prince Regent's portrait as a reciprocal gesture. The embassy was summarily dismissed, from the outskirts of Peking.
After nearly five months' silence, the disconsolate Amherst was able to write again to his wife, on regaining the 'Alceste' at Canton on 4 January 1817. The remaining letters record the homeward voyage, including the shipwreck of the 'Alceste' which 'remained providentially on the rock on which she struck....', the long delay at Batavia, being entertained by Sir Hudson Lowe on St Helena where 'I had a long interview with Bonaparte, the particulars of which I must reserve till we meet', referring also to family matters and news from London, and many times declaring how much he misses his family. Despite the complete failure of his mission, and his evident anxiety and distress at the probable consequences, it was recognised that Amherst was not responsible, and in 1823 he was appointed Governor General of India.
John McLeod, the ship's surgeon, recorded in his book his own vivid recollections of the vicissitudes and adventures of the passengers and crew of the 'Alceste' on their long and hazardous undertaking. (41)