Chinese School, circa 1830

The missionary Rev'd Robert Morrison arrived in Canton in 1807 and was working as a translator for the East India Company by 1809. His major works were a Grammar of the Chinese Language (1815), a Dictionary of the Chinese Language, in three parts (completed in 1823) and his translation of the Bible into Chinese (completed in 1819 and published in 1823). He had minimal success in converting the Chinese to Christianity. Morrison's knowledge of Cantonese and Mandarin had a role in helping to facilitate trade between China and the West -- he acted as interpreter on Lord Amherst's Embassy to Peking in 1816 (for which see lot 96), later publishing his own account of the abortive mission, and in 1834 was appointed Chinese Secretary and Interpreter to Lord Napier, Superintendent for Trade with China.