The Lion and Dragon: Britain's first embassy to China

Until the 1790s, British attempts to establish direct contact with China had only served to increase the Chinese government's resistance to trade with the outside world. In 1792, Lord Macartney, a seasoned diplomat, was chosen to lead an Embassy.

View of one of the Western Gates of the City of Peking.
William Alexander: BL Pressmark 14001.i.38
© 1999 The British Library Board

This website contains images from the following books in English and French relating to Macartney's visit:

1. William Alexander. The Costume of China. 1805. BL Pressmark 142.f.16
2. William Alexander. Picturesque Representations. 1814. BL Pressmark 7744.gg.1
3. Aeneas Anderson. A Narrative of a Voyage to China. 1795. BL Pressmark 146.f.12
4. John Barrow. Life of Macartney. Vol.II. 1807. BL Pressmark G1972
5. John Barrow. Travels in China. 1804. BL Pressmark 146.e.21
6. Samuel Holmes. Voyage. 1798. BL Pressmark G2723
7. Johannes Huttner. Voyage a la Chine. 1799. BL Pressmark 1049.a.21
8. William Jardine Proudfoot. A Biography of James Dinwiddie. 1868. BL Pressmark 10825.aaa.8
9. Sir George Staunton. An Authentic Account of an Embassy. 1797. BL Pressmark 787.l.47