Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
East India Company Papers, 1787-1792
Overview of the Collection
- Title
- East India Company Papers
- Dates
- 1787-1792 (inclusive)17871792
- Quantity
- 2.5 linear feet of shelf space, (2 boxes plus oversize)
- Collection Number
- Cage 1697 (collection)
- Summary
- Instructions, accounts, lists, charters, and other papers presented to George Viscount Macartney, Great Britain's first ambassador to China, as he was to sail for his post.
- Repository
-
Washington State University Libraries' Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Terrell Library Suite 12
Pullman, WA
99164-5610
Telephone: 509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu - Access Restrictions
-
This collection is open and available for research use. Researchers may be asked to use preservation copies rather than originals.
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
"In September, 1792, George Viscount Macartney sailed from England to become Britain's first Ambassador to reach Peking. Although the Embassy was an official mission, its expenses were paid by the East India Company, which had a monopoly of British trade with China. Consequently the Ambassador received instructions from the Chairman (Francis Baring) and the Deputy Chairman (John Smith Burges) of the Court of Directors of the East India Company. These instructions were dated and signed at the East India House on September 8, 1792, and were transmitted together with thirty-three enclosures to his Lordship on September 9."
[From Earl Pritchard's introductory note, filed with the collection]
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Instructions, accounts, lists, charters, and other papers presented to George Viscount Macartney, Great Britain's first ambassador to China, as he was to sail for his post. The collection includes a total of 34 items, plus a set of preservation copies, and supporting documentation produced by Earl Pritchard.
The collection includes the original manuscripts (letter of instructions and 23 of the original enclosures), plus copies or abstracts of 6 others.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Preferred Citation
[Item Description] East India Company Papers, 1787-1792
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
This collection is arranged in a single series, in sequence by the original item number.
Acquisition Information
Earl Pritchard donated this collection to the Washington State University Libraries in 1937. He acquired these materials in 1931 from an English bookseller, Bernard Halliday. According to Pritchard's notes, Halliday split the collection into two parts. Pritchard acquired this portion, and he believed that the remainder was sold to a library in Tours, France.
Processing Note
This collection was processed by Cheryl Gunselman.
Related Materials
Earl Pritchard Papers on the 1792 Macartney Embassy to the Viceroy of Canton (Cage 4583).
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 1 | 1 | Supporting documentation: Earl Pritchard's introductory note (1937) and typed transcriptions of related documents | |
| 1 | 2 | Document 1: Letter from the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the East India Company to His Excellency Lord Viscount Macartney | 1792 September 8 |
| 1 | 3 | Document 6: Account of silver shipped on board the Hindostan at the disposal of the Ambassador, Bullion Office | 1792 September 6 |
| 1 | 3 | Document 7: Account of imprests to sundry persons on account of salary | 1792 |
| 1 | 3 | Document 8: Particulars of information wished to be obtained at China on the articles of raw silk and Nankeen cloth | 1792 |
| Oversize | Document 9: Deed of Covenants from Lord Viscount Macartney to the East India Company on his Appointment of Ambassador to China | 1792 August 29 | |
| 1 | 4 | Document 10: Copy of Deed of Covenants from Sir George Leonard Staunton Baronet to the East India Company on his succeeding to acting as Ambassador to China | 1792 |
| Oversize | Document 11: Form of Covenants signed by Ambassador's Suite | 1792 | |
| 1 | 5 | Document 13: Copy of a letter from the Secret Committee to the Select Committee at Canton | 1792 September 5 |
| 1 | 5 | Document 14: Copy of List of the Packet from the Secret Committee to the Select Committee at Canton | 1792 September 8 |
| 1 | 5 | Document 15: Copy of Covenants from Capt. Mackintosh as Commander of the Hindostan employed in the Service of the East India Company in the Embassy to China | 1792 August 29 |
| 1 | 5 | Document 16: Copy of Instructions from the Secret Committee to Capt. Mackintosh of the Hindostan | 1792 September 5 |
| 1 | 6 | Document 17: Copy of the Court's Instructions to Captain William Mackintosh | 1792 August 15 |
| 1 | 7 | Document 18: Manifest of Goods in Private Trade and Merchandise laden on board the Hindostan, Capt. Wm. Mackintosh | 1792 August 28 |
| 1 | 7 | Document 19: Manifest of Goods in Private Trade and Merchandise laden on board the Ship Hindostan Capt. Wm. Mackintosh in addition to his usual allowance | 1792 August 28 |
| 1 | 8 | Document 20: Copy of the Charter party of the Ship Hindostan for China, 1248 tons | 1792 June 20 |
| 1 | 9 | Document 21: Copy of a List of Packet to Captain William Mackintosh of the Ship Hindostan | 1792 |
| 1 | 9 | Document 22: Resolution of the Court of Directors authorizing the Ambassador to suspend or dismiss the Commander or the Officers of the Hindostan for breach of Orders | 1792 September 5 |
| 1 | 9 | Document 23: Copy of a Letter from the Secretary to Captain Mackintosh enclosing a Resolution of Court of the same date | 1792 September 5 |
| 1 | 10 | Document 24: Copy of Colonel Cathcart's instructions | 1787 November 30 |
| 1 | 11 | Document 26: Copy of instructions from the Chairman and Deputy Chairman to Messrs. Browne, Irwin and Jackson | 1792 April 25 |
| 1 | 12 | Document 31: Copy of List of the Packet delivered to Messrs. Browne, Irwin and Jackson | 1792 April 23 and 27 |
| 1 | 12 | Document 32: Estimate of Stock at China to March, 1794 | 1792 August 31 |
| 1 | 12 | Document 33: List of the Book Packet to His Excellency the Right Honorable Lord Viscount Macartney, K.B. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Emperor of China | 1792 September 9 |
| 1 | 12 | Document 34: References to the General Letters to Canton respecting Teas | 1792 |
| 1 | 13 | Ribbons and thread used to bind the documents (removed during conservation, 2013) | |
| 1 | 14 | Document list prepared by Earl Pritchard | |
| 2 | Preservation copies for entire collection, except documents 9 and 11 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Finding aid prepared by Cheryl Gunselman.
2015
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
