The dull catalogue of common things
29th Aug 2025 - Reading and writing
Sometimes when you are deep in reading, you get a jolt, a few lines or a paragraph which pulls you
December 22, 2025
George Thomas Staunton was 12 years old when he accompanied his father Sir George Leonard Staunton and Lord Macartney (and a few hundred others) on the great British Embassy to the Qianlong Emperor in 1792-1794. Several first-hand accounts of the event were published in subsequent years, and many commentaries on it right up to the present day. One publication that seems to be missing is that of the diaries of young George Staunton. They are among his papers held at Duke University, and cover the period of August 1793 to February 1794, from the time of the Embassy’s travel to the Emperor’s summer palace at Jehol, and its return to Peking, then the long inland journey to Canton, Macau and home. This diary has been digitised and made available by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library of Duke University, North Carolina. A transcription and light editing can be read here.
29th Aug 2025 - Reading and writing
Sometimes when you are deep in reading, you get a jolt, a few lines or a paragraph which pulls you
9th Mar 2024 - Blog
William Curling Young (1815-1842) was part of a family heavily involved in colonial policy and initiatives. In the end he