SWINHOE, Robert. Narrative of the North China Campaign of 1860; Containing Personal Experiences of Chinese Character, and of the Moral and Social Condition of the Country; Together with a Description of the Interior of Pekin.

SWINHOE, Robert. Narrative of the North China Campaign of 1860; Containing Personal Experiences of Chinese Character, and of the Moral and Social Condition of the Country; Together with a Description of the Interior of Pekin.SWINHOE, Robert. Narrative of the North China Campaign of 1860; Containing Personal Experiences of Chinese Character, and of the Moral and Social Condition of the Country; Together with a Description of the Interior of Pekin. London: Smith Elder. 1861. 8vo. Original cloth, ornamented and lettered in blind and gilt; pp. viii, 391, (i), 16 (publisher's catalogue, browned), tinted lithographed portrait frontispiece after a photograph by Felix Beaton, 4

SWINHOE, Robert. Narrative of the North China Campaign of 1860; Containing Personal Experiences of Chinese Character, and of the Moral and Social Condition of the Country; Together with a Description of the Interior of Pekin. London: Smith Elder. 1861.

8vo. Original cloth, ornamented and lettered in blind and gilt; pp. viii, 391, (i), 16 (publisher's catalogue, browned), tinted lithographed portrait frontispiece after a photograph by Felix Beaton, 4 lithograph plates, double-page plan; binding with expert restorations; occasional toning or spotting, still a good copy of an uncommon book.

First edition. Swinhoe, a naturalist and diplomat with long experience of the Far East here presents a narrative of the Second China War, a combined Anglo-French operation which had begun in 1856 against the Chinese Empire and which ended with Western defeat, damaging British and French prestige and emboldening the anti-Western faction at the Imperial court.

"Undeterred, an expeditionary force of 11,000 British and Indian soldiers, led by General Sir James Hope Grant, was despatched. This was reinforced by 6,000 French troops, commanded by General Charles Cousin-Montauban. Elgin again accompanied the force, which also consisted of 173 ships. On 1 August 1860, the Anglo-French landed at Peitang (Beitang), a couple of miles north of the Taku Forts. After defeating a small Chinese force, they captured some of the fortifications on the approaches to Taku. Then, on 21 August, Major-General Sir Robert Napier led his division, reinforced by a French contingent, against the North Fort. At first, the Chinese defenders put up a strong fight. But their lances, crossbows, and outdated muskets and cannon were no match for Anglo-French firepower. For the loss of 17 dead and 184 wounded, the North Fort’s walls were successfully breached and the garrison surrendered. The remaining fort and defences later surrendered without further resistance. The Chinese suffered terribly, not only from the ferocity of the Anglo-French attack, but also because in their chaotic retreat from the forts they fell victim to their own defensive spiked ditches" (Imperial War Museum, online). Swinhoe proved to be a good observer, and produced a colourful and lively narrative with observations of life, commerce and society of China.

SKU: 2121423