New Evidence on the Authorship of "Titsingh's" Journal

126 New Evidence on the Authorship of "Titsingh1 s" Journal Dorothy B. Wright Dorothy W. Davis A manuscript in the British Library, Add. 18102. has been purported to be a French translation from the Dutch of a journal by Isaac Titsingh in which he records his experiences as First Ambassador of the Dutch embassy to the court of Ch'ien-lung in 1794 and 1795. The journal has been quoted as Titsingh' s by J.J. L. Duyvendak and also by CR. Boxer, who concluded that Titsingh was unhappy with the results of that embassy. A recent, close examination of a photocopy of Add. MS 18102. however, suggests that it is not Titsingh· s journal but that of another member of that embassy , probably Joseph de Guignes. The manuscript has a title page identifying it as Journal d'un voyage à Peking traduit du hollandais et du manuscript autographe de M. Titzinqh 22. xi. 1794 - 11. v. 1795. It includes an autograph (or facsimile?) of Isaac Titsingh. The document itself is an account of the last Dutch embassy to the court of Ch'ien-lung. It describes the journey from Canton to Peking in late 1794, the sojourn at Peking, and the return trip to Canton in the spring of 1795. J.J. L. Duyvendak took a "cursory look" at the manuscript and concluded that it was consistent with Titsingh' s Report to the 2 Commissioners-General at Batavia (written in Dutch) . However, the manuscript is much crossed-out and corrected, so that it is very difficult to read. A closer examination reveals that its author's activities did not correspond to those of Titsingh; hence, he - 127 could not have been the author. A few sample passages (here translated into English) illustrate this fact» Vol. I. p. 15 The ambassador [Titsingh] traveled in a palanquin and we in miserable porter-carried chairs. Vol. I. p. 19 The ambassador had his own bed — we took chair-cüshions and slept on a sofa. Vol. I. p. 35 The ambassador boarded the boat with van Braam, Blett, and myself. In 1808, Joseph de Guignes, an interpreter on the embassy, published an account of the journey in his book, Voyages a Peking. Manile. et L'Ile de France, faits dans l'intervalle des années 1784 à 1801. Many passages in de Guignes" book closely parallel passages in Add. MS 18102. and many of de Guignes' activities are identical to the actions of the manuscript's author. A few (translated ) examples followi Add. MS 18102de Guignes Vol. I. p. 114 (Jan. 9. 1795) Vol. I. p. 358 (Jan. 9. 1795) Before going to sleep, we In spite of our money and asked for supper, but could getsearching on the part of our nothing, although we had givenservants, we didn't succeed in money for it. Our Chinese wentobtaining anything at all for into the shops but were unableour supper and were obliged to to get anything. I had somecontent ourselves (all five of small Chinese rolls in myus) with a small piece of old pocket; we ate them and wentbiscuit which I fortunately to bed.had in my pocket. - 128 Add . MS 18102de Guiones Vol. I. p. 235 (March 1). Vol. II. p. 23 (March 1). Someone. . .had stolenI very nearly lost my my saddle and we were unablejournal ? fortunately for me, I to recover it. The manda-had taken it off my saddle to rins' servants brought mewhich I was accustomed to atanother , not a very good one.tach it. But at the moment of Fortunately, my portfoliodeparture when I wanted it, it wasn't attached. Other-could not be found. The manwise , I should have lostdarins after searching for it my journal.unsuccessfully, gave me another and we departed. Vol. II. p. 407 (May 4)» Vol. II. p. 130 (May 4) ! We entered the roomWe saw a very large god where there was a large sta-which the bonzes told us was tue; they told us it was mademade entirely of copper, entirely of copper... I While the priests were busy seized that moment when theelsewhere, it was possible for bonzes were busy in ano-me to strike it with my cane...