The Chinese: a general description of the empire of China and its inhabitants

New York: Harper & Brothers, 1836. First American edition, 2 volumes, 12mo, pp. [iii]-viii, [1], 10-383, [1]; [iii]-viii, [1], 10-440, 4 (ads); engraved folding map, 25 wood-engraved illustrations in the text, a number full-page; original brown cloth stamped in gilt on spines; spine slightly sunned; all else near fine. With the ownership signature on the title pages of William B. Shubrick (1790-1874) of both volumes. Shubrick "studied at Harvard before accepting an appointment as a midshipman in 1806. He served in the Mediterranean on USS Wasp. It was aboard this ship where he met his lifelong friend James Fenimore Cooper, In 1809 he served in Argus along the Atlantic coast of the United States. After duty in Hornet early in the War of 1812, he was assigned to Constellation; and, while that frigate was at Norfolk, Virginia, he led a party of bluejackets in beating off a British boat attack against Craney Island on 22 June 1813. He subsequently won a Congressional medal for service in Constitution during her capture of HMS Cyane and Levant. In 1832, he led lieutenant Henry K. Hoff and a division of bluejackets and marines of the frigate Potomac in the Battle of Quallah Battoo. "During the subsequent decades before the Mexican-American War, Shubrick commanded, in turn, Lexington and Natchez; directed operation of the West Indies Squadron from 1838 to 1840; and headed the Bureau of Provisions and Clothing from 1845 to 1846.At the outbreak of the war with Mexico, Shubrick requested sea duty and, in Independence, sailed for the California coast to relieve Commodore John D. Sloat in command of American Naval forces there. However, Commodore James Biddle brought his East India Squadron to Monterey, California, on 2 January 1847 only a week after Shubrick's arrival, and assumed command. In April, Shubrick sailed for the coast of Mexico to head the blockade of Guaymas and Mazatlán. Early in June, Shubrick was recalled to California where Biddle restored him to overall command on 19 July and sailed for the East Coast" (See Ranger95[dot]com). Under Shubrick, the Navy successfully conducted the closing operations of the war on the Pacific coast. Highlights were the capture of Guaymas in October and occupation of Mazatlán in November. San Blas fell in January 1848. John Francis Davis (1795-1890) commenced his career with the Company in 1813 when appointed writer at Canton. In 1816 he accompanied Amherst's ill-fated embassy to Peking. By 1832 he was promoted to be president of the factory at Canton. He later became one of the first governors of Hong Kong, and in 1845 ordered the taking of the Bogue forts. This edition not in Lust, Western Books on China up to 1850, but see Lust 8 for the English edition published by Charles Knight the same year.