Journal of an Embassy from the Governor-Genereal of India to the: Courts of Siam and Cochin China

Crawfurd, John

Journal of an Embassy from the Governor-General of India to the Courts of Siam and Cochin China.

London 1830, second edition, 2 volumes, Colburn and Bentley. 475, 459 pages. 7 folding plates, 13 woodcuts/engravings, 3 engraved maps (2 are fold-outs), and fold-out glossary.

Very attractive 19th century Dark Maroon Morocco with elaborate gilt. All edges in gilt. Bindings are in very fine condition except for a slight corner bump on the upper right corner of vol. 2. Provenance: ownership signature of Reginald Crawfurd. Text is crisp, clean and without any markings save for some light spotting/offsetting on some of the plates and maps. The large folding map has one tear that has been expertly repaired. A folding plate of the Siamese alphabet and another folding plate of the Pali alphabet. This copy has the folding chart "Vocabularies" following the appendix in volume 2. A fine complete two volume set is scarce in this condition.

Crawfurd was trained as a doctor in Edinburgh, and at age 20 was appointed as an Assistant Surgeon in the East India Company's Military Service in India.

He served in the invasion of Scindia and at the Siege of Delhi. After his service in the North–West Provinces he was transferred to Malay. While in Penang he studied languages and later published a comprehensive work "Malay Grammar and Dictionary". In 1811 he accompanied Lord Minto in the expedition to, and conquest of, Java. He served in Java as a diplomat for 6 years, and upon returning to England published the "History of the Indian Archipelago".

Returning to India in 1820 Crawfurd was appointed to lead a diplomatic and trade mission to the courts of Siam and Cochin China. He later published these descriptive accounts in this 2 volume set: "Journal of an Embassy…to the Courts of Siam and Cochin China".

In 1821 he was appointed to the diplomatic mission sent to Siam and Cochin China, and in 1823 succeeded Sir Stamford Raffles as Resident of Singapore.

In August of 1824 he drew up and finalized the treaty which established the East India Company's right of possession to the island of Singapore.

His next appointment in1827 was the first British Resident at the Court of Ava. Here he experienced the great difficulties the British had with Burma at the conclusion of the first Anglo-Burmese War, and from these experiences he published "Journal of an Embassy to the Court of Ava". Crawfurd retired to England and devoted the remainder of his long life to continued scholarly work on Southeast Asia. (RGS obit. Vol 28 1868. Howego C55).