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ROBERTS, Edmund.
Embassy to the Eastern Courts of Cochin-China, Siam, and Muscat;
in the U.S. Sloop of War Peacock, David Geisinger, Commander, during the Years 1832-3-4.
First edition of this important account of an early American embassy to the east. The principal in the negotiations was Edmund Roberts who had "formed an intimate acquaintance" with the Sultan of Oman when on a trading expedition to Zanzibar in 1827, and had persuaded his "kinsman through marriage, Senator Levi Woodbury … [Andrew] Jackson's secretary of the navy" to promote the embassy (DAB). Roberts was appointed as special agent of the United States to negotiate treaties with Muscat, Siam, Cochin China and Japan if practicable, "his mission, however, was to be secret, and he was given as 'ostensible employment' the position of clerk" to Commander Geisinger. Roberts successfully concluded treaties with Siam, and with Muscat, which treaty included a "most-favoured-nation" clause, and remained the basis of USA-Omani relations until 1958. He returned to the East to continue his work in Cochin China, China and Japan, but died of fever at Macau in 1837. Roberts's account also includes around 120 pages of close description of the culture and business practices of China. an uncommon title and desirable thus.
Octavo. Original green sand-grained cloth with paper label to the spine. A little rubbed, chipping to tail of spine and paper label, endpapers foxed and browned, text toned and with foxing, as usual, a very good copy.
