Janus: Papers of Sir Harry Parkes

Manuscripts/MS Parkes contains:
<-- See earlier
38	Maps
39	Architectural drawings
40	Railway photographs
41	Portrait photographs
42	Envelopes and covers
43	Documents in Chinese re Second Opium War
44	Documents in Chinese re the Taiping Rebellion
45	Documents in Chinese re Sino-Japanese relations and Liu-ch'iu
46	Miscellaneous documents in Chinese
47	Documents in Japanese
48	Letter in Korean

More information

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Papers of Sir Harry Parkes

Title	Notes and memoranda
Reference	MS Parkes 28
Covering Dates	circa 1848-circa 1880
Extent and Medium	1 bundle

Content and context

Undated notes and memoranda on various topics.

Manuscripts/MS Parkes 28 contains:

Notes on Samuel Purchas. Undated notes in Parkes' hand taken from Samuel Purchas, 'Purchas his Pilgrimage, or Relations of the World and the Religions Observed in Al Ages and Places Discovered, from the Creation unto this Present', 3rd edition (London, 1617), pp. 492-532.
1 folio.

Notes on Raffles' 'The History of Java'. 'Japan Trade. Sir T.S. Raffles': undated notes in Parkes' hand taken from Thomas Raffles, 'The History of Java' (2 vols; London, 1817), vol. 2, Appendix B, 'Japan Trade', pp. xv-xxxii.
1 bifolio.

Summary of Foreign Marriage Act. 'Foreign Marriage Act. 12. & 13. Victoriæ. Cap. 68.': an undated summary in Parkes' hand of the provisions of the Act.
1 bifolio.

Notes on 'Note on Japanese Syllabaries'. Undated notes in Parkes' hand taken from the paper 'Note on Japanese Syllabaries' by Samuel Williams, published in the 'Journal of the American Oriental Society', vol. 2, 1851, pp. 55-60.
1 bifolio.

circa 1851

Notes on 'Chinese Culture'. Undated notes in Parkes' hand taken from the paper 'Chinese Culture, or Remarks on the Causes of the Peculiarities of the Chinese' by Samuel Brown, which was read before the American Oriental Society on 17 October 1850, and published in the 'Journal of the American Oriental Society', vol. 2, 1851, pp. 169-206.
2 bifolios.

circa 1851

Notes on 'Le Tcheou-li'. 'Le Tcheou Li. ou Rites des Tcheou': undated notes (in French) in Parkes' hand on 'Le Tcheou-li; ou, Rites des Tcheou, traduit pour la première fois du chinois par feu édouard Biot' (2 vols; Paris, 1851).
1 bifolio.

circa 1851

Table of mineral and compounds. An undated table in Parkes' hand of Chinese and English names of minerals, compounds and other materials. The document is labelled 'Mineral Medecines [sic.]' and 'Forwarded by Mail of 28th. February 1852'.
1 bifolio.

circa 1852

Notes on 'Daily News' article. 'Daily News. January 1853': undated notes in Parkes' hand taken from an untitled leading article in the 'Daily News' (London), no. 2,070, 8 January 1853, p. 4.
1 bifolio.

circa 1853

Notes re Humphrey Marshall's mission. 'Marshall Papers': undated notes and extracts in Parkes' hand concerning Humphrey Marshall's mission to China. One extract is dated 21 November 1853. The notes are labelled 'Memo. from Mr. Marshall's Papers'.
1 bifolio.

circa 1853

Map of Shanghai Foreign Settlement. An annotated printed sketch map of the Foreign Settlement at Shanghai and its environs, illustrating the operation by British and United States naval and irregular forces against Imperial Chinese encampments on 4 April 1854 (the 'Battle of Muddy Flat'), undated.
1 folio.

circa 1854

Notes on MacGowan's paper on Chinese opium. 'From Dr. Mc.Gowan's paper on Chinese Opium': undated notes in Parkes' hand taken from Daniel MacGowan, 'Note on Chinese Opium', which was read before the China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society on 18 June 1856, and published in the 'Transactions of the China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society', part VI, 1859, pp. 41-52.
2 bifolios.

circa 1856

Extracts from documents re Sino-American relations. Undated extracts in Parkes' hand from documents concerning relations between China and the United States of America, referring in particular to William Reed, 7 folios and 1 bifolio. The documents include: 'Lord Palmerston on Greytown affair. 19 June 1857. Quoted by Mr Reed'; 'From a Note by Dr [Samuel Wells] Williams on the Russian Treaty with Japan of 12th Oct. 1857'; 'On a decree sent him from Canton. A decree found among the Viceroy's (Yeh's) archives. To Mr. Cass. Feb. 4. 1858'; 'Legalisation of opium at Fahchow(?) From Proclamation of the Sub Prefect & two District Magistrates of that city June 15, 1857'; 'Note from Translation of the Imperial Cour. Tsung (lun's)(?) letter to Baron Gros Peiho. April 26. 1858'; 'Mr Reed's interview with Tau at Takoo forts May 3, 1858'; 'Delivery of Emperor's letter. From Memo. of Interview. June 11, 1858'; letter from the Emperor of China [Hsien-Feng] to the President of the United States of America [James Buchanan], 7 June 1858, translated into English by Samuel Wells Williams; 'Mr. R. to Mr Cass reporting Treaty. June 30'; '[letter from Reed] To Mr. Cass Nov. 9 1858'; and '[letter from Reed] To Mr Cass Sep. 4'. The documents are in a bifolio used as a folder, which has been labelled 'Mr. Reed's Despatches'.
7 folios + 2 bifolios.

circa 1857-circa 1858

Notes on Chinese forces in Canton. Notes in Parkes' hand concerning the numerical strength of Chinese forces in Canton, undated (1857?).
1 bifolio.

circa 1857

Extracts from letter of Count Poutiatine. 'Russia': extracts in Parkes' hand from a letter from Count Poutiatine to the Supreme Council of the Empire of China of February 1858.
1 folio.

circa 1858

Treaty of Tientsin. 'The Treaty of Teen-Tsin. With the Emperor's Confirmation. Translated from the Chinese': the printed text of the treaty signed on 26 June 1858, including the confirmation of 3 July 1858, 'Forwarded by Gideon Nye, Jr as of particular value as a Chinese version'.
1 bifolio.

circa 1858

Decree of the Prince of Kung. 'Prince of Kung's Full Powers: Translation of the Decree produced by the Prince of Kung [I-hsin] at the Court of the Board of Ceremonies before Signing the Convention of the 24th. October 1860': an undated copy in Parkes' hand of an English translation of the decree by Thomas Wade and of an explanatory note by Wade. The document is labelled 'Correspce respg Affairs in China 1859-60 [Correspondence Respecting Affairs in China. 1859-60, London, 1861, Command Paper-Accounts and Papers, 2754] Incl: 1 in No.105 p. 220'. The sheet also includes a copy in Parkes' hand of an English translation of 'Prince of Kung's Certificate of validity of Ratification', certified by Wade and Parkes.
1 bifolio.

circa 1860

Certificate of ratifications of Treaty of Tientsin. 'Act of Ratification': a copy in Parkes' hand of the certificate of the exchange of ratifications of the Treaty of Tientsin, Peking, 24 October 1860. The document is labelled 'Referred to Correspe respg Affrs in Ch. 1859-60 [Correspondence Respecting Affairs in China. 1859-60, London, 1861, Command Paper-Accounts and Papers, 2754] No 104 p 219'.
1 bifolio.

circa 1860-circa 1861

Papers re Euge`ne Simon. A sheet containing a copy in Parkes' hand of a letter (in French) from 'Thou' (édouard Antoine Thouvenel?), Paris, to French diplomatic and consular agents in China, 9 July 1860, followed by copies in Parkes' hand of a passport (in French) issued by [B.] Edan in favour of Euge`ne Simon, Shanghai, 9 February 1861, and related statements (in French and Chinese). There is also a second sheet containing copies of a request for protection for Simon (in Chinese), addressed by the French Consulate in Shanghai to the Emperor of China, 1860, and a petition (in Chinese) addressed by Simon to the officials of the Emperor of China concerning his purposes in China. The first sheet is labelled at the top 'M. Simon's Papers'.
2 bifolios.

circa 1860-circa 1861

Account of journey in China. 'Morrison's Journey': an undated extract in Parkes' hand from an account of a journey in China, referring to the depredations of rebels and the courses of the Yellow and other rivers, dated Tsenanfoo [Tsinan], 14 February (1861?).
1 bifolio.

circa 1861

Extracts from Giquel's Memorandum. 'Extracts from Giquel's Memorandum Shanghai Dec. 24. 1861': undated extracts (in French) in Parkes' hand from a memorandum by Prosper Giquel concerning military organisation in response to the Taiping rebellion.
3 bifolios.

circa 1861

Notes on Sir Hercules Robinson. 'Sir H.R. Ap 29': notes in Parkes' hand, possibly taken from a written or spoken text of Sir Hercules Robinson, undated (1860s?).
1 bifolio.

circa 1865

Treaty between Japan and Hawaii. An undated manuscript copy of the treaty between Japan and Hawaii signed by Charles E. De Long, on behalf of King Kamehameha V of the Hawaiian Islands, and by Sawa Nobuyoshi and Terashima Munenori, on behalf of the Emperor Meiji of Japan, dated Yedo, 19 August 1871, followed by a copy of the ratification of the treaty signed by Kamehameha and Charles C. Harris, Honolulu, 11 May 1871 [sic].
2 bifolios.

circa 1871

Memorandum on the Chinese Imperial Family. 'The Chinese Imperial Family': a printed memorandum on the origin, nomenclature and hierarchy of the family, undated (1875 or later).
1 bifolio.

circa 1875

Notes on 'La Captivité de Monseigneur Ridel'. 'Relation de la Captivité & de la délivrance De Monseigneur Ridel': undated notes (in English and French) in Parkes' hand, apparently taken from a work of this title concerning Félix Clair Ridel published in Paris in 1879.
1 bifolio.

circa 1879

Notes on Okinawa. 'Okinawa Sima': notes in Parkes' hand concerning the island of Okinawa, undated (1870s?).
1 folio.

circa 1875

Notes on Japan and the Loochoo islands. 'Loochooan Envoys': notes in Parkes' hand concerning relations between Japan and the Loochoo Islands (Ryukyu Islands), undated (1870s?).
1 bifolio.

circa 1875

List of Parkes' colleagues. An undated list in Parkes' hand of assistant-grade colleagues in Japan, showing their class and entitlement to the Interpreter's Allowance, with a second sheet containing undated notes referring to the same men.
2 folios.

circa 1880

Miscellaneous notes. Notes in Parkes' hand on various subjects, undated (1879?). The subjects and persons mentioned include Francis Savage Reilly; James Bruce, Earl of Elgin; diseases and medicines in China; and Japanese jurisprudence. The papers include one sheet of British Government notepaper and one sheet of Athenæum Club notepaper.
9 folios + 3 bifolios.

circa 1879

Notes on Chinese use of metals and minerals. Notes, partly in the form of a questionnaire, possibly in Parkes' hand, concerning the knowledge of and use by the Chinese of various metals and minerals. The document is undated, but the paper is watermarked 1848.
3 bifolios.

circa 1848

Notes on Hung-Wu and rebellions. 'Hungwoo or Ming Tae Tsoo': notes in Parkes' hand concerning the Emperor Hung-Wu and rebellions in China during the Yuan and Ming dynasties, apparently taken from a printed source. The document is undated, but the paper is watermarked 1850.
1 bifolio.

circa 1850

Memorandum on government of Japan. An undated memorandum (in French) in Parkes' hand concerning the government of Japan, referring in particular to the distinction between the Shogun and the Emperor. It begins: 'C'est une erreur genéralement répandu parmi nous qu'il existe au Japon deux Empereurs l'un ecclesiastique, l'autre civil.' The document is undated, but the paper is watermarked 1854.
1 bifolio.

circa 1854

Notes on Japanese literature. 'Memo Japanese Works': undated, possibly incomplete notes in Parkes' hand taken from a paper on Japanese literature, beginning 'Jap. Literature scanty in useful matter.'.
1 folio + 1 bifolio.

Map of Douglas Inlet and Sylvia Bay. 'Korea: Rough Sketch of Douglas Inlet & Sylvia Bay': an undated map showing part of the coast of Korea and off-shore islands, possibly drawn by 'H. St. Jt'.
1 folio.

Memorandum on trade in China. 'British Relations Sherard Osborne': an undated memorandum in Parkes' hand concerning conditions of trade in China.
4 folios.

Notes on Chinese authorities. 'Wade': undated notes in Parkes' hand concerning difficulties of British relations with Chinese authorities.
1 folio.

Note on Taiping rebellion and trade. Undated notes in Parkes' hand concerning the Taiping rebellion and trade with China, beginning with a list of examples that demonstrate the 'Destructive & anti-Commercial Policy of the Taipings'.
1 folio.

Headings from Chinese work. 'Record of my studies': undated chapter and subject headings in Parkes' hand, apparently taken from a work on Chinese official procedure, in Chinese, with parts translated into English.
1 bifolio.

O.H.M.S. envelope. The O.H.M.S. envelope which formerly contained Parkes 28/1-37, undated, labelled on the reverse 'Sir H P's Memoranda'.
1 envelope.