The embassy continues up the Hai River…
August 1793 CE
It lands at Tongzhou on August 16, and reaches Beijing on August 21.
It is escorted to a residence north of Beijing, near the Old Summer Palace.
The British are not permitted to leave the premises for the duration of their stay.
Wanting to be closer to China's political center, Macartney receives permission from Zhengrui to move to a different residence in Beijing, which had been intended to house the embassy after the meeting with the emperor.
In Beijing, responsibility for the embassy on the Chinese side will be shared between Zhengrui and two other officials: Jin Jian, a minister of public works, and his vice minister Yiling'a.
The gifts brought by the embassy are stored among other tribute items in the throne room at the Old Summer Palace, which Macartney is the first Briton to visit.
Barrow and Dinwiddie are responsible for assembling and arranging the gifts.
The most important item, the planetarium, is so complex that it will take eighteen days to assemble.
People
George Macartney, 1st Earl Macartney
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Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville
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James Dinwiddie
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John Barrow, 1st Baronet
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Joseph Banks
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Qianlong Emperor
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Sir George Leonard Staunton
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Sir George Staunton, 2nd Baronet
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Thomas Hickey
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William Alexander
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William Grenville, 1st Baron Grenville
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William Pitt the Younger
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