This is the famous translation of the Da Qing lüli by George Thomas Staunton, who had accompanied his father? Sir George Leonard Staunton, then Lord Macartney appointed secretary, to China whereto the latter was envoyed by King Georges III to Emperor Qianlong. Thomas, then 12, learned Chinese during the months of the trip, and was able to recite a compliment to his host, emperor Qianlong. He was later sent to Canton as a representative of the East India Company. His translation covers the 436 statutes or lü 律 constituting the code, and a selection of sub-statutes or tiaoli 條例. It was soon translated into French by Raynouard de Ste Croix, and enjoyed a great success and influence over the enlightened public of Europe.
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