CONTEMPORARY TRANSLATION OF JOHN BELL’S NOTES OF HIS JOURNEY TO CHINA IN 1719–1721

A new stage of relations between Russia and China began in the late XVII – early XVIII centuries, layingthe foundation for future economic and political interaction. For both partner states the trade caravans and offi cialembassies became important sources of information about the other party. The image of the exotic country was largelyformed for the Russians by reports of the travelers who had visited China, a country that was largely closed to foreigners.One such mission, led by L. V. Izmailov, visited China in 1719–1721 by order of Peter the Great. The embassyincluded a Scottish physician John Bell, who left detailed records about the journey. These notes became a valuablesource of information not only about the nature, culture, and customs of the peoples inhabiting the vast lands east of theVolga River and further to Lake Baikal, but also about the culture and economy of China. This article deals with the annotatedtranslation of these notes (they were published only once – 250 years ago, as a rather inaccurate translation fromFrench). The aim of this work is to justify the necessity of a scholarly translation with detailed historical, linguistic, and country-specifi c comments that will reveal all the wealth of the information contained in the notes and introduce it into scientifi c circulation. For the fi rst time, a full translation of one of the Bell’s book chapters, describing the reception of the Russian embassy at the imperial court, is published. The publication is accompanied by detailed comments.

China, John Bell, travels, Lev Izmailov, travelogue, Qing dynasty