Qianlong Emperor

The Qing dynasty (1644-1912) was the last imperial dynasty of China. During the Qing peirod, which lasted almost 270 years, China experienced unprecedented wealth and stability, and cosmopolitan culture flourished.

The Qianlong Emperor (1711-1799), also known by his temple name Emperor Gaozong of Qing, personal name Hongli, was the fifth emperor of the dynasty and the fourth Qing emperor to rule over China proper. He reigned officially from 1735 until his abdication and retired in 1796, but retained ultimate power subsequently until his death in 1799, making him one of the longest-reigning monarchs in history as well as one of the longest-lived.

The fourth and favourite son of the Yongzheng Emperor, Qianlong ascended the throne in 1735. A highly ambitious military leader, he led a series of campaigns into Inner Asia, Burma, Nepal and Vietnam and suppressed rebellions in Jinchuan and Taiwan. The most significant of his campaigns were directed against the Dzungars, bringing Xinjiang under Qing rule. During his lifetime, he was given the deified title Emperor Manjushri by the Qing's Tibetan subjects. Domestically, Qianlong was a major patron of the arts as well as a prolific writer. He sponsored the compilation of the Siku Quanshu (Complete Library of the Four Treasuries), the largest collection ever made of Chinese history, while also overseeing extensive literary inquisitions that led to the suppression of some 3,100 works.

Anonymous Diary

The oldest diary in the Great Diary Project collection is an anonymous one for the years 1735 and 1736 They describe it as a chance acquisition. The diary has been donated to the Bishopgate Institute and is described as a pair of small, unprepossessing volumes, which contain an account of someone’s religious activities in the years 1735 and 1736. In minute handwriting, the writer documents a number of sermons he or she attended during those years. Meticulously recorded for each sermon are the date, location, preacher, text(s) and arguments. Most of the sermons were preached by Peter Goodwin (c 1684-1747), minister at the non-conformist chapel at Ropemaker’s Alley, Moorfields, in the City of London, a congregation which later moved to nearby Aldermanbury Postern. Thanks to the Great Diary Project, and to what they call the chance survival of this diary, this fascinating document is now be available as a source for researchers interested in the history of religion in the 18th century.

Samuel Checkley's Diary

Samuel Checkley (1695-1769) was the pastor of the New South Church in Boston, Massachusetts. His diary notes from a 1735 almanac is extant. The annual Thanksgiving Day for 1735 came on Thursday, November 13, and Checkley notes that he preached all day. He also records that July 4 was Commencement at Cambridge and that it was a rainy day with a northeast wind. That life in the days of the horse and the chaise was not without its excitements and even dangers, is shown by an accident that is thus recorded in the Weekly Journal of Monday, July 7: On Friday last the Day of the Commencement at Cambridge, a Person belonging to Milton, being mounted on his Horse, and riding homewards, was met by a Chaise which run against his Leg, and broke the same so dangerously, that his Life is in great hazzard.