HALL, William Hutcheon (1797-1878) and William Dallas BERNARD. Narrative of the Voyages and Services of the Nemesis, from 1840 to 1843; and of the Combined Naval and Military Operations in China: Comprising a Complete Account of the Colony of Hong Kong, and Remarks on the Character and Habits of the Chinese. London: Henry Colburn, 1844.
2 volumes, 8vo. 6 engraved plates including frontispieces, 8 woodcuts in text, 3 folding maps (spotting and offsetting to plates). Later half morocco gilt (light rubbing to extremes). Provenance: Sir Arthur Morse (1892-1967), banker (gift inscription).
FIRST EDITION. The Nemesis was the first British ocean-going iron warship and was named the devil ship by the Chinese, who faced her during the First Opium War.
Sir Arthur Morse was the Head of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation during and after World War II. J.R. Jones (1887-1976), legal advisor to the company, inscribes the book to Morse at the close of the War: "On the occasion of the liberation of Hongkong, and of the formal surrender of the Japanese forces September 15th 1945 and in token of the prominent part taken by the Bank in the destiny of the colony, and of the gallant deeds and enterprise of the pioneers who founded it over a century ago in days when britan had no craven fears of being great." As Chief Manager from 1943, he led the bank’s operations from London after Hong Kong fell to Japan in 1941, ensuring the survival of its reserves and global network. Post-war, Morse orchestrated HSBC’s revival, relocating its headquarters back to Hong Kong in 1946 and restoring its central banking role while contributing to the colony’s infrastructure recovery. His leadership during and after the conflict earned him knighthood in 1949. Cordier, Sinica 2371; Lust 558; Mendelssohn I, p.117
