Strictures on the Remarks Contained in "Papers Relating to the Shanghae Revision of the Chinese Scriptures."

First edition of this acerbic China imprint, otherwise untraced in commerce, in which Medhurst and his London Missionary Society (LMS) cowriters defend the integrity of their Bible translations against attacks from the American Protestant Michael Simpson Culbertson. Mid-century disagreements between British and American missionary sinologists developed into the most significant 19th-century controversy within the Protestant community in Shanghai. Medhurst (1796-1857) was the archetypal missionary-scholar. "His works were numerous, and included thirty-four Chinese and some sixty-two Malay volumes, as well as translations from the Chinese and his English writings. They exhibit unceasing activity of mind, a remarkable gift for languages, and an intellect not shackled by the disciplinary barriers between sacred and secular learning" (ODNB). In the 1840s, he and other LMS scholars joined forces with sinologists from the American Presbyterian Mission to produce new scripture translations. By 1850, the committee's efforts had become bogged down in disagreements, including concerning the correct translation for "God." In 1851, LMS members withdrew from the project and traded barbed remarks with their former colleagues. In addition to refuting Culbertson's specific linguistic accusations, this pamphlet attacks his work ethic: "Here it may be remarked that, of all the members of the Committee of Delegates, Mr. Culbertson ought to have been the last to come forward in criticizing what had been done by the others. He had been in attendance scarcely one month out of the six, during which the Committee sat, and therefore could not have been aware of the objections made by the assembled Chinese teachers to the rendering of certain passages. He was also the youngest student of Chinese amongst the number, and had had no experience whatever in the work of translation. But whatever may be thought of his qualifications, he has thrown down the gauntlet, and it remains for us to see how he will acquit himself in the contest" (p. 2). Cordier 1285; not in Löwendahl or Lust. Octavo (210 x 140 mm), pp. 40. Recent half calf, green spine label, dark brown buckram sides, bulked with blanks. Contemporary ownership signature of one S. Browne on first page; occasional contemporary pencil marks in text. Contents toned, couple of nicks at fore edge: very good.…