Abstract: Letter from Francis Baring, the Chairman of the East India Company, to the Viceroy was the prologue to the first Sino-British Diplomatic contact in 1793. The Chinese translations of this letter greatly influenced Qian Longs attitude to and understanding of the Embassy. By studying the historical materials, this article discusses several crucial issues related to the translation of the letter: How was the letter translated Who translated it What are the similarities and differences among the three Chinese versions What impacts were brought about by the Chinese versions on China and Great Britain It is hoped that, by answering these questions, we will more profoundly understand the forms and features of translation at the first encounter of the two powers in the late18th century.

Key words: Macartney Embassy, Baring, letter, translation

摘要： 东印度公司董事长弗朗西斯·百灵致两广总督的信件拉开了1793年中英首次正式外交的序幕，其中译文直接影响着乾隆对使团的态度和对访华事件的理解。本文通过考析史料，深入讨论百灵信件翻译的几个重要问题：信件是如何翻译的？译者是谁？不同中译本间有哪些异同？信件中译本给中英双方带来什么样的影响？通过研究这些问题，我们希望能更深刻地认识18世纪末中英首次正式外交接触前夕翻译事务的形态与特征。

关键词: 马戛尔尼使团, 百灵, 信件, 翻译