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, laying the foundation for future economic and political interaction. For both partner states the trade caravans and official embassies became important sources of information about the other party. The image of the exotic country was largely formed 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 embassy included a Scottish physician John Bell, who left detailed records about the journey. These notes became a valuable source of information not only about the nature, culture, and customs of the peoples inhabiting the vast lands east of the Volga River and further to Lake Baikal, but also about the culture and economy of China. This article deals with the annotated translation of these notes (they were published only once - 250 years ago, as a rather inaccurate translation from French). The aim of this work is to justify the necessity of a scholarly translation with detailed historical, linguistic, and country-specific comments that will reveal all the wealth of the information contained in the notes and introduce it into scientific circulation. For the first 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.