An exceptional late 19th century manuscript autobiography in two volumes, detailing the anonymous author's full and varied life spent travelling the globe, including some fascinating and important encounters. Volume I detailing his life story and journey; volume II containing lengthy and detailed descriptions of the customs, people, food and festivals he encounters on his travels. Identified only as F.F., the author narrates to a maidservant scribe that he was born in Leipzig during the Prussian Wars. Both his siblings die in childhood, and his father is taken away by Prussian forces. His school days are nondescript, and he excels at Music. He travels by post van to Hamburg, and from there to London. A stroke of luck introduces him to the Berghis family; while staying with them, he attends a party which counts amongst its revellers 'Mr. E. Landseer, Messers G. Ward, Williams, Herring, Lawrence, Chalon etc., Mr. Wessley, Dr. Rowing, Mr. Taylor and Mr. Cox, poets'.The author plays violin before this crowd, following which Mr. Wessley is able to procure his place playing second violin at the Orhcestra of the Italian Opera. He writes a musical peices, 'The Battle of Thermopylae', which Lord Chamberlaine grants him permission to dedicate to King George. Following this episode, the author becomes an inventor, with Lord St-pe, believed Philip Henry Stanhope, 4th Earl Stanhope. Together they invent an musical automaton, the Kalliphthongen, for which they are granted permission to play before the King. The machine proves too complex to sell for profit. Exhaustion and financial strain force him to leave London. He marries in Leipzig and has a daughter, but his wife's father disapproves, and he returns to London to find his friends scattered or dead. He reunites with his family and spends ten years as a music tutor. He finds a prodigy, and tours Europe with her; while away, the 1842 Great Fire of Hamburg razes his home and kills his family. He then accepts passage to Hong Kong on board an opium vessel chartered by Jardin Mathieson. His travels extend to Calcutta, Burma, Buitenzorg, Java, Malacca, Penang, Madras and Ceylon, and he is hosted by many expats on his journey. Bound in green quarter cloth with marbled boards in the continental fashion, paper spine labels handwrittten to each volume. Some bumping to the spine ends, loss to the paper at the corners of the work, which are rather bumped. The boards are rubbed and shelfworn, the spine labels age-toned. The bottom edge of the first volume is a little stained. The bindings remain readable tight, but there is some looseness throughout commensurate with use. Entirely manuscript in calligraphic font in black ink. Occasional yellowed foxing throughout. A remarkable and thorough diary of a full life spent travelling, with important descriptions of topography, rich passages describing food, and vivid accounts narrating the various people encountered by the author on his way.