Showing 37 results

The Royal Asiatic Society has produced a Journal from the early years of its formation and continues to do so. This material covers the records made in the production, administration and distribution of the Journal.

Six letters from William Macbean George Colebrooke to Sir Alexander Johnston in which he corresponds, among other things, concerning the beginnings of the Asiatic Society in London.

The patronage material includes original Charters and royal letters, and institutional correspondence concerning the Patronage of the Society.

A bound volume containing copies of letters sent in the administration of the Society between the years 1823-1835 and 1846-1861. The earlier ones, covering 1823-1835, are all concerned with the finances of the Society. There is then a break in the letters until 1846, after which the correspondence covers a broader spectrum of activities.

Within the Royal Asiatic Society collections are several lists and catalogues relating to Asiatic material which are not part of the Society's own collections. These have been gathered within this catalogue. They are:

• 'A Catalogue of Indian Idols, Indian Paintings, Drawings, &c. which were collected by Mr. Simpson, during a long Residence in India in the Company's Service. Which will be Sold by Auction by Mr. Christie, at his Great Room, in Pall Mall, On Saturday, May the 26th, 1792, at Twelve O'clock.' This is a photocopy of the original document.
• 'List of Oriental Works purchased at Erzerum, translated from the St Petersburg Journal of Dec 20 1829/ Jan 9 1830' - handwritten list.
• 'Catalogue of moghrebine arabic Manuscripts in the possession of Jakob Graberg of Hemso' - handwritten, dated Florence, 26 April 1830.
• 'Sale of Dr. A. Clarke's Library: Desirable for the R.A.S.' - handwritten list, undated.
• 'Catalogue of Malayan Book's by Thomas Beighton - handwritten list, undated.
• 'List of the Principal Budhistical works from the Pali in Chinese character by Mt Gutzlaff' - handwritten, dated 1845.
• 'A List of the Oriental Coins preserved in the British Museum, B. Dorn' - handwritten list, undated.
• 'Catalogue of Malay books the property of Inchi Mahomed' - handwritten list, undated.
• 'Catalogue of the Chinese Library of University College, London' - handwritten volume, dated to 1885.
• 'List of lithographed Malay texts in the alphabetical catalogue of Leiden University Library under Kikayat and Shair' - handwritten list, 2 sides, undated, post 1900.
• Lists of Indonesian Manuscripts compiled by Petrus Voorhoeve between 1950 and 1954. These are: 'Some notes on Indonesian MSS in the Bodleian Library, Oxford'; 'List of Indonesian Manuscripts in the University Library, Cambridge'; 'List of Indonesian manuscripts in India Office Library, Commonwealth Relations Office, London'; List of Indonesian Manuscripts in the Library of the School of Oriental and African Studies, London'; 'Indonesian Manuscripts in the British Museum'. These are typed with some handwritten annotations, 51 pieces.

A duplicate of a Petition to the House of Commons from the Natives of Bombay (Mumbai) and others: Christians, Jews, Chinese, Parsis; Muslims and Hindus; more than 4000 in number. All the signatures, along with the petition, are on the document which is made of 25 skins of parchment. It is written in English, Gujarati and Marathi and is dated Bombay, 25 January 1831. It asks for a reform in the judicial regulations of the government at Bombay; for more impartial administration of the laws, that native people may freely be admitted to civil and judicial offices; and for the diffusion of the English language among the inhabitants to be encouraged by the British government. The original was sent to England by Sir Charles Forbes, M.P. and Joseph Hume, M.P. and was presented to the House of Commons on 1 September 1831.

The Minutes of the "Syro-Egyptian Society of London. Instituted 1844". These handwritten minutes cover the time period from the first meeting of the Society on 3 December 1844 to their 146th meeting on 12 March 1861. The Society met fortnightly until June 1846, then monthly, with extended summer breaks. The minutes cover the decisions made at the meetings and the Papers read. Yearly Anniversary Meetings were held in April. The minutes are written in a hardbound volume purchased from H. Penny, Stationer & Manufacturer of Improved Patent Account Books.