Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1830 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
Handwritten, 3 pieces + 1 label
Context area
Name of creator
Administrative history
The Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland was founded by the eminent Sanskrit scholar Sir Henry Thomas Colebrooke on the 15th March 1823. It received its Royal Charter from King George IV on the 11th August 1824 'for the investigation of subjects connected with and for the encouragement of science, literature and the arts in relation to Asia'. It continues as a forum for those who are interested in the languages, cultures and history of Asia to meet and exchange ideas.
Name of creator
Biographical history
The identity of Mrs Skinner is not known. She was not a member of the Society at this time. Samuel Skinner of Portland Place, was a member and John Skinner, was a member of the Madras Literary Society, an allied society. It is possible she was the spouse of either of these.
Repository
Archival history
This material was given to the Society by Mrs Skinner in 1830.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Manuscript described as 'notes on Cudapah' (Kadapa), annotated 'Read July 17/30' and "Ordered not to be printed Nov 13/30. The accompanying label refers this to 'Catalogue of English MSS. II No 5, Cuddapah. Presented by Mrs Skinner.'
The manuscript includes notes in three sections, concerning:
- The self-devotion of a headman of the village of Chitwail
- An account of the "Assaree Shereef" - a building erected in 1735 to contain a hair from the beard of Muhammad
- The behaviour of a fakeer (holy man)
A description of the manuscript can be found in the Society's "Catalogue of English Manuscripts in the R.A.S.", p. 20.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
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Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Open. Please contact the Archivist.
Conditions governing reproduction
Digital photography (without flash) for research purposes may be permitted upon completion of a copyright declaration form, and with respect to current UK copyright law.
Language of material
English
Script of material
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Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
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Related units of description
The handwritten "Catalogue Of English Manuscripts in the R.A.S." provides details of this material. The reading of this paper was reported in the Asiatic Journal and Monthly Register for British India and Its Dependencies, Volume 2, 1830, p.328.
Notes area
Note
It appears that Mrs Skinner also gave another paper concerning Cuddapah to the Society, "Traditional Account of Cuddapah collected from the natives on the spot". This no longer seems to be in the Society's Collections. (See Catalogue of English Manuscripts, p.36)
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Archivist's note
These papers were catalogued by Nancy Charley, RAS Archivist, in 2018. Revised by James Liu, RAS Archivist, in 2026.