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Archival description
GB 891 SC29 · Fonds · 1742 - 1874

Documents of Marathi history dating to the eighteenth and nineteenth century presented to the Royal Asiatic Society by Sir Alexander Malet in 1828 and by General John Briggs in 1874. The papers donated by Briggs are predominantly correspondence from the Peshwa Court at the time of Nana Fadnavis and were given by Nana Fadnavis' widow to Briggs in 1825. Those from Malet were collected by his father, Sir Charles Warre Malet, during his political career in India and are predominantly handwritten accounts of Marathi history.

Each of the documents also has a description provided by Simon Digby when Honorary Librarian at the Royal Asiatic Society from 1970. The documents written in Marathi are in modi script.

Malet Sir Alexander 2d bart
GB 891 SC29-SC29/1-SC29/1/15 · File · 1825 - 1874
Part of Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century Documents of Maratha History

English identificatory documents. These are:

  • 'Original letters of the Poona government in the possession of Nana Furnaveese at his death. Presented to Colonel Briggs at Satara by his widow".
  • A piece of paper created into a sleeve for the letters and sealed with a wax seal.
  • Blue lined paper with the note 'Sundry papers in Mahratta appertaining to the family of the Great Minister Nana Furnevees and his cotemporaries on subjects connected with his administration till his death in A.D.1799 presented to Col Briggs in 1825 by his widow'.
  • Letter from John Briggs to the Secretary of the Royal Asiatic Society to state that he wished to present to the Society a 'specimen of the art of portraiture at the Court of Bijapura A.D. 1579' and 'the collection of original letters and other documents in the Mahratta language'. Three sides, dated 18 September 1874.
Briggs John 1785-1875
GB 891 SC29-SC29/2-SC29/2/1 · File · 1761 - 1788
Part of Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century Documents of Maratha History

'The Historical Account of the Expedition of Sudasew Chimnajie commonly called Bhou or Sudoban to the North India or Hindostan And of his total Defeat of Death in the great Battle of Panniput'. This document relates the expedition of Sadashiv Chimanji Bhausaheb to Panipat in 1761. According to Kulkarni, this version of the bakhar or report was first written between July and December 1761 by Raghunath Yadev Chitragupt for his master the Prime Minister of Kolhapur state. The bakhar ends with the award of the robes of the Peshwa's office to Madhav Rao in 20 July 1761. It describes the battle of Panipat including those who died and were taken prisoner. It is believed to be the earliest version of this bakhar. The band has Arabic script containing the date November 1788.
The plan of Aurangabad is in colour with place names in Marathi and Arabic script, measuring 84 x 64 cm.

Raghunath Yadev Chitragupt
GB 891 SC29-SC29/2-SC29/2/2 · File · [1750 - 1798]
Part of Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century Documents of Maratha History

"History of Ghazi al Deen Khan written by his Friend & Confidant Noor al Deen Hussun Khan". Document relating the life of Ghazi al-Din Khan by Nur al-Din Hasan Khan, possibly Nur al-din Hussein Khan, vakil (agent) at the Company Residency and assistant to Malet, the Resident.

Nur al-din Hussein Khan