Showing 4 results

A manuscript of the 'Analytical Account of the Pancha Tantra illustrated with occasional Translation by H.H. Wilson, Surgeon on the Bengal Establishment, Secretary to the Asiatic Society of Bengal and Member of the Asiatic Societies of London and Paris'. A further note on the opening page records that this manuscript was read at the General Meetings of the Royal Asiatic Society on 15 May and 5 June 1824. It was subsequently published in the Transactions of the Society.

This is a handwritten manuscript giving an account of the Panchatantra, the ancient Indian collection of animal fables in Sanskrit verse and prose, arranged within a frame story. The manuscript bears considerable annotation by both Wilson and another hand, probably that of Henry Thomas Colebrooke. There is also a Note appended to the end of the manuscript by Colebrooke. The manuscript is contained within a unlined notebook 32 x 20 cm, of which the front cover is missing.

'Copy of Correspondence between the Secretary to the Bengal Government and H.H. Wilson Esquire relative to the appropriation of the allowance of the late Col. Wilford of Rs.1218 per month for the purpose of forming an Establishment in India for the prosecution of Researches into the Literature, History etc. of the Hindus'. This correspondence comprises of:

• Letter from H.H. Wilson to the Marquis of Hastings in which he enquires whether the allowance originally granted to the late Lieutenant Colonel Wilford for his enquiries into the Literature, Antiquity, Religion and History of the Hindus may be continued to be used for further study by other of the Company's servants. He sets out possible conditions around the use of the money. Dated 11 December 1822, 3 sides.
• Letter from C. Lushington, Acting Chief Secretary to the Government, to H.H. Wilson in which he replies on behalf of the Governor General to the effect that the Governor General is in agreement with Wilson's proposal and asks that Wilson himself will provide the appropriate detail as to how to form an Establishment for Hindu studies. Dated 31 December 1822, 1.2 sides.
• Letter from H.H. Wilson to C. Lushington in which he provides the details of his thoughts on creating an Establishment and his opinion of the necessity for the study of Sanskrit works. He gives a breakdown of how the allowance might be spent and also reflects that the Establishment of the late Colonel Mackenzie might also be combined with the one he is proposing. Dated 20 January 1823, 7 sides.
• Extract of a letter from the Chief Secretary to H.H. Wilson in which he informs that Wilson's arrangements have been sanctioned by the Government. Dated 30 January 1823, 0.3 sides.

The final page of the document bears the title of the document and the dates of the first and last letter. It also bears the stamp of the Royal Asiatic Society and the details of the presentation by Doyle.

Documents connected to H.H. Wilson. These are:

• An Analytical Account of the Panchatantra
• Notes on the Vishnu Purana
• Copies of letters sent to and from H.H. Wilson concerning the allowance of the late Colonel Wilford.

'The Vishnu Purána Translated by H.H. Wilson, London 1840' - a handwritten manuscript containing a preface and introduction to all the puranas, followed by descriptions of the Contents of the Vushnu Purána for the 22 chapters of Book One and the first seven chapters of Book 2. It is unclear whether this manuscript was created by H.H. Wilson or copied at a later date. The notebook is only partially filled.

Handwritten within an unlined notebook 20 x 16cm with marbled boards and quarter leather binding. It contains some of the material subsequently published in the Works by the Late Horace Hayman Wilson, M.A., F.R.S.,