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"Autograph Book belonging to Susan Hodgson, Alderley Grange, Wotton under Edge" A leather bound autograph book belonging to Hodgson's wife, Susan, in which are placed certificates, diplomas, academic and personal correspondence, newspaper cuttings and extracts related to Brian Houghton Hodgson's life. Leather binding with metal clasp. The book's binding is broken and some pages are loose. Care must be taken when using this item.

Letter from Queen Rajyalaxmi of Nepal to Brian Houghton Hodgson in which she expresses her appreciation of Hodgson's help during a difficult time in Nepal, and asks for further guidance, suggestions and help for the personal benefit of herself and her two sons. She makes a request for action needed in favour of her and sons before Hodgson's departure and states her total dependence on Hodgson and the British government. She praises the East India Company and its government and expresses her feeling of deep insecurity caused by internal dispute in the court of Nepal and even more by the news of Hodgson's departure from Nepal. Hodgson's note in English on the top of the letter states "Queen's letter to me at parting, Dec. 43". Handwritten in Nepali, 1 side, dated December 1843.

Hodgson used much of his time in both Nepal and Darjeeling in research, wanting to discover and understand about the architecture, languages, ethnography, religion, zoology and botany. He collected specimens and manuscripts, and had many drawings made, which he donated to many collections throughout Europe. He was also politically involved during his Residency in Nepal, and also later in England, when he continued to show an active interest in the Indian subcontinent, particularly regarding trade and vernacular education. These Personal Papers reflect these interests and are a record of much of his activity - Hodgson and his wives seemed to have a need to record all his successes. He was also a keen annotator of material, so that most of the printed material also bears his handwritten comments.