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Correspondence from James R Ballantyne. Ballantne (1813–1864) was a Scottish Orientalist, who from 1845 was superintendent of the Sanskrit College in Varanasi (then known as Benares). He went to England in 1861 where he was elected librarian of the India Office. There are three letters from him to Hodgson.

Letter from James R. Ballantyne to Brian Houghton Hodgson. Ballantyne thanks Hodgson for his two letters with their explanations and reassures him that Hodgson's work on Buddhist architecture is safe, apologising for not acknowledging it sooner. He will return Hodgson's when he has copied the Manuscript notes into a copy he has been able to find. He also apologises for not explaining himself clearly and continues to a more detailed explanation of Bapu Deva's speculations. Handwritten, 4 sides, dated 26 August 1851.

Letter from James R. Ballantyne to Brian Houghton Hodgson. Ballantyne writes that he is laid on his back with leeches on his side for a touch of pleurisy, so is using an amanuensis to ask Hodgson to glance over a mixed list of words and notes which are peculiar to the middle or upper climate division of the Himalaya. He has written a synopsis so Hodgson can see how his Himalayan discoveries fit in. This synopsis will be expanded to a complete set of educational treatises with the aid of Hodgson's College of Translators. Handwritten, 2 sides, dated 30th August 1851.

Letter from James R. Ballantyne to Brian Houghton Hodgson, in which he writes of his forthcoming book on the Mutual Relations of the Sciences and how he wishes those who follow the Nyaya to also consider the Physical Sciences. He particularly asks for Hodgson's help in checking some of the proofs and providing further information. Ballantyne writes that he would like to visit Hodgson and when would be the best season to travel. He finishes by writing that he received a very encouraging letter from Prof. Wilson that morning and also good accounts from his children. Handwritten, 4 sides, dated 5 August 1851.

This series covers all the other correspondence with the Papers of Brian Houghton Hodgson, It ranges in date from 1843 to 1880 and covers personal, political and research interests.

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.