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.
Hodgson Brian Houghton 1801-1894 Indian Civil Servant, NaturalistThis 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.
Letter from Joseph Barnard Davis to Brian Houghton Hodgson, 11 April 1859. Davis apologies for not replying sooner. They have come to the country for a few days to try to help relieve Mrs Davis' spasms of the stomach. He writes about collecting ethnological data and will go to the British Museum to see some of the heads. He had seen Schlginhbeit's casts when they were exhibited by Colonel Sykes. Davis writes of a letter he has received from a friend in the Sandwich Isles who is a geologist and a little of an ethnologist. Davis continues with more ethnological discussion. Handwritten, 4 sides with accompanying envelope, dated 11 April 1859.
Davis Joseph Barnard 1801-1881 Doctor, craniologist