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This archive consists of registers, lists and correspondence concerned with the acquisitions and accessions of the Collections of the Society. The Society has not kept comprehensive records throughout its history. Further information pertaining to the Acquisitions of the Society can be found in the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society and in the Minute books for the Council and General Meetings. Accessions continue in the life of the Society. More recent ones are held in the Society's records management system and will be transferred to the archive in due course.

These Papers consist of:

• A Letter from Stephen Gaselee, Librarian and Keeper of the Papers at the Foreign Office, to The Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to send copies of the title page and preface to a translation of certain correspondence of His Imperial Majesty Nasir-ud-Sin, Shah of Persia from 1848 to 1896, made by Mr. A.C. Trott, formerly Oriental Secretary to his Majesty's Legation at Tehran. These are supplied for scholarly use only. He informs that the original volume of the Shah's letters and the accompanying translation are to be presented to the British Museum. Typed letter, 2 pieces, dated 30 June 1938.
• A handwritten title page stressing the use for students and scholars only. 1 piece, handwritten.
• Copy of Preface and Title Page for "Correspondence of His Imperial Majesty Nasir-ud-Din, Shah of Persia from 1848-1896, collected by Mirza Abd-ul-Wahhab Khan Nuri, Nizam-ul-Mulk, a grandson of Mirza Aga Khan, Itmed-ud-Dauleh, Chief Minister of Nasir-ud-Din Shah from 1851 to 1858, and a son of Mirza Kazim Khan, Nizam-ul-Mulk, the holder at different times of various ministerial appointments, and translated by Mr. A.C. Trott, Oriental Secretary to His Majesty's Legation at Tehran from 1931 to 1937." 6 pieces, typed.

The Papers of Alexander Gerard consist of a single item - his "Memoir on the Situation of Bundelcund (Bundelkhand) in 1803" which, the manuscript notes, was presented to the Society by Captain A. Gerard on 3 May 1828. This document commences with the accession of Chatter Saul Singh who raised the power and influence of his kingdom. However on his death the area was thrown into confusion by competing claims of rival princes. Nana Fadnavis annexed the kingdom to the Mahratta territories. The document gives tables of descent for the Rajah of Punna and the Rajah of Bindi and statements of annual revenue. Gerard was not in India in 1803 so this is written as a history rather than a personal memoir. Handwritten manuscript, 23 pages, with additional label which states, "Catalogue of English MSS. IV, No. 13, Bundelkhund in 1803, Presented by Captn. A. Gerard".

This small collection consists of seven certificates of membership of organisations or Honorary conferment of degrees. Thus:

• Certificate of Honorary Membership of Die Geographische Gesellschaft in Munchen, 1909
• Confirmation of Degree of Doctor of Science, Cambridge, 1910
• Certificate of Honorary Membership of Royal Scottish Geographical Society, 1910
• Certificate of Membership of Anthropologische Gesellschaft, 1911
• Certificate for Doctor of Philosophy from University of Tubingen, 1933
• Certificate on becoming Honorary Doctor of Law of St. Andrews University, 1939
• Certificate of Membership of American Philosophical Society, 1939
• Photograph of the engraving of Aurel Stein created by M. Howard in 1946. The engraving forms part of the Society's art collections (RAS Cat. 095.012)

These Papers consist of a single item - the handwritten manuscript of Heyne's Report on Mysore, detailing information collected by Heyne during Colin Mackenzie's Mysore Survey of 1800, on which Heyne was assistant to Francis Buchanan. The manuscript starts with an apology for having produced the report whilst suffering from ill-health and sets out that the report "may fairly be considered as an enumeration of things deserving to be enquired into and as a prospect of what consequences an investigation of them would be if under favourable auspices and in better hands." It considers climate, earthquakes and other phenomena, produce and production, rivers and lakes, mineral springs, topography, mineral deposits, birds, fish and animals, coins, commerce, languages and culture. The title page states, "Presented by John Hodgson Esq., June 16 1827, Keyne's report on Mysore" and the label states, "Catalogue of English MSS IV No 15., Heyne's Report on Mysore presented by John Hodgson Esq., MRAS".

Handwritten, on loosely bound and loose papers, 93 sides plus further title page and cover label, probably dating to 1800 or shortly after.

The Report seems to be a manuscript of part of Tracts, Historical and Statistical on India; with Journals of Several Tours through Various Parts of the Peninsula: Also an Account of Sumatra in a Series of Letters by Benjamin Heyne, published in London, 1814.

The papers of Bhagwan Lal Indraji consist of a large leather-bound notebook bequeathed by Bhagwan Lal to the Royal Asiatic Society. Though the book bears a title of "Flora of the North West Provinces and the Kuyaub by the author", the majority of the notes seem to be more concerned with Bhagwan Lal's archaeological and historical interests including dynastic information, translations of inscriptions on slabs and coins, and notes concerning archaeological sites. The book contains writing in both Hindi (Kaithi script) and English. There is evidence that some of the information has been copied from articles made available to Bhagwan Lal.

The book is in poor condition. The spine is no longer present. The boards are only loosely attached to the binding and their layers are disintegrating. Several pages are also loose from the binding. Several sheets of paper are inserted into the book which bear additional notes.

Typed manuscript of a 'Lecture delivered by Monsieur A.A. Pallis, Minister attached to the Greek Embassy, at the Turk Halkevi (Turkish People's House) London, on Tuesday, June 5th 1945, at 5.30 p.m.' The title of the lecture is 'A Turkish Seventeenth Century Baedeker: Evliya Tcheleby'. With the manuscript is the business card for Alexandre A. Pallis, Ministre de Grèce.

Five handwritten leather bound volumes - four contain Reports on the Finances of Bengal and the fifth contains English notes/translation of the Shahnamah of Firdausi. Each bears the names A. Hamilton and G. Haughton; the four Finance books also bear the inscription "Presented to the Royal Asiatic Society by Sir Graves Haughton, 1 April 1837."

These Papers consist of a single document - a handwritten manuscript with label, 'Notes on China and the Chinese'. This label also reads 'Read 7th April 1847. This is inaccurate - the General Meeting Minutes of the Society record that Sir George Staunton read the paper from the Reverend George Smith at the meeting of the 17th April 1847. The manuscript relates details of geography, politics, education, religion and culture. The manuscript is dated London, April 7th 1847 in the same hand as the creator and 'Read 17 April 1847' in a different hand.