"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 Dr Clarke Abel to Brian Houghton Hodgson. He writes, in case Hodgson has not seen the Government Gazette, to send a copy of the report of the Physical Committee by which Hodgson will see how largely the Committee is indebted to his communications. Hodgson's antelope is an interesting animal in many respects and Abel asks for more information on him. Abel has received the skins that Hodgson sent and intends to make some of them the contents of a Paper. He also thanks Hodgson for samples of minerals and a Bhotan Grammar. He asks in what conditions the specimens were found and whether Hodgson knows anything about a Chinese stone often used as ornament. Abel is submitting some of Hodgson's work to the Calcutta Scientific Journal. He asks that Hodgson will guide Louis Francois to the animals he should study. He hopes that Hodgson may some time come to Calcutta. Handwritten, 3 sides, dated 18 February 1826.

Letter from Dr Clarke Abel to Brian Houghton Hodgson. Abel apologises for appearing indifferent to Hodgson's researches and will now put forward Hodgson's observations to the Physical Committee with any thoughts that occur to him and suggest the animal is named Antelope Hodgsonii, so the scientific community may know to whom they are indebted for knowledge of the species. He asks whether Hodgson knows anything of its feeding methods in the wild. He writes that Wallich (Nathaniel Wallich, Superintendent Botanic Garden, Calcutta) has sent him two porcupine skins and asks whether Hodgson knows anything of their habits. He also asks about a French half caste boy whom he has engaged, whether he will be admitted into Nepal. He asks how thrives the rhinoceros? Abel regrets to have to inform Hodgson that most of the skins Hodgson sent are in poor condition. He is keen to obtain meteorological reports from different parts of India and wonders whether Hodgson has any. Handwritten, 3 sides, dated 5 December 1825.

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.