Fondo AG - Papers of Alexander Gerard

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".

Open. Please contact the archivist using the email address given here. The archive is open on Tuesdays and Fridays 10-5, and Thursdays 2-5. Access is to any researcher without appointment but it will help if an appointment is made via phone or email. Please bring photo ID

The Donations Register for 1823-1831, p.111, lists the donation of the manuscript from Captain A Gerard on 3 May 1828. The manuscript is also recorded in the Catalogue of English Manuscripts, p.74 and a description of the manuscript is provided.
The following books are also in our Collections: "Narrative of a Journey from Caunpoor to the Boorendo Pass in the Himalaya Mountains by Major Sir William Lloyd and Captain Alexander Gerard's Account of an Attempt to Penetrate by Bekhur to Garoo and the Lake Mansarowara: with a Letter from the late J.G. Gerard, Esq. detailing a Visit to the Shatool and Borrendo Passes", Volumes I and II, London 1840. "Journal of a Tour through Punjab, Afghanistan, Turkistan, Khorasan, and Part of Persia, in company with Lieut. Barnes and Dr. Gerard " by Munshi Mohan Lal", Calcutta, Baptist Mission Press, 1834. Dr. Gerard is Alexander's brother, James Gilbert.

Details of these books can be found on the Society's Library Cataloguehttps://ras.koha-ptfs.co.uk/: .