Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1765 - 1837 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
1 archival box
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Alexander Hamilton (1762-1824) was one of the first Europeans to study Sanskrit. Hamilton joined the East India Company and arrived in India in 1783. He joined the Asiatic Society of Bengal founded by William Jones. Hamilton returned to Europe around… read more
Name of creator
Biographical history
Graves Chamney Haughton (1788-1849) was educated in England before travelling to India in 1808 with the East India Company. He became proficient in Hindustani, studying at Fort William College. He returned to England in 1815 and in 1817 was appointed… read more
Repository
Archival history
The Papers are identified as belonging to Alexander Hamilton and Graves Haughton. Presumably they came into the sole possession of Haughton after Hamilton's death in 1824. Haughton donated four of these volumes to the Royal Asiatic Society in 1837.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
The General Meeting Minutes for 1 April 1837 record: "From Sir Graves Haughton: Four MS volmes of Documents prepared under the direction of Lord Cornwallis during his first administration in Bengal, with a view for the perpetual Settlement". These are… read more
Content and structure area
Scope and content
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… read more
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
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.… read more
Conditions governing reproduction
Digital photography (without flash) for research purposes may be permitted upon completion of a copyright declaration form, and with respect to current UK copyright law.
Language of material
- English
Allied materials area
Related units of description
The Society also holds within its Collections: Fihrist-i Kutub-i Kitabkhanah-i Sarkar - A Catalogue of the Oriental MSS. in the College of Fort William, copied out in the year 1813, bearing the signature of Graves Haughton and presented to the Society by… read more
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Hamilton Alexander 1762-1824 Linguist (Subject)
- Haughton Sir Graves Chamney 1788-1849 Linguist (Subject)
Description control area
Description identifier
Archivist's note
These Papers were catalogued by Nancy Charley, RAS Archivist in 2018.