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To Brian H. Hodgson Esq
Political Resident in Nepal

From The Royal Asiatic Society London

My dear Sir,

London 6th July 1836

I have to return you my thanks for your very interesting letter of 28th June 1835. As soon as I received it I called upon Sir James R. Garnac, the then Deputy and the present Chairman of the East India Company. I also called upon Colonel Sykes. I shewed your letter to them, to the first with a view of pointing out to him and through him to the Court of Directors, the value and importance of your intended publication; to the second with the view of ascertaining from him in what manner the Royal Asiatic Society could most effectively forward your object. Sir J.R. Carnac assured me that he was fully aware of the [utiIity?] of such a publication; and that he would give it every encouragement in his power. Colonel Sykes explained to me the nature and extent of the support which you may expect to receive in London. I likewise consulted with your relative the Dean of Carlisle and with Mr. Bennett the secretary of the Zoological Society, and I called the attention of Sir William Jardine, of Jardine Hall in the county of Dumfries to the subject. Sir William who is equally distinguished by the knowledge he possesses of Natural History and by the zeal with which he himself cooperates with others in promoting its ability study, enters very warmly into your views, and has, at my request, as he tells me, written to you explaining the course which he would advise you to pursue. I am convinced that no person in this country is more capable than he is of affording you valuable assistance; and I am therefore extremely happy to find that he has opened a communication directly with you. I shall as soon as you let me know the details of the plan which you have adopted, be most ready to lay them before the Royal Asiatic Society, the Board of Control, and the Court of Directors, and to urge each of these powerful bodies to afford such aid as they may respectively be enabled to do. I shall, in a short time, send out to Lord Auckland a resolution of the Committee of Correspondence, expressive of their sense of the great advantages which the peoples of England and the Natives of India must derive from your exertions, and of their hope that Lord Auckland wiIl both publicly and privately, patronize your researches to the utmost of his power. Allow me to add that all my friends in this country entertain the greatest admiration for the activity which you shew in promoting science and literature and will feel the greatest pleasure in taking every opportunity to make the public aware of the debt of gratitude which all those who have an interest in the improvement of the native of British India ought to acknowledge to you for the able manner in which you have directed your researches to the investigation of questions which are so intimately connected with their happiness and prosperity . I think it of so much importance that your views as to the Natural History of India should be generally known on the continent of Europe and in America that I shall have your letter to me upon this subject published in the next number of the Quarterly Journal of the R.A. Society, a work which has I understand a very extensive circulation. I send you a copy of the Proceedings of the last Anniversary meeting of the R.A.S. By this you will be able to see that I alluded to your
plan in my Report as Chairman of the Committee of Correspondence.

I remain etc etc
(Signed)
Alexander Johnston

23rd May 1835

Lt. Colonel Sykes
Albion Street
Hyde Park

My dear Sir
Owing to much [hurry?] in various ways I have to apologise for delaying this
to the moment of my leaving London
Very truly yrs.
Brian Hodgson Thursday [morning] 16 May

Proposal to publish
Through Swainson

COPY

Mem[oran]dum of Agreem[en]t. between Brian Hodgson of Canterbury Kent Snr. on the part& behalf of his son B.H. Hodgson now in India - and Mr. Swainson of Tyttenhanger Green, Herts. Esq. on the other.

1. On the part of Mr Hodgson it is agreed to place at the disposal of Mr Swainson all such materials whether of “ Drawings. Specimens, or Descriptions, in his possession as Mr Swainson may require for publishing an Atlas, or collection of Plates, as hereafter specified relative to Mr. Hodgson’s researches hereafter on the Zoology of India and to assign to Mr. Swainson the sole right & title to the copyright of the said work.
2. A duplicate series of specimens. When the specimens are in duplicate will be given to Mr Swainson on the part of Mr [?] Swainson it is agreed as follows: -
3. That the atlas or collections of Plates relative to Mr Hodgsons researches shall be published in folio (17 y2 inches by 12 inches) and in monthly or alternate monthly numbers, - each to contain twelve colored(sic) plates - price one guinea each number and the whole to be completed in fifteen numbers at the cost of Fifteen Guineas to Subscribers - a few large paper copies to be printed and published at two guineas each.
4. The original drawings and specimens, where [when?] no longer required, shall be returned to Mr Hodgson
5. Mr B.H. Hodgson’s names of all new species will be retained & all the errors of nomenclature will be rectified by Mr Swainson on behalf on the part of Mr Hodgson
6. The whole of the funds for publishing this work will be provided by Mr Swainson but each party will pay their own postage & parcels
7. This Agreement to have the same force and efficacy as if drawn up in legal language.
   Witness our hands this 23d May of 1835
   Signed William Swainson
   Apt. Commisary General
   Note: Six colored copies of the entire works will be supplied to Mr Hodgson gratis W.S.

To the Dean of Carlisle
Grosvenor Street

Dear Robert

Let me trouble you for 2 lines directed to Canterbury to tell me when you migrate northwards. It is only on the last day of my stay prolonged to make enquiries for my son Brian as to his projected publication that I hear he has been corresponding with you and under very reasonable dread of his drawings and specimens being unfairly dealt with has given you power to remove them - this particularly if Mr. Bennett's illness should terminate fatally - every body agrees to be the first and most essential step and if you do not yourself seal them and place them in safe custody I shall have to beg your authority to this end for the present adieu
V[er]y Affect[ionate]ly
William Hodgson

[C- Latymer} 20 May [18--]

I shall stop a day or two in London passing through but not under 2 or 3 weeks

Alderley Grange

Feb[ruary] 2 1870

My dear Marshall

I have your note of yesterday. Why, you are a whole week ahead of the time you [?] when here. I am glad your brother likes the sample of my [work?] which you showed him but you don't say whether he and you are disposed to tackle the huge [residue?]. Let me know but please first see Grote who seems scared for you or himself at the undertaking of [?] it will require lots of room to lay out the contents of the 4 portfolios so as to make a [just?] inspection by the preliminary operation of bringing together from the 4 receptacles wherein they are now scattered pell mell all that related to each species and group. Have you room and leisure for the opperation and for taking the results more or less perfunctorily. Your brother is soon to return and you have only till October with a deal of work already in hand. Perhaps however Grote and you may manage the storage between you - you alone who are a glutton for work may be equal to the [?] of the material and thence to decide the further question of the expediency of advising Hume to [turn?] the whole over to India with a view to incorporation in his work on the General Ornithology of India. Pending the settlement of which point it would seem that the portfolios should rest in London. All I can say is that I am ready to send up the whole as soon as I hear from you and Grote, and to trust you out and out for the fit care and utilisation of my treasures. Never mind about the [lamp?]. Thanks for your thoughtful attention to that trifle. Mrs. H joins me in Kindest Regards

Ever Yours
B.H. Hodgson

Alderley Grange
Wotton under edge

Feb. 11 [18]70

My dear Marshall

I have your letter and its enclosure from Hume to you, and as you tell me you are satisfied of Hume's [power] and will to go through with his projected work on the general ornithology of India I have resolved to act, on your suggestion that your brother should take out with him to India the whole of my material to be turned to use in Hume's work. This I may say will save time when time is precious seeing that the work is rapidly progressing, and that there will be no difficulty arising out of your temporary absence in regard to the reading of the Hindi problem of the memorandum. Wherefore I mean the day after tomorrow to send to you in a big deal box the four portfolios of drawings together with my own m.s list of birds so far as the Nepal collection goes (2) my native painter's Hindi list of the whole including the Sikim collection (3) Red bound vol of Manners of Birds done in Nepal by my writer from, viva voce statements of my Shikaris (4) Eight volumes unbound of Ditto Ditto done at Darjeeling (5) Sundry m.s Mems. by myself done in Tarai in 1846 (6) two copies of my printed catalogue from Zool. Miscellany 1844 (7) Six copies of reprint of 6 at Calcutta in 1846 (8) Sundry printed papers/original to Marshall (copy) 15th Feby to be signed. See Grote and let me hear of safe arrival of the box.
and believe me always Sir
Yrs. B H Hodgson

X I return this herein

To G. F.L. Marshall

MEMORANDUM
IN 4 PORTFOLIOS
received from B.H. Hodgson the loan of his Ornithological Drawings and Notes consisting of
1st Eleven hundred and four sheets of Drawings
2nd Mr. H's own Ms. List of his Birds so far as the Nepal collection goes
3rd His native painter's Hindi list of the whole collection including the Sikim portion
4th one red bound volume of the Manners of the Birds done in Nepal by his writer from viva voce statements of his Shikaris
5th Sundry Ms. Memos done by himself in the Sikim Tarai in 1846
6th Two copies of his own catalogue as printed in London
7th Six copies of reprint of 6 in Calcutta in 1846
8th Sundry printed papers being author's copies

Signed
G. Marshall
London Feb 1870

H. Piddington Esqr
Sub Secretary Asiatic Society
Bengal

Feb 28
1845

My dear Sir
Some weeks ago I called your attention and that of Mr Torrens to the non publication of several papers of mine on the Zoology of Nepal which were transmitted to your society at the close of 1842 and beginning of 1843 when specimens likewise were forwarded to your Zool. Curator either for examination with reference to those papers or as Donations to your society - the specimens lent in the first instance having been for the most part subsequently given to the Society through your Curator in January 1844, thereby with former donations completing for the Society the intire series almost of my Collections. I would not [desire?] to misconstrue appearances to any person's disadvantage, but it is remarkable that the donations in question still continue unacknowledged, and, the papers unpublished by the Society. while their Contents are [transpiring?] in the reports of your Curator to whom more especially both Specimens and papers were confided. Once of the papers [adverted?] to was a Catalogue of Birds partially published in No XXXVI of your Journal but the residue of which is not forthcoming. Another paper was on the [Leucotuchamian?] group. Another on the Larks, another on many new genera and species and being the complement of all my prior papers - besides may others of minor importance. The papers "on several new Genera and Species of Subhemalayan Birds" contained the description and definitions of a great many novelties of form which it was most desirable should be published immediately in order to prevent anticipation. This point was explained to your Curator of Zoology Mr Blyth to whom on the 22nd May 1843 sixty seven samples of the new genera and species contained in the paper in question were sent by DAK, with List annexed, and on the 7th August 1843 twenty one more specimens also by DAK, with a view to obviate the evils of delay. Now, it is under these circumstances (so far as known to me) that there appears in print in the CXL111 No. of your Journal the last yet in England a Zoological "report" of Mr Blyth which anticipates a deal of the matter contained in my papers in question, and especially in the long one just adverted to, several of the new genera of which (for example Pachyglossa Melanozantha) are actually published from my specimens while my papers describe them and which had been many months (twelve at least) in Mr. Blyth's hands. When that report was finally given in are still with held from the printer. Mr Blyth's "report" is called the report for 1842 but it was printed in June 1844 and it bears internal evidence of having been largely added to up nearly to the time of publication. The whole of the circumstances now stated to you may admit of Explanation@ but they at all events seem to require explanation and I therefore request you will submit them to the Society should the evils complained of not have found rectification before your receipt of this letter. In the "report" above specified the donations of several individuals are carefully ennumerated whilst mine are not noticed except incidentally and marginally save when these materials are transferred to Mr. Blyth's text in supression of my own prior descriptions that were in his hands waiting publication and had been so far above twelve months when the greatest part of this report was [personal?] and the designation of the paper "Report of the Meeting of 1843" being complete misnomer.
Believe me
Very Truly Yrs
B.H. Hodgson

[This list pairs with letter Feb. 28th 1845]

List of Birds transmitted to Mr. Blyth May 22 1843
1 - 2 Propyrrhula Subhimachalana
3 - 4 Procarduelis Nipalensis
5 - 6 Propasser Pulcherrima
7 - 8 Propasser Rodopepla
9 Propyrrhula Epauletta
10 Pyrrhula Nipalensis
11 Fringillarius Argent
12 Ioropus Strigula
13 Ioropus Nipalensis
14 Proparus Vinipectus
15 Ioropus Cyanopteris
16 Carthiparus Ignotinctus
17 - 18 Tarsiger Chrysaeus
19 - 2 Cyornis or Ignornis Ioncanea [?]
21 Digenea Leucomelanum
22 Dimorpha Strophiata
23 - 4 Myzanthe Ignipectus
25 Pachyglossa Melanozantha
26 Orthotomus Sutora
27 Prinia Fuscus
28 Nemora Rufilatus [?]
29 Rubecola Ferrea
30 Chelidorynx Chrysoschistos
31 Hemipus Piccator [Picacolor?]
32 Nemora Cyanara [?]
33 Leiothrix Calipyga
34 Larvivora Cyana
35 Hemichelidon Fuliginose
36 My[i]agra Occipitalis [?]
37 Cathiparus Castaneceps [?]
38 Poyodon Gularis
39 Polyodon Occipitalus [?]
40 Cisticola Subhem[him]alayana
41 Ixulus Flavicollis
42 Tribura Leuteoventris
43 Myzornis Flaviventris [?]
44 [H]oreites Pollicaris
45 [H]oreites Brunnifrons
46 Nivicola Schistilatum/s
47 Pnoepyga Albiventris
48 Oligura Flaviventer
49 Muscisylvia Leucurus [?]
50 Temnosis Atrifrons
51 Chrysomma Hypoleucos
52 Alcurus Nipalensis
53 Hemixos Flavala
54 Gymnoris Flavinostra
55 Brachytarsus Phaenicuroides
56 Decura Caudata
57 Digeula Tricolor
58 Stachyris Pyrrops
59 Chaimarrornis Leucocephalus
60 Saxicola Saturatior
61 Saxicola Melalenia [melaleuca?]
62 Muscicapa Leucoshistas
63 Musc [Hemileucara?]
64 Musc. Astigma[astiema]
65 Musc. Ciliaris
66 Prosorinea Purpurea [?]
67 Chaitaris Sundara