Anderson, David, 1750-1828 (Diplomat, East India Company)
Dates
- Existence: 1750 - 1828
Biography
David Anderson (1750-1828) was an East India Company diplomat born in Edinburgh. Both David and his brother James Anderson (1757-1833) were close associate of Warren Hastings (1732-1818), the first British Governor-General of Bengal, Hasting’s inner circle being known for their interest in Indian and Muslim culture and heritage. David matriculated at the University of Edinburgh in 1762, studying Humanities under Professor George Stuart (no graduation recorded). By 1767 he was in India, employed as an EIC “Writer”. By 1769 he was an assistant to George Gustavas Ducarel in (Purnea district), by 1772 he held the position of Factor, assistant to the EIC Political Resident at Murshidabad where he appears to have risen through the ranks over the subsequent years. In 1782 he negotiated a peace treaty between the Marāthās and the EIC, with Madho Rao Pundit Purdhan, in Scindia. He then remained in Scindia as Political Resident until 1785 when he returned to Britain on the same ship as Hastings. He was later a witness for the defence at Hastings’ impeachment trial, and purchased St Germain House (East Lothian).
Upon his death David Anderson bequeathed 113 manuscripts to the University of Edinburgh Library in Persian (104 items), Arabic (6) and Hindustani (3). His collection indicates practical concerns such as the gathering of information on the history of India, and informing himself on letter writing and elegant composition, but also an interest in Persian literature (particularly poetry of a Sufi nature) and some interest in Hinduism. It includes a number of items translated from Sanskrit to Persian.
Found in 114 Collections and/or Records:
Or Ms 164: الآداب السلطانيه والدول الاسلاميه al-Ādāb al-sulṭāniyyah wa-al-duwal al-Islāmiyyah, undated copy (original text composed 12th cent. C.E.)
Or Ms 165: مختصر الدول Mukhtaṣar al-duwal, undated copy (including sections originally composed 14th cent. C.E.)
Or Ms 169: الف ليله و ليله Alf laylah wa-laylah, undated copy (earliest version compiled 9th cent. C.E.)
The Ms. contains stories from the beginning of the "Arabian Nights " till the middle of the tale of Qamar al-Zamān, which is the 97th Ḥikāyah, or tale, in Macnaghten's edition, but the wording is very different.
Or Ms 170: شرح تذكرة الطوسى Sharḥ tadhkirat al-Ṭūsī, 1146 A.H., 1733 C.E.
A commentary on the Tadhkirah, a treatise on the elements of Astronomy of the famous Khwājah Naṣīr al-Dīn al-Ṭūsī (d. 672 A.H., 1273 C.E.), by Al-Sayyid al-Sharīf al-Jurjānī (d. 816 A.H., 1413 C.E.), who compiled it in 811 A.H. (1408 C.E.). It is divided into four chapters.
Contains numerous neat diagrams in colour.
Or Ms 174: السلام والدرود al-Salām w-al-durūd, undated
A collection of fourteen different salutations and ninety-five blessings on the Prophet Muḥammad. Only the last word is altered, otherwise the wording of the various sentences remains unchanged.
Or Ms 178: عجائب التجويد Ajā’ib al-tajwīd‘, undated
A short treatise on the correct reading, reciting, etc., of the Qur’ān. The subject is treated in nineteen chapters, and these are enumerated on fols. 3a-4a. The author is ‘Ibād-allāh.
Or Ms 180: فتاوی عالم گيری (کتاب جنايات) Fatāwī-i ʻālamgīrī (Kitāb-i janāyāt), undated (original text compiled 17th cent. C.E.)
Or Ms 183: هدايهٔ فارسی (جلد چهارم) Hidāya-'i Fārsī (vol. iv), undated
A copy of the fourth and last volume of the Hidāya, a celebrated treatise on Islamic Jurisprudence according to the doctrine of Imām Abū Ḥanīfah and his disciples Abū Yūsuf and Imām Muḥammad, the original work being in Arabic.
The current copy includes seven chapters and is bound in stamped leather.
Or Ms 185: تاريخ گزيده Ta'rīkh-i Guzīdah, 993 A.H., 1584 C.E.
A general history from the earliest times to 730 A.H. (1329 C.E.), the year, as it is stated in the preface, when it was compiled by Ḥamd-allāh b. 'Abī Bakr b. Aḥmad b. Naṣr Mustaufī Qazwīnī (d. 750 A.H., 1349 C.E.), and the present name, meaning "the select history" was given to it.
The first two pages and the frontispiece are richly illuminated; gold-lined throughout.