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 24 Collections and/or Records:
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.
انشای هرکرن Inshā-i Harkarn, 1182 A.H., 1768 C.E.
Models of various kinds of correspondence by Harkarn, son of the Mathurā-Dās Kanbū Multānī, whom Mughal ruler Jahāngīr (r. 1605-1627 C.E.) had appointed Ṣūbahdūr, or governor, of Akbarābād (Agra) during 1031-1032 A.H., 1621-1622 C.E.
تاريخ گزيده Ta'rīkh-i Guzīdah, undated copy (original text extant by 17th cent. 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 Mustawfī Qazvīnī (d. 750 A.H., 1349 C.E.).
تعبير خواب نامه Ta‘bīr-i khāb-nāmah, undated
A book on the interpretation of dreams ascribed to the Prophet Yūsuf.
One of the manuscripts with which the present ms. is bound, Or. Ms. 308, is dated 1066 A.H. (1655 C.E.) and bears the name of the scribe Murtaẓá Qulī Qazvīnī.
ديوانِ شوکت Dīvān-i Shawkat, undated copy (extant by 18th cent. C.E.)
This is part of the Dīvān (ghazals only) of Muḥammad Isḥāq or Ibrāhīm of Bukhārā, poetically named "Shawkat", who died at Isfahān in 1107 A.H., 1695 C.E.. It bears the seal of an ‘Ibād-Allāh, dated 1188 A.H. (1774 C.E.). This manuscript is bound with Or. Ms. 312, whose scribe is given as Muḥammad Yūsuf. It may well be by the same hand.
ديوانِ موسوی Dīvān-i Mūsavī, undated copy (original text composed 17th cent. C.E.)
The lyrical poems (ghazals only) of Sayyid Mu‘izz al-Dīn Muḥammad "Mūsavī-Khān" (d. 1106 A.H., 1694 C.E.). This manuscript is bound with Or. Ms. 310 that bears the seal of an ‘Ibād-Allāh, dated 1188 A.H. (1774 C.E.), and Or. Ms. 312, whose scribe is given as Muḥammad Yūsuf. It may well be by the same hand.
ديوانِ ناصر علی وغيره .Dīvān-i Nāṣir ‘Alī, etc, 1185 A.H., 1771 C.E.
The lyrical poems of Shaykh Nāṣir ‘Alī Sirhindī, who died at Dehli c. 1108 A.H., 1697 C.E. The colophon gives the scribe's name as Muḥammad Yūsuf.
This manuscript is bound with Or. Ms. 310 that bears the seal of an ‘Ibād-Allāh, dated 1188 A.H. (1774 C.E.).
رساله در سعادت ونحوستِ ايّام Risālah dar sa‘ādat-u nuḥūsat-i ayyām, undated
An enumeration of a few lucky and unlucky days, with hints for the remedy of evil. It is ascribed by ‘Alī b. Ṭāʼūs to the sixth Twelver Shī‘ī Imām Ja‘far b. Muḥammad al-Ṣādiq (d. 148 A.H., 765 C.E.). The present version is by ‘Ibād-Allāh Muḥammad Bakr b. Muḥammad Taqī. One of the manuscripts with which the present manuscript is bound, Or. Ms. 308, is dated 1066 A.H. (1655 C.E.) and bears the name of the scribe Murtaẓá Qulī Qazvīnī.
روشن کلام Rawshan-kalām, undated
A collection of letters composed by Bhūpat-Rāi, at the request of his patron Ra‘dandāz-Khān.
طلسم حيرت Ṭilsim-i ḥayrat, undated copy (extant by 18th cent. C.E.)
A mas̲navī by Mirzā ‘Abd al-Qādir Astarābādī, poetically styled "Bīdil" (d. 1133 A.H., 1720 C.E.).
Frontispiece illuminated.