Sir William Jones Manuscripts
Call Number
Date
Creator
Extent
Language of Materials
Biographical Note
William Jones (1746-1794) was a British lawyer in India and pioneer of comparative linguistic studies. Born in London in 1746, Jones later enrolled at University College, Oxford in 1764 and began studying linguistics and Oriental culture and literature. Jones studied Greek, Latin, Persian, Arabic and Sanskrit, becoming an expert in the field of comparative and historic linguistics. He spent several years after graduating working on translations of texts from these languages. After receiving his degree, he studied law at Middle Temple in London from 1770-1773. In 1772, William Jones became a fellow of the Royal Society as well as a practicing lawyer.
In 1783 he was knighted, becoming Sir William Jones, and was appointed to a position as a judge in British-controlled India. Jones continuted his studies of Oriental languages and literature in India, and during this time produced additional translations as well as original works. In addition to language and literature, Jones produced works on botony, astrology, zoology and law. In 1784 Sir William Jones founded the Asiatic Society with the purpose of promoting the study of Asiatic cultures and languages. Jones continued his studies and his work as a judge until his death in Calcutta in 1794.
Sources: Cannon, Garland. The Collected Works of Sir William Jones, Vol., New York: NYU Press, 2003.
Jones, Sir William.The Poetical Works of Sir William Jones with the life of the author, Vol.1 London: Cadell and Davies, 1807.
Scope and Contents
The Sir William Jones Manuscripts consist of various types of documents related to his lingustic studies, many in their original language with translations or notation by Jones. Included are documents in Sanskrit and Persian relating to astrology, botany and law.
Subjects
Conditions Governing Access
Materials are open to researchers. Please contact the Fales Library and Special Collections, fales.library@nyu.edu, 212-998-2596.
Conditions Governing Use
Materials in this collection, which were created 1100-1794, are in the public domain. Permission to publish or reproduce is not required.
Preferred Citation
Published citations should take the following form: Identification of item, date (if known); Sir William Jones Manuscripts; MSS 301; box number; folder number; Fales Library and Special Collections, New York University Libraries.
Provenance
Fales purchased the materials from Jones scholar Garland Cannon with a generous donation from artist, writer and philanthropist Kevin Brine, an active supporter of the Elmer Holmes Bobst Library.
About this Guide
Processing Information
In August 2022, prior to digitization, the Conservation Lab rehoused the collection and flattened several items. Box and folder numbers therefore shifted from the original finding aid.
In March 2024, Umrat Khan and Hijaz Mehdi provided a translation and transcription of one document, a letter concerning a manuscript by Amin Sahab.
Revisions to this Guide
Repository
Series I: Manuscripts
Legal Mutation, undated
Scope and Contents
Sanskrit written in Bengali characters. Refers to rules and regulations for donations/inheritance. Written in formal hand by a Brahmin scholar or pundit.
Image Set
Numbered sentences/slokas from 9-14, undated
Scope and Contents
Sanskrit in Bengali characters. Jones' handwriting with spelling corrections. Page number 3
Numbered sentences/slokas from 1-3, undated
Scope and Contents
Sanskrit in Bengali characters. Page number 1
Planet/zodiac related words, undated
Scope and Contents
Sanskrit in Devanagari characters. Jones' handwriting
Short note, undated
Scope and Contents
Sanskrit in Bengali characters.
Image Set
unidentified document, undated
Scope and Contents
Extract in Sanskrit in Devanagari characters. Formal hand. English annotation by Jones. Mention of Jaitra Singh the ruler of Mewar (AD 1200)
Letter/short note to a senior person, undated
Scope and Contents
Sanskrit in Devanagari characters.
Short note, undated
Scope and Contents
Sanskrit in Bengali characters. Handmade paper rust/brown colored – writing in black ink
Image Set
2 lines of slokas/note, undated
Scope and Contents
Sanskrit in Bengali characters
Slokas about the 'chatak' birds' love for the pure rain water and clouds, undated
Scope and Contents
Sanskrit in Bengali characters
unidentified document, undated
Scope and Contents
Sanskrit in Devanagari characters, written in formal hand by a pundit.Handmade paper with writing in black ink and punctuation marks in red ink
unidentified document, undated
Scope and Contents
Sanskrit in Devanagari characters. Formal writing by pundit – also Jones' handwriting. Back of page – English – reference to Varaha Mihira – an Indian astronomer, astrologer and mathematician. Also mention of Bhattotpala – the commentator of Brihat Jataka
Numbered slokas, undated
Scope and Contents
Sanskrit in Bengali characters. Last 2 lines are Sanskrit in Devanagari characters.
Image Set
Numbered slokas, undated
Scope and Contents
Sanskrit in Bengali characters
Image Set
unidentified document, undated
Scope and Contents
Sanskrit in Devanagari characters. 4 page hand stitched notebook. First three pages are printed. The last page is Jones' handwriting – annotations for spellings and pronunciations of various Sanskrit words
Translations of the Gayatri Mantra (prayer), undated
Scope and Contents
Sanskrit mantra written in English characters.
unidentified document, undated
Scope and Contents
Sanskrit in Devanagari characters. Back of page – notes and calculations in Jones' handwriting.
unidentified document, undated
Scope and Contents
Sanskrit in Devanagari characters. 2 sentences in Persian
Scansions of poetry using Indian musical notations/symbols, undated
Scope and Contents
The other side of notebook has list of names in pencil – British officers and friends perhaps.
unidentified document, undated
Scope and Contents
Persian, 2 pages. I page Persian in English characters. Last page Persian in Jones' handwriting. Hand stitched notebook – writing in black ink.
Preface to the Varahas Almanac for 1789, 1789
Scope and Contents
Sanskrit in Devanagari characters. Annotated in English - Jones' handwriting. Includes zodiac calculations
Manuscript on Vetalapancavinsati by Sivadasa, undated
Scope and Contents
Sanskrit in Devanagari characters. 29 verses written in several hands – black ink. Hand painted notebook cover.
unidentified document, undated
Scope and Contents
Sanskrit in Devanagari characters
unidentified document, undated
Scope and Contents
Sanskrit in Bengali characters written by Nimai Pandit. Single sentence on the top is in Jones' handwriting.
'Yoga Vasistha.', undated
Scope and Contents
Sanskrit in Devanagari characters. Annotated in English - Jones' handwriting. It is the discourse between Sage Vasistha and Lord Rama regarding truth and spiritual liberation.
Image Set
Short Note, undated
Scope and Contents
Sanskrit in Devanagari characters. Back of page reads "A Letter."
Image Set
Floor plan, undated
Scope and Contents
Diagrams in red ink. Sanskrit in Devanagari characters – in black ink. Both sides of small note paper.
Image Set
"Amara Cosha.", undated
Scope and Contents
Sanskrit in Bengali characters. Title in English in Jones' handwriting. It is the oldest known dictionary in the world – classical Sanskrit vocabulary written by Sage Amara Sinha.
Image Set
Notes on the Gayatri Mantra, undated
Scope and Contents
Sanskrit in Bengali characters. Annotated by Jones. Writing in red ink, hand stitched 5 note books.
Letter from Garland Cannon, 2003
Scope and Contents
William Jones Accretions, 2003.
unidentified document, undated
Scope and Contents
Single document in Arabic/Persian. Single document in Arabic/Persian (?)
Legalities of Inheritance/Donation, undated
Scope and Contents
Single document in Bengali
Chart of Indian Zodiac signs (Raashi) in Devanagari characters, undated
Scope and Contents
Annotations in English & Persian. Original of the one printed later in Jones' "On the Antiquity of the Indian Zodiac." Annotation include seasons, planets & days of the week.
Manuscript on Ramadeva's poem Vivduanmodatarangini (Fountain of pleasure to the learned.), undated
Scope and Contents
Sanskrit in Bengali characters. Black in on brown paper. Inscription on cover is in English – "The Bidwan Mod Tarungeenee from the Gooptu Para Pundit of Santipore."
"The Opening of the Shahnamah in the characters of the Zend.", undated
Scope and Contents
Title in English. Rest of the manuscript in Persian. Shahnamah (The Book of Kings was written by Iranian poet Ferdowsi in 1000AD).
unidentified document, undated
Scope and Contents
Two Persian words on cover - translated by Garland Cannon as BAZI SAT meaning "game" "chess". Material inside is foliated and perhaps does not relate/belong to the cover. Content inside written in Sanskrit in Bengali characters. Reference to Krishna and Arjun.
"The Hindu Ecliptick.", undated
Scope and Contents
English. Diagram of globe with zodiac and seasons.
"A Hymn to the Night from the Veda.", undated
Scope and Contents
Single sheet. English. Jones' handwriting
"The Hindu Ecliptick.", undated
Scope and Contents
English. Diagram of globe with zodiac and seasons.
Translation of Necker used in 'On the mystical Poetry of the Persians and Hindus.', undated
Scope and Contents
English - Jones' handwriting.
"Account of the Method of Van Reede. Mr. W. Jones' Ms.", undated
Scope and Contents
Opening translation from Reede tot Drakenstein's (1673) close to verbatim 'Botanical Observations on Select Indian Plants.'
"Indian Grant of Law to the Priests of Siva.", undated
Scope and Contents
Devanagari and English characters. Last Page – "Reverence to Ganesha."
"Translation of the poetry at Vindya Mountains.", undated
Scope and Contents
Sanskrit in Devanagari characters. Annotated by Jones.
"Stanzas in praise of the Ganga.", undated
Scope and Contents
Sanskrit in Devanagari characters. Written in black ink. Persian words in red ink. Annotated in English by Jones. "King Akbar's minister Bairam Khan – a Muslim – but a poet in Sanskrit wrote several stanzas in praise of the Ganga." (river).
Extracts from the Vedas, undated
Scope and Contents
Commencing with "May that soul of mine…" English - Jones' handwriting
Writings/Translations from the Yajurveda, undated
Scope and Contents
English - Jones' handwriting. (Man as a tree).
"Astronomical terms in Sanskrit used in Mr. Davis' paper, undated
Scope and Contents
Sanskrit in Devanagari characters. Annotated in English - Jones' handwriting
Letter to William Jones about Amin Sahab Manuscript, 1786-09-30
Scope and Contents
Persian. Handmade paper with watermark.
According to the work of Umrat Khan, Graduate Student Assistant in Special Collections, and her Persian tutor, Hijaz Mehdi, this letter, addressed to Sir William Jones, is from an unknown author about a manuscript by Mr. Amin Sahab. The letter is written in sangi chaap, a spiral form of writing, and in Shekesteh Nastaliq or broken script.
The majority of the letter focuses on the unknown author's praises of Sir William Jones and his wife. The author also mentions a manuscript received from Mr. Amin Sahab.
English Translation
Page 1 Standing in tribute in the court of hazūr (Sir) who is a treasure of grace, and has Aristotle's intellect. Who is in a position of decree, with highness in degree and rank, grandeur stature, and is the most virtuous of people. The fountain from where wisdom and knowledge springs, whose flag is high, respectable of the gods, I mean, Sir William Younus (Jones),may his great shade prolong.
It is delivered, God willing. May the God of all the worlds, keep the age and wealth of that king green and fresh for 150 years. And I am and I have been busy continuously praying and praising for Sir's blessed self. I hope my prayer reaches the target like an arrow, by the Grace of the God of servants.
After expressing my sincerity, my disclosed opinion may not remain hidden from the bright self of that Sir (William Jones). May you have the best of times, and the most blessed moments. With that letter, from the praiseful pen, Sir (William Jones) honored this man (the author of the letter) in that sun-like document containing well-doings of the praised personality of that Sir (William Jones). And the good news of wellness of the carrier of innocence and immaculacy, offspring of the royals,famous in all the land and sea, Mary of the times, Miss Lady Jones, may God prolong her good luck.
Hope you receive this letter in times of happiness and moments of luck. I hope your time will be with ease and without burden.
Words of the text that Mr Amin delivered to me, the sirafraz namcha (chapter), was a manuscript in Pahlavi language and handwritten. He has put all his effort and says this is a chapter, however I remember very little of it. God willing, as per your wish, I will write back to you in detail, when my senses are working better, so you can see it as well.
I am so excited to meet you (I am passionate about kissing your feet), that to describe it with pen in a letter is impossible. I wanted to write a letter earlier but there is an ancient tradition amongst Persian people that when an individual leaves for a destination, his family will not write to him until they receive a letter from him first.
As your letter has reached now I am encouraged to write back and express in your presence with hopeful request that you will honor this humble well-wisher with two blessed words of mercy (for me).
This will be the reason for you to pray and a reason for my heart's contentment. This will be the most minimal outcome. And may your wealth/riches last forever.
The letter is written on the date of 30th September 1786 AD, at the port of Calcutta at the house of Mr Amin Sahab. May my offer of sincerity be delivered in the presence of Her Highness who is at the Queen's stature, the Mary of the times, the one and only lady Jones Sahiba (Miss), may she stay well forever Inshaa Allah (God-willing), may your orders remain obeyed.
Page 2 (unrecognized text)
(Persian) (Yours sincerely) (Bahman [Iranian month])
Other Finding Aids
NYU Special Collections has a Persian transcription of this document, as well as an image demonstrating the order in which the script should be read, available for researchers upon request.
"The Ignorant Instructed.", undated
Scope and Contents
Sixteen stanzas of Moha Mudgara by Adi Sankaracharya. A short poem about the transitory nature of worldly experience – everlasting bliss can be gained through knowledge – the higher light. Original translations from Sanskrit to English.
Extracts from the Vedas, Mahabharata and Shastras, undated
Scope and Contents
Sanskrit in Devanagari characters. Annotated in English. Handmade paper, watermarked.
Jones' translations of extracts from the Vedas, undated
Scope and Contents
English
Translations from the Vedas – "What Relish Can There Be…", undated
Scope and Contents
English - Jones' handwriting.
List of Sanskrit words and stanzas, undated
Scope and Contents
Annotations by Jones. Some words are names of deities and characters from the Ramayana and Mahabharata. General study of word meaning and spelling. Also includes a study of chhand (poetic meter). The Vedas contain Varnik and Matrik chhands.
"Isavasyam" or And Upanishad from the Yajurveda, undated
Scope and Contents
English translation of the Sanskrit text.
Plans of Knowledge, undated
Scope and Contents
English. Jones' handwriting. 2 lines in Sanskrit. The cover reads "Paper of Literary Projects."
Image Set
Sanskrit slokas (verses), undated
Scope and Contents
Written in Bengali characters. Formal writing. Handmade paper – rust/brown colored – writing in black ink.
"Genera of plants growing between Arifnagar and Khidirpur.", 1794
Scope and Contents
English - Jones' handwriting. Incomplete, unpublished part of his catalog of Indian plants growing in Calcutta (1794).
Nala and Damayanti, undated
Scope and Contents
Hindu mythological narrative. Sanskrit in Devanagari characters. Annotated by Jones.
Draft of Jones' translation of Gita Govinda – verses 4,5 & 6, c. 1790
Scope and Contents
(circa 1790). Originally composed by a Sanskrit poet Jayadeva. First English translation by Jones published in 1792. Othersie of page has Vedic slokas in Sanskrit in Devanagari characters. Annotated in Jones'writing.
"On the Primitive Religion of the Hindus.", undated
Scope and Contents
English – Jones' handwriting.
"A Hindu Almanac for the year of Saca – Beginning Sat 11th April 1789 by a Pandit of Navadwip, surnamed Vidya Siromani.", 1789
Scope and Contents
Sanskrit in Devanagari characters. English annotations in Jones' handwriting. Mention of important festivals and auspicious occasions. Hand stitched notebook – handmade paper with silk cover
Names of ancient Hindu texts and also newer (navin) ones, undated
Scope and Contents
Sanskrit in Devanagari characters. Annotated by Jones. Dated 20th July and 17th Aug 1788. Place – Benaras
"Address to the Goddess Saraswati.", undated
Scope and Contents
Title on cover page. English. 13 verses translated from Sanskrit. Jones' handwriting.
"Varahas Almanac", 1789
Scope and Contents
A calendar – 1789 – twelve months beginning from April. Sanskrit in Devanagari characters. Also astrological study of lunar cycles
Image Set
Translation of Omar Khayyam's Rubaiyat (Quatrains), undated
Scope and Contents
Persian and English. Handwritten by Jones.
Chart of Hindi verbs, undated
Scope and Contents
Sanskrit in Devanagari characters with detailed explanations in English. Handmade paper. Writing in black ink.
"Bengali Translation of the Dandakaumudi" (Punishment for Crime), undated
Scope and Contents
Codes of judicial procedures.
Formal declaration about various Shastras (disciplines of knowledge.), undated
Scope and Contents
Document in Sanskrit in Bengali characters.
"The Yoga Stars.", undated
Scope and Contents
English. A chart with names of stars (nakshatras) along with the longitudes and latitudes.
