Indian Science and Technology in the Eighteenth Century: Some Contemporary European Accounts c26: Sources
Indian Science and Technology in the Eighteenth Century: Some Contemporary European Accounts c26
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Sources
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Chapter I. *Bramin’s Observatory at Benares*, by Sir Robert Barker, was first published in the *Philosophical Transactions* of the Royal Society, London (Vol.67 for 1767, pp.598-607 and plates) under the title ‘An account of the Bramin’s Observatory at Benares’. The supplementary note by Colonel T.D. Pearse is taken from ‘Memoir of Colonel Thomas Deane Pearse’, referred to in No. IV below.
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II. *Remarks on the Astronomy of the Brahmins*, by Prof. John Playfair, was first published under the same title in the *Transactions* of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (Vol.II for 1790, part I, pp.135-192).
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III. *Hints Concerning the Observatory at Benares*, by Reuben Burrow, is on ff.263-76 in Add Ms.29233 amongst the Warren Hastings Papers in the British Museum. This paper is originally titled ‘Hints concerning some of the Advantages derivable from an Examination of the Astronomical Observatory at Benares’. The last sheet of this paper is marked ‘Mr Burrows’ and a reference to it is made by R. Burrow in a letter addressed to W. Hastings on 12 June 1783.
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IV. *On the Sixth Satellite of Saturn*, by Col. T.D. Pearse, is No.A.P.5/22 in the Archives of the Royal Society, London. It is in the form of a letter from Col. T.D. Pearse to the Secretary of the Society. A slightly varied version of it is included in the ‘Memoir of Colonel Thomas Deane Pearse’ originally published in the *British Indian Military Repository* for 1822-3. (This Memoir has been subsequently reprinted in *Bengal: Past and Present*, Vol.2-7).
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V. A Proof that the Hindoos had the Binomial Theorem, by Reuben Burrow, was first published under the same title on pp.487-97 in Vol.II (1790) of the *Asiatic Researches*.
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VI. *Hindu Algebra*, by H.T. Colebrooke, was first published in 1817 titled *Dissertation* in his ‘Algebra with Arithmetic and Mensuration, from the Sanscrit of Brahmegupta and Bhascara’.
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VII. *Operation of Inoculation of the smallpox as performed in Bengall*, is an extract from a letter dated Calcutta, 10th February, 1731, from Ro. Coult to Dr Oliver Coult, giving ‘An account of the Diseases of Bengall’. It is on ff.271v-272r in Add Ms.4432 amongst the Royal Society papers in the British Museum.
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VIII. *An account of the Manner of Inoculating for the smallpox in the East Indies*, by J.Z. Holwell, F.R.S., was published by him in 1767 under the same title and ‘inscribed to the learned the President, and Members of the College of Physicians in London’. (The sub-title to the publication reads, ‘With some Observations on the Practice and Mode of Treating the Disease in those Parts’.)
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IX. *The Method of Making the Best Mortar at Madrass in East India*, by Hon’ble Isaac Pyke, Governor of St Helena, was first published under the same title on pp.231-5 in Vol.37 (AD 1732) of the *Philosophical Transactions*.
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X. *The Process of Making Ice in the East Indies*, by Sir Robert Barker, F.R.S., was first published under the same title on pp.252-7 in Vol.65 (AD 1775) of the *Philosophical Transactions*.
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XI. *Uses of the Son and Manufacturing of the Hindostan Paper*, by Lt. Col. Ironside, was first published on pp.99-104 of Vol.64 (AD 1774) of the *Philosophical Transactions*. It was then titled ‘Of the Culture and Uses of the Son or Sun—plant of Hindostan, with an Account of the Manner of Manufacturing the Hindostan Paper’.
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XII. *Indian Agriculture*, by Col. Alexander Walker, from a much larger work (circa 1820) on the agriculture of Malabar and Guzarat, is taken from 184.a.3 (pp.577-654) amongst the Walker of Bowland Papers in the National Library of Scotland.
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XIII. *On the Drill Husbandry of Southern India*, by Captain Thos Halcott, originally in the form of two letters, was published on pp.352-6 in the 1st volume of ‘Communications to the Board of Agriculture’ published in 1797. It was then titled ‘On the Drill Husbandry of the East’.
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XIV. *Iron Works at Ramanakapettah*, by Dr Benjamin Heyne, was originally sent by him in 1795 to the Governor of Madras. It is then titled ‘Doctor Heyne’s Report of the Iron Works at Ramanakapettah’ and this version is taken from Vol.1 (No.613) of the Board’s Collections in the India Office (IOR:F/4/I). An edited version of it was also published by Dr Heyne in 1814 as No.13 ‘Tracts, Historical and Statistical on India’.
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XV. The Mode of Manufacturing Iron in Central India, by Major James Franklin, is in the India Office Library as MS EUR D 154, and is noted as ‘Received from Secretary May 19, 1835’. The whole of this document along with the seven plates (but excluding the map) is published here. The original is titled ‘Observations on Several Iron Mines, in the Central Part of India, with an account of the Indian Mode of Manufacturing Iron and Plans of the Machinery and Implements’.
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XVI. Manufacture of Bar Iron in Southern India, by Captain J. Campbell, Assistant Surveyor General, Madras, was written around 1842 and was published in The Calcutta Journal of Natural History for 1843 (Vol.3, pp.386-400) under the same title.
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XVII. Aspects of Technology in Western India, consists of extracts from letters addressed from Bombay by Dr H. Scott to Sir Joseph Banks, President of the Royal Society, London, during 1790-1801. The extracts reproduced here are from Add Ms.33979 (ff.1-13; 127-30; 135-6; 233-6); Add Ms.33980 (ff.305-310) and Add Ms.35262 (ff.14-5) in the British Museum.
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Appendix II