F. 66a (University Library, Cambridge University)

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E. G. Browne Collection

Summary of Contents: A portfolio containing original letters received by Professor Browne from leading Bábís and Bahá'ís (1889-1913), together with other letters and documents connected with the subject and belonging to the same period. The following note by Professor Browne is written at the end: "Full particulars concerning the more important of my Bábí (Azali and Bahá'i correspondents whose letters are contained in this volume will be found in my Traveller's Narrative (Cambridge University Press, 1891), New History (Cambridge University Press, 1893) and Materials for the Study of the Babi Religion (Cambridge University Press, 1918). Pp. 1-10 contain letters from Mírzá Yahyà Subh-i-Azal, the Dawn of Eternity, himself and from his sons 'Abdu'l-'Ali and Rizwán 'Alí, his nephew Rúhu'lláh, and his followers 'Abdu'l-Ahad of Zanján and Maḥmúd ibn Muhammad Ja'far of Kirmán, the brother of Shaykh Ahmad Rúhí of Kirmán. The Bahá'í letters include those from all Bahá'u'lláh's four sons, viz. 'Abbás Efendi 'Abdu'l- Bahá, his rival Muḥammad Alí, Badí'u'lláh and Ziyá'u'lláh. Also from Mirzá Muhammad Ali of Yazd; Hájjí Sayyid Alí of Shíráz; 'Azizu'lláh of Bukhárá (a converted Jew); Muhammad Jawád and his son Ghulámu'lláh of Qazwin, two of the partisans of Muhammad 'Ali." Most of the letters have been numbered by Professor Browne, who has usually noted the writer's name, the date at which the letter was written or posted, and also in many cases the date at which it was received, while some indication is often given as to the nature of its contents. The letters are not always arranged in their exact numerical order; different letters are occasionally denoted by the same number; and there are one or two numbers to which no letter appears to have been assigned. [The following list should be compared with that given by Prof. Browne in Materials for the Study of the Bábi Religion, pp. 234-237, the existence of which I had forgotten at the time when I drew up mine. In Prof. Browne's list the letters sent to him by each of his correspondents are arranged under the writer's name, and as a rule nothing is added except the date.] I. Letters from Subh-i-Azal, his sons and his adherents, etc. No. 1 (facing f. 4). From Subh-i-Azal, written July 29, 1889, enclosing a copy of Subh-i-Azal's appointment by the Báb. No. 2 (facing f. 4). From Subh-i-Azal, posted from Famagusta on Oct. 1, 1889, treating chiefly of the writings of the Báb and his early disciples. No. 2 (facing f. 5). Transcript of a letter of Qurratu'l-Ayn to Mullá Shaykh 'Alí. Both the transcript and the autograph were received from Subh-i-Azal on Oct. 11, 1889. The text of the former, with facsimile of the original, was published in Professor Browne's translation of the Tarikh-i-Jadid (see pp. 421 and 434-437). No. 3 (facing f. 6). From Subh-i-Azal, posted from Famagusta on Dec. 3, 1889. Brief account of Bábí history and martyrs, published at the end of the translation of the Tarikh-i-Jadid, under the title, "A succinct account of the Bábí Movement written by Mírzá Yahyà Şubh-i-Ezel." An English translation is given in op. cit., Appendix III, pp. 397-419. No. 4 (facing f. 6). From Subh-i-Azal, posted from Famagusta on Jan. 14, 1890: "a short letter, thanking me for a present of a writing-desk which I sent through Captain Young, and which reached him on Christmas Day." No. 5 (facing f. 7). "First letter from Subh-i-Azal after my visit to Cyprus, received May, 1890." It is accompanied by a slip of paper containing the names of the 19 Bábí months, "written out for me by Subh-i-Ezel while I was in Cyprus in April, 1890." No. 5 (facing f. 7). From Subh-i-Azal's son, Mirza Abdu'l-'Ali, received May, 1890. No. 5 (facing f. 7). From 'Abdu'l-Ahad of Zanján, received May, 1890. No. 6 (facing f. 8). From Subh-i-Azal, written Nov. 25, 1890, and sent along with two MSS., namely, Commentaries by the Báb on Súra II and Súra al-'Aṣr. No. 6* (facing f. 8). There seems to be no letter corresponding to this number. No. 6 (facing f. 8). From 'Abdu'l-Ahad of Zanján, received Dec. 8, 1890. No. 7 (facing f. 8). From Subh-i-Azal, dated Jumádà II, A.H. 1308, circa Jan. 20, 1891. No. 8 (facing f. 8). From 'Abdu'l-Ali, dated Jumáda II, A.H. 1308, circa Jan. 20, 1891. No. 8 (facing f. 8). From 'Abdu'l-Ali, written May 26, 1891. No. 8 (facing f. 8). From 'Abdu'l-Ahad of Zanján, written May 26, 1891. No. 8 sic (facing f. 9). This letter from Subh-i-Azal, enclosing letters from his son 'Abdu'l-'Ali and from 'Abdu'l-Ahad of Zanján, was posted from Famagusta on May 26, 1891. No. 9 (facing f. 9). From Subh-i-Azal, written about August 18, 1891. It contains explanations of certain difficult expressions and allusions in a letter (No. 2a) from Qurratu'l-Ayn to Janáb-i Azím (Mullá Shaykh Ali), and of the brief account of the Bábí movement written by Subh-i-Azal (No. 3). No. 9 (facing f. 9). From 'Abdu'l-'Ali, dated 12 Muharram, A.H. 1309 (Aug. 18, 1891). No. 9 (facing f. 9). Two poems by 'Abdu'l-Ahad of Zanján. These are followed by a Bábí talisman received from Subh-i-Azal about Aug. 29, 1891. No. 10 (facing f. 9). From Subh-i-Azal, dated Rabí' II, A.H. 1309 (about Nov. 17, 1891). No. 10 (facing f. 9). From 'Abdu'l-Ahad of Zanján, dated 7 Rabi' II, A.H. 1309 (Nov. 10, 1891). No. 11. A letter from Subh-i-Azal, of which only the addressed envelope is preserved in this volume. It was received on Feb. 12, 1892. No. 11 (facing f. 9). From Subh-i-Azal, dated 11 Jumádà II, A.H. 1309, posted Jan. 25, 1892. No. 12 (facing f. 9). From Subh-i-Azal, dated 13 Sha'bán, A.H. 1309, posted March 15, 1892. Accompanying it is an unnumbered letter, enclosed in a letter of August 17, 1891, from Captain Arthur Young, concerning the escape or departure of 'Abdu'l-Ghaffar, the Bahá'í, from Cyprus. No. 13 (facing f. 10). From Subh-i-Azal, identifying the five Gobineau Bábí MSS. in the Bibliothèque Nationale at Paris, received May 31, 1892. No. 14. This number refers to the three following letters. No. 14 (facing f. 9). From Rúhu'lláh, Subh-i-Azal's nephew, received June 17, 1896. No. 14** (facing f. 10). From 'Abdu'l-'Ali, dated June 5, 1896. It is accompanied by a letter from C. D. Cobham, stating that 'Abdu'l-'Alí died at Varoshia, a suburb of Famagusta, in Sept. 1902. No. 14*** (facing f. 10). From 'Abdu'l-Ahad of Zanján, received June 17, 1896. No. 15 (facing f. 10). From Subh-i-Azal's son, Rizwán 'Alí, received June 17, 1896. No. 16 (facing f. 10). From Mahmud ibn Muhammad Ja'far Kirmání, brother of Shaykh Ahmad Rúhi of Kirmán who was put to death at Tabriz in the summer of 1896 (see Persian Revolution, pp. 93-96). Written on Muharram 25, A.H. 1314 (July 6, 1896). Professor Browne has added an abstract of the contents in English. II. Letters from 'Abbás Efendi (Abdu'l-Bahá), the other three sons of Bahá'u'lláh, and several well-known Bahá'ís. No. 1 (facing f. 11). From Bahá'u'lláh's son, Mírzá Ziyá'u'lláh, dated 10 Shawwal, A.H. 1307 (May 30, 1890), with a covering letter from Áqá Muḥammad 'Ali Yazdi, the Bábí agent at Alexandria, dated 12 Shawwál, A.H. 1307. No. 2 (facing f. 11). From Bahá'u'lláh's son, Mirzá Badí'u'lláh, dated 22 Shawwal, A.H. 1307 (June 11, 1890), with a covering letter from Aga Muhammad 'Ali, dated June 21, 1890. No. 3 (facing f. 12). From 'Abbás Efendi, received Aug. 20, 1890, with a covering letter from Aqa Muhammad 'Ali, dated 26 Dhu'l-Hijja, A.H. 1307 (Aug. 12, 1890). No. 4 (facing f. 13). From Mírzá Badí'u'lláh, answers to questions arising out of the text of the Traveller's Narrative, written Aug. 20, 1890, with a covering letter from Aqa Muhammad Ali, dated 10 Muharram, A.H. 1308 (Aug. 25, 1890). No. 5 (facing f. 14). From Hájjí Sayyid 'Ali Shírázi, written from Beyrout on 4 Muharram, A.H. 1308 (Aug. 20, 1890). No. 6 (facing f. 14). From Mírzá Ziyá'u'lláh, dated 19 Muharram, A.H. 1308 (Sept. 3, 1890), with a covering letter from Aqá Muhammad Ali, dated 25 Muharram, A.H. 1308 (Sept. 9, 1890). No. 7 (facing f. 15). From Mirzá Badí'u'lláh, dated 18 Şafar, A.H. 1308 (Oct. 2, 1890), with covering letters from Aqa Muhammad Ali, dated 30 Safar and 5 Rabí' I, A.H. 1308 (Oct. 14 and 19, 1890), and from Hajji Sayyid Ali Shirázi, dated 29 Safar, A.H. 1308 (Oct. 13, 1890). No. 8 (facing f. 16). From Mirzá Badi'u'lláh, dated 15 Rabi' I, A.H. 1308 (Oct. 29, 1890), with a covering letter from Áqá Muḥammad 'Alí, dated 24 Rabí' II, A.H. 1308 (Dec. 6, 1890). No. 9 (facing f. 16). From the same, dated 20 Rabi' II, A.H. 1308 (Dec. 2, 1890). No. 10 (facing f. 17). From 'Abbás Efendi, dated April 3, 1891, with a covering letter from Aqa Muhammad Ali, dated 28 Sha'bán, A.H. 1308 (April 7, 1891). No. 11 (facing f. 17). From Mirzá Badí'u'lláh, with a pair of gold spectacles, dated 17 Dhu'l-Hijja, A.H. 1308 (July 25, 1891), with a covering letter from Aqa Muhammad Ali, dated 21 Dhu'l-Hijja, A.H. 1308 (July 29, 1891). No. 12 (facing f. 17-20). Letter from 'Abbas Efendi, dated Aug. 19, 1891, containing an account of the persecution of Bábís at Yazd in Ramadán, A.H. 1308; an account of the same persecution written on Aug. 21, 1891, by Mírzá Badí'u'lláh; a covering letter from Aqa Muhammad 'Ali, dated 19 Muharram, A.H. 1309 (Aug. 24, 1891); and an account of the persecution written by Aqá Muhammad 'Ali Yazdi on 23 Ramadán, A.H. 1308 and following days. No. 13 (facing f. 18). From Hajji Sayyid 'Ali concerning publication of the facts of the Yazd persecution, written from Ishqábád on 23 Dhu'l-Hijja, A.H. 1308 (July 30, 1891), with a covering letter from Aga Muhammad Ali, dated 5 Safar, A.H. 1309 (Sept. 8, 1891). No. 14 (facing f. 19). From Ágá Muhammad Ali, dated 21 Jumáda I, A.H. 1309 (Dec. 23, 1891). No. 15 (facing f. 20-22). From Mírzá Badí'u'lláh, dated 18 Rajab, A.H. 1309 (Feb. 17, 1892), with a covering letter from Áqá Muḥammad 'Ali, dated 23 Rajab, A.H. 1309 (Feb. 22, 1892). No. 16 (facing f. 22). From the same, dated 28 Ramadán, A.H. 1309 (April 25, 1892). No. 17 (facing f. 22). From the same, dated 14 Shawwál, A.H. 1309 (May 11, 1892). No. 18 (facing f. 22). From Mírzá Badí'u'lláh, dated 29 Dhu'l-Qa'da, A.H. 1309 (June 25, 1892), with a covering letter from Áqá Muḥammad 'Ali, dated June 28, 1892. No. 19 (facing f. 23-25). From 'Abbás Efendi, dated March 24, 1893, April 20, 1893, Feb. 1, 1901 and April 8, 1901; with covering letters from Aqa Muhammad 'Ali, dated 3 Shawwal, A.H. 1310, and Feb. 3, 1901; and a further letter (facing f. 25) from Hájji Muhammad ['Alí] Yazdí, dated April 18, 1901 — the writer being the Bahá'í agent at Alexandria, described in the preceding letters as Áqá Muḥammad 'Ali Yazdi. No. 20 (facing f. 28-29). From 'Abbás Efendi, not dated, received about Xmas 1903; and from the Bahá'í agent Aḥmad Yazdí, dated Port Said, Dec. 16, 1903. No. 21 (facing f. 29). From the same, dated Port Said, Jan. 26, 1904, and June 20, 1904. The remaining Persian letters are not numbered. They comprise: 1 (ff. 19 and 21). Three letters from 'Azizu'lláh, a Jew of Bukhara, written in 1892. 2 (facing f. 25). Letter from Bahá'u'lláh's son, Mírzá Muḥammad 'Alí, dated April 3, 1901, together with a covering letter from Muḥammad Jawád, written at Akká and dated April 4, 1901. 3 (facing f. 25). Letter from Muhammad Jawád, written at 'Akká on July 28, 1901. 4 (facing f. 25). Letter from Ghulámu'lláh of Qazwin, son of Muḥammad Jawád, dated March 19, 1901. 5 (facing f. 26). Letter from Muhammad Jawád, dated Sept. 7, 1901. 6 (facing f. 26). Letter from Ghulámu'lláh of Qazwin to Sir E. Denison Ross, dated April 10, 1901. 7-10 (facing ff. 26-28). Letters from Muḥammad Jawad, dated 'Akká, Oct. 14, 1901, April 14, 1902 and July 5, 1902; from Hajji Sayyid Ali "Afnán," dated Akká, July 2, 1902; from Ghulámu'lláh of Qazwín, dated Aug. 17, 1902; from Muhammad Jawád, dated 'Akká, Oct. 22, 1902; and an undated letter from 'Abbás Efendi, to 'Azízu'lláh, a Jew of Bukhárá, who sent it to me about July, 1892. 11-16 (facing ff. 28-30). From Ghulámu'lláh of Qazwín, dated Nov. 22, 1902; from Mirzá Badí'u'lláh, dated Sept. 25, 1909; and from Mírzá Asadu'lláh, dated Chicago, April 21, 1902, accompanied by a Lawh or "Tablet" of Bahá'u'lláh's sent by Mírzá Asadu'lláh on the same date. 17 (facing f. 30). From Ghulamu'lláh of Qazwin, dated Aug. 10, 1902. 18 (facing f. 31). Manifesto, dated Feb. 4, 1903, of Hajji Mirza Sayyid 'Ali "Afnán" renouncing his allegiance to the "Náqidín," or adherents of Mírzá Muḥammad Ali, and declaring his adhesion to 'Abbás Efendi ('Abdu'l-Bahá). 19 (facing f. 31). Manifesto, dated Feb. 4, 1903, of Mirza Badi'u'lláh, renouncing his allegiance to his brother Mirza Muhammad 'Ali and declaring his adhesion to 'Abbás Efendi. 20 (facing f. 31). From Ghulámu'lláh of Qazwin, dated Nov. 11, 1902. 21 (facing f. 31). From Mírzá Badí'u'lláh, dated March 11, 1903, announcing his renunciation of his brother Muhammad 'Ali and his adhesion to 'Abbás Efendi. (Marked "Important.") 22 (facing f. 31). From 'Abbás Efendi, about March 28, 1903, forwarded by Hajji Sayyid Muhammad Taqi Minshadi. 23 (facing f. 32). Two letters, dated March 28 and April 1, 1903, from Sayyid Muhammad Taqi Minshádí. 24 (facing f. 33). Two letters from 'Abdu'l-Bahá, dated Sept. 7, 1911, and Feb. 9, 1913, the latter written from Paris. 25-28 (facing ff. 34-36). From 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Sept. or Oct. 1911; from Mírzá Asadu'lláh, dated March 22, 1902; from Hájji Mirza Husayn Shirázi, dated Bombay, March 16, 1896; and a letter of Bahru'l-'Ulúm of Kirmán to the Azalís, received from Mirzá Mustafà, the Bábí scribe, about June 3, 1913. 29 (facing f. 37). From Bahá'u'lláh's eldest son, Muhammad Ali, written from 'Akká on Sept. 2, 1922.

Title: Portfolio of original letters received by E. G. Browne from Bábí and Bahá'í correspondents (1889-1922), together with connected letters and documents of the same period

Comprises upwards of 90 items, mostly numbered by Browne, addressed largely to him by Mírzá Yaḥyá, Ṣubḥ-i-Azal and his sons and followers, and by 'Abbás Efendi ('Abdu'l-Bahá), Muḥammad 'Alí, Badí'u'lláh and Ziyá'u'lláh (the four sons of Bahá'u'lláh) and several of their agents and followers.

Language(s): Persian, with some Arabic and English

References

Physical Description

Form: other

Support: Paper

Extent: A portfolio of numerous individual letters and papers; folio/leaf count and dimensions not stated by Browne.

Layout

Not applicable: comprises separate letters rather than a continuously paginated text.

Hand(s)

Numerous hands, one for each individual correspondent; Browne's own annotating hand also appears throughout.

History

Origin: 1889-1922 CE

Provenance and Acquisition

Comprises original letters received directly by E. G. Browne from his Bábí and Bahá'í correspondents, chiefly Mírzá Yaḥyá, Ṣubḥ-i-Azal and his family and followers, and 'Abbás Efendi ('Abdu'l-Bahá) and other sons and followers of Bahá'u'lláh, between 1889 and 1922, together with other connected letters and documents of the same period.

Passed to Cambridge University Library in 1936 (the "Browne Bequest").

Record Sources

Summary, physical description and provenance copied from R. A. Nicholson: A descriptive catalogue of the Oriental MSS belonging to the late E.G. Browne. Cambridge, 1932.

Availability

Entry to read in the Library is permitted only on presentation of a valid reader's card for admissions procedures contact Cambridge University Library Admissions. Contact near_eastern@lib.cam.ac.uk for further information on the availability of this manuscript

Funding of Cataloguing

Cambridge University

Subjects

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