Stowe Or 27

The manuscript is from the collection of Mr. Thomas Astle (1735-1803), which subsequently formed the core of the Stowe collection. Mr. Astle directed in his will that it should be offered to the Marquess of Buckingham, or to the Trustees of the British Museum. The Marquess of Buckingham purchased the collection at his death in 1803 and housed it at Stowe. In 1849 it was sold at a Sotheby’s auction."[Lot] 333, An Indian Code. Oriental MSS. Press I, No. 40. This MS belonged to the Temple of the Talapoins, in the kingdom of Pegu, and is said to contain their System of Morality. It is an oblong book, containing 15 strong leaves formed from the bamboo cane, and japanned with a black ground, on which the characters are embossed in gold. It is accompanied by a letter from Mr. Molleson, by whom it was given to Mr. Astle." Sotheby sale catalogue of 1849, 'Catalogue of the Important Collection of Manuscripts from Stowe' (London, 1845), p. 76.The collection was purchased by the 4th Earl of Ashburnham, and in 1883, the 5th Earl of Ashburnham sold the collection to Parliament. It was then deposited in the British Museum.The manuscript is accompanied by a letter, addressed to Thomas Astle and attached to the binding board: "Surry Street 5th Nov. 1781. My Dear Sir, I send you an Indian Code, which belonged to a Temple of the Talapoins in the Kingdom of Pegu, and is said to contain their system of morality. It was given to me in the year 1754, by a Talapoin who thought I had been the means of saving his life. I think it is a curiosity, and therefore request your acceptance of it. I am with real esteem dear sir, your faithfull and obedient humble servant. William Molleson. Thomas Astle logr.(?)"See Patricia Herbert, 'The Making of a Collection: Burmese manuscripts in the British Library', The British Library Journal 15 (Spring 1989), p. 60.