- Creator
- Johnston, Alexander, Sir, 1775-1849
- Call number
- MssCol 1578
- Physical description
- .3 linear foot (1 box)
- Preferred Citation
- Alexander Johnston papers, Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library
- Repository
- Manuscripts and Archives Division
- Access to materials
- Request an in-person research appointment.
Alexander Johnston (1775-1849), British statesman, was advocate-general of Ceylon. Collection consists of papers concerning the government, history and customs of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), especially the establishment of land revenue, 1800-1817. Includes letters to Johnston as chief justice; transcripts of rules and orders of the Dutch consistory at Batavia, 1643; memorial, 1740, by Gustaaf van Imhoff to the new governor; letters, 1790s, to William Jacob van de Graaf, Governor of Ceylon; journals describing the exploration of Tangella, 1800, and a journey from Colombo around Ceylon, 1805; minutes, 1817, of the governor relating to land tenure and agriculture; and seven slips of palm leaf containing writing in Tamil and Telugu characters.
Administrative information
Source of acquisition
Gift, Henschel, Albert E., 1900
Key terms
Names
Subjects
- Agriculture -- Sri Lanka
- Colonies -- Asia
- Land tenure -- Sri Lanka
- Law -- Indonesia -- Jakarta
- Tamil language
- Telugu language
Places
- Great Britain -- Colonies -- Asia
- Netherlands -- Colonies -- Asia
- Sri Lanka -- Description and travel
- Sri Lanka -- Economic policy
- Sri Lanka -- History -- 1505-1948
- Sri Lanka -- Politics and government
- Sri Lanka -- Social life and customs
Occupations
Material types
Using the collection
Location
Manuscripts and Archives DivisionStephen A. Schwarzman Building
Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street, New York, NY 10018-2788
Brooke Russell Astor Reading Room, Third Floor, Room 328