250 On the Laws and Law-books of the Armenians. [No. 111. 



Herewith I return you the manuscript volume, with the contents of 

 which I have already been made acquainted, by the kindness of its 

 former owner.* Another copy of this work, though not so elegantly 

 written, was in the possession of onef of the Armenian priests of 

 Calcutta ; but in consequence of his death, it was, together with his 

 other books, sent to his son at Ispahan in January last. Should you 

 require an English translation of any other portion of the work, I 

 shall feel most happy to furnish you with it.J 



Believe me to be, 



Calcutta, Your's very truly, 



26th June, 1838. Johannes Avdall. 



laws in manuscript having been sent to me from Madras, I instantly put it into the 

 press, and published a sufficient number of copies thereof for the numerous Armenians 

 living in different parts of British India. The contents of this code are, however, 

 inapplicable and scarcely of any use or benefit to my expatriated countrymen, scattered 

 throughout this portion of the globe. Driven as we are from our country by Moslem 

 despotism and unrelenting persecution — bereft as we are of our national glory and in- 

 dependence — wandering as we are on the surface of the globe like the scattered 

 children of Israel, but partially domiciled here, under the fostering and paternal care 

 of the British Government, I trust I shall not be taxed with presumption in expressing 

 a wish, that a string of laws, well adapted and suited to the circumstances and general 

 condition of the Armenians settled in this country, framed and concocted by the 

 wisdom of the Legislative Council, be passed and promulgated by the Supreme 

 Government of British India, with the view of promoting and securing the welfare of 

 the children of their adoption. In asking this boon, I rest assured that it will be 

 conceded to us by the illustrious and philanthropic head of our government. 



* The former owner of this law-book was the late Right Rev. Harutheun Vardapiet 

 JJppmquib QuipnL.&fiu'b i^utprj.iuuibm of the f rate mity of the Armenian Con- 

 vent of Julpha in Ispahan. In the ^ year 1824, while residing at Sydabad 

 with his brother, the late patriotic Manasacan Vardon, the Rev. gentleman was 

 applied to in writing by Mr. G. C. Master, first judge of the Provincial Court for the 

 division of Dacca, to state his opinion on a certain question of inheritance, arising 

 from the will of a certain opulent Armenian inhabitant of that place. In complying 

 with Mr. Master's request, this dignitary of the Armenian church availed himself 

 of the contents of this very law-book. His opinion on the subject is justly and appro 

 priately prefaced by these words—" All laws of justice, either civil or ecclesiastical 

 in all Christian nations, have their origin from the Holy Seriptures." The judges 

 I am credibly informed, were guided by his opinion in pronouncing their decisions 

 Hence, it is evident, that the book in question was considered by the judges as a suffi 

 cient authority. On the death of Harutheun Vardapiet, the book alluded to be 

 came the property of his brother, Mr. Manasacan Vardon, on whose demise it devolved 

 on his eldest son, and is now in the possession of his youngest son, Mr. S. M. Vardon. 



f The late Rev. Ter Marcar Ter Carapiet, ^uA^atjglnui^ {Jpptu^pob SV 

 XTwpc t u,p S? \\u,pu,u l trmtTu,'U formerly vicar of the Armenian church of Calcutta, 

 of happy and blessed memory. 



X The utility of piecemeal extracts from these manuscript Armenian law-books, 

 will be temporary and confined to a few only. As several of the Armenian residents 

 in the Mofussil, have a large and extensive property in lands and taluks, would it not 

 be advisable for them to adopt measures for printing at the Armenian press in Venice the 

 code of Mechithar Ghosh, and the law-book of the Armenian king, Johannes Bagra- 

 tian ? Let them come forward and supply the sine qua non, and the long-desired object 

 will be speedily and satisfactorily consummated. 



