Manuscripts

Select a manuscript to transcribe by clicking on one of the options listed below. Manuscripts are arranged by Subject, Chronology, Difficulty Level, Box Number and Folio Number. You can select a document from a subject area or time period of interest to you or of particular relevance to the course you are studying. Beginners with little experience of manuscript transcription may wish to start with a paper from the Easy category. If you would like to transcribe a page at random choose any manuscript from the Folio Number category.

To check the progress of transcription and to see a list of folios already started or completed, consult the Benthamometer page.

Subjects

• Law
• Political Economy
• Moral Philosophy
• Crime & Punishment

Chronology

• 1770-1789
• 1790-1809
• 1810-1832

View a time-line of Bentham's life.

Difficulty Level

Generally speaking, Bentham's handwriting deteriorated as he got older. Thus, the earliest manuscripts are the most easy to read; the middle period is moderate; while the later period is the most challenging (and therefore the most rewarding!) By clicking Easy, Moderate or Difficult below you will be directed to the corresponding chronological categories.

• Easy
• Moderate
• Difficult

Consult guidelines on reading Bentham's handwriting.

Box Number

This category refers to the reference system used by the library at UCL, which stores the Bentham Papers in 174 different boxes. Each box contains a variety of manuscripts from different time periods and written on a range of subjects. View the contents of a specific box.

Folio Number

Each box of Bentham papers contains a range of individual manuscripts known as folios. Each folio has been assigned a unique number by UCL's library. Consult the list of folios.