About the George Finlay Papers
The George Finlay Papers contain materials created by and related to the British Historian and Philhellene George Finlay, his father John Finlay, Greek-American Philhellene George Jarvis, and British Philhellene Captain Frank Abney Hastings, dating from 1791 to 1949. Most of the collection consists of George Finlay’s meticulous records of his travels, personal and official correspondence, his personal expenditures, copious memoranda on strategy and on military and political organisation, journal entries, maps, facetiae, scrapbooks, personal notes on people—Greeks and others—and on revolutionary events, newspaper cuttings mainly on Greece and international affairs, as well as Finlay’s original manuscripts of the History of the Greek Revolution (1861) as well as corrected proofs of Finlay’s other published works.
Also included are the papers of Finlay’s father, John, two journals of Greek American philhellene, George Jarvis, and those of Finlay’s fellow British philhellene, Captain Frank Abney Hastings. The Hastings papers, which Finlay purchased in 1830, include personal and official correspondence, ship’s logs, notes that he took on board or ashore, as well as memoranda on strategy and on the naval organisation of the revolutionary forces. Collectively, these records reveal a great deal about the character, motivations, ideas, as well as the military and political judgements of these British individuals, as well as of many others, both British and Greek, with whom they interacted during the Greek War of Independence as well as many of Finlay's other interests, such as Classical and Byzantine history, natural history and politics.
John Malokinis to Hastings. [Spetsai], 18 December 1826.
Refuses to supply Karteria with coal (in Greek).
The primates of the island of Spetsai to Hastings. [Spetsai], 18 December 1826.
Discusses the problem of a coal supply for the Karteria (in Greek).
Hastings to George Malokinis, Propriétaire et Capitaine du bâtiment. Karteria, Spetsai,
Requests 100 tons of coal from M's ship in order that the Karteria may join the government at Egina (in French).
Hastings to the primates of Spetsai. Karteria, Spetsai, 30 December N.S. 1826.
Urgent request for their support in getting his supply of coal for the Karteria (in French).
Paper enclosure "Letters from Speziote Government" Mathematical sums on back.
Drafts (loose) Includes scraps of paper by H, describing the contents as 'Letters respecting Greece inserted in English newspapers' and 'Letters and projects respecting Greece to be published in a Greek journal'.
No date. Need for Greek naval organization; Greek personal and private interests opposed to this.
Jotting re money for steam-vessel payment put at disposal of Lord Cochrane.
Karteria, Syra. 8 November 1826.
Account of delays in equipping steam vessels to be commanded by Lord Cochrane; attack on C's integrity and demand for his resignation.
To 'Mr Editor'. n.d.
State of Greece; delays; need for speeding naval organization.
A friend to truth' to Editor of Courier. n.d.
International law on neutrality and its relation to the present situation vis-a-vis
Greece and Turkey.
Mr Editor.' n.d.
Inadequacy of present impromptu Greek army; Greek fleet formed from small merchant vessels without artillery. Those wishing to help the Greeks should recognize need for proper naval and military organization.
Suggestions for use of funds (if any) for the relief of Candia; discussion of suitable artillery for use there.
Eleven drafts (loose) of papers on the state of Greece and Crete.
Prospects for a loan for Crete and for successful revolt there (in French).
Possibility of raising a loan from the moneyed men in Greece.
Need for unity in Greece. Government should develop communications and economy of the country (in French).
Hastings justifies purchase of steam vessel (in French).
Mémoire sur le bateau à Vapeur proposé dans le papier No 1' (in French).
Navy vital for Greek war (in French).
Greek need for good military organization; Hasting's suggestions (in French).
Difficulty of getting a loan for Crete; sea power a vital factor here (in French).
Regrets seeing so many beggars who are victims of war in Greek tours. Suggests that the Greek government might now ameliorate their poverty by internal economic development (in French).
Hazards of inhabitants of small Greek islands; they should be rehabilitated on the larger islands which could put up some resistance (in French).
Greek government now more secure. Need for sound naval establishment (in French).
Hastings' notes and observations, with extracts from works, on naval artillery (loose). Includes later enclosure with two paper labels for FIN/H/17 written by Hastings.
Manière de se servir des balles, boulets, valets et cordages incendiaires.
Suggestions for land and sea operations with details on artillery. 'Written at Athens in April 1824 and presented to the Greek government' (in French).
Extracts from the work of M. de Paix Hans (on artillery) (in French).
Greek and Turkish naval resources. Refutes criticisms of the steam vessel Karteria (Perseverance ).
Rules for ricochet firing.
Notes on Greece and naval warfare.
Notebook,
Notes and tables mainly on ranges of shells (in French and English).
Notebook.
Notes and tables on artillery firing (in French).
Notebook.
Details of the rocket system, 1824.
Copied by Hastings with diagrams (source not stated) with his own comments 'between double commas'.
Note by J. (?) MacGregor on old paper enclosure: 'papers in this box appear almost entirely papers by Capt Abney Hastings', 10 December 1892.
H's notes and 4 letters to him mainly on naval tactics and artillery (loose).
Mémoire sur les manœuvres d'une flotte (in French).
Mémoire sur les manœuvres d'une flotte, rough draft (in French).
Manœuvres d'une flotte. On reverse of one plan, 'A son Altesse le Prince Constantin Caranza' (in French, with plans).
Mémoire à servir d'explications des plans pour les manceuvres d'une flotte (in French).
Proposition pour une attaque sur la flotte Turque, redigée par M. Frank Hastings . . . maintenant à la service des Grecs, laquelle il a l'honneur de presenter à Monsieur L'Amiral en chef des armées de mer de Hydra. 1 Mai 1822 à bord la corvette le Θεμηστοκλες (sic) pres de l'ile de Scio.'
Plan and explanation (in French).
Thomas Perronet Thompson (Capt. 17th Lancers) to H. Thompson's Hotel, Cavendish Square, 22 November 1824.
Discusses Greek translators and books on naval tactics.
J. Critchley to H. Nightingale Vale, Woodwich, 24 May 1824. Ordnance recommendations for H's purpose.
Thomas Perronet Thompson to H. 25 Duke Street, Westminster, 10 August 1825. Naval artillery; recent views.
Thomas Perronet Thompson to H. 19 August 1825. Steam vessels and naval artillery.
Liste des Munitions qui se trouvent à bord le batiment National Grec Karteria.
Loutraki à bord la Karteria, 19 April/ 1 Mai 1826 (in French).
Number and nature of Ordnance for each of the ships in H.M.'s Navy.