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.
28 June 1786. Paymaster of Works at Fort George in Scotland.
28 June 1786. Storekeeper at Fort George in Scotland.
27 April 1787. Second Lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers.
1 January 1789. Inspector of the Royal Manufacturers of Gunpowder.
12 June 1790. First Lieutenant in the Corps of Royal Engineers.
1 May 1794. Captain in the Army.
2 July 1794. Captain Commandant of the Volunteer Companies in the Royal Powder Mills at Faversham and Waltham Abbey.
31 December 1795. Captain Lieutenant in the Royal Corps of Engineers.
Miscellaneous items from the Hastings Centenary 1928. Includes a manilla envelope.
Two notebooks of conservation notes for the George Finlay papers.
Black book bound in black plastic with 'Finlay Books' label on front cover. Entries from visitors signing out books from the Finlay Library and the Finlay Papers.
Finding aids by Malcolm Nicholson for the George Finlay catalogue. Arranged by subject, for example, 'Family life,' 'Finlay the Philhellene,' 'Army Career,' 'Finlay the Traveller.'
Offprint of "The Finlay Library" by William Miller
Correspondence and newspaper clippings from Hugh Ferguson on George Finlay, Kirkman Finlay, their family and the family's connection to Glasgow.
Photocopies of 4 letters or copies of one letter from George Finlay to Hodder Westropp, dated 2 March 1871, and of 3 letters from George Finlay to John Evans dated between March and November 1872, The originals are in the John Evans' collection at the Ashmolean Museum.
Letter from Sue Sherratt at the Ashmolean to Amalia Kakissis, Archivist at the British School at Athens, accompanying the copies of the letters.
1 note that A/6 (now FIN/GF/A/06) is missing (17 October 1984). Resolved November 2021.
1 note that FIN/GF/B/06/003 and FIN/GF/B/06/004 are missing (3 November 1987). Resolved November 2021.
Letter from Francis Noel-Baker to Dr E French, Director of the BSA, 22 February 1992. Terms of the loan of correspondence between George Finlay and Edward Noel.
Letter from Penelope Wilson, Deputy Librarian at the BSA, to Professor Joan Hussey, 10 March 1992. Notifies her of the loan of the Noel letters.
Letter from Professor Hussey to Penny (Penelope Wilson), 27 July 1992. Checks the availability of the Noel-Baker letters during her stay in Athens.
Letter from Professor Hussey to Penny Wilson, 6 April 1992. Offers to catalogue the Noel-Baker letters.
Letter from Björn Röe to David Blackman, 10 May 1999. Encloses information on George Finlay's purchases of Turkish land in Attiki.
Frank Stubbings to Jane, 10 July 1954. Encloses copy of a letter from the Lord Lyon, King of Arms, to F. H. Stubbings (15 June 1954). Lyon confirms that Finlay did not have a right to the shield he used.
John Prag, Hon. Professor in the Manchester Museum to Amalia Kakissis, Archivist at the BSA, 7 January 2008. Encloses photocopies of two versions of the catalogue of Finlay's ancient gems and stone implements, as well as assorted correspondence on the collections.
Notes in French. Probably post-1950.
Reply from the College of Arms to an enquiry about Hastings' coat of arms.
Oration at centenary commemoration of Hastings' death.
6 captions for an exhibition on Hastings
Order of Service for the Centenary Commemoration Service for Frank Hastings
Hastings Centenary Celebrations Official programme
Letter on exhibition of Hastings memorabilia from the Historical and Ethnological Society
Letter from Walter Abel Heurtley to Mr Pados, with description of objects relating to Frank Hastings in the British School.
List of Hastings' souvenirs at the Historical and National Museum
Two tickets in Greek to nautical games and demonstrations
Exhibition organised by the Historical and Archaeological Society of Greece and the Ministry of Naval Affairs
The collection contains John Finlay, Frank Hastings and George Jarvis’ personal papers as well as those of George Finlay, although George Finlay’s papers form the bulk of the collection.
The collection includes correspondence, newspaper clippings, commonplace books, catalogues of books, journals, drafts of Finlay’s History of the Greece, a sketchbook, log books, commonplace books and account books. Many of the letters are pasted or copied by Finlay into letter books. These records give an overview of the Greek War of Independence and especially the role of the British philhellenes, as well as many of Finlay's other interests, such as Classical and Byzantine history, natural history and politics. Finlay had a wide range of correspondents, both Greek and British.
The collection also contains the personal papers of Frank Abney Hastings, with Hastings' naval involvement in Greece heavily represented.
Greece was one of the last European countries to adopt the newer Gregorian calendar. For most of the nineteenth century, the Julian calendar was 12 days behind the Gregorian. British correspondents in the Finlay Collection tend to use the newer calendar. Letters with two dates 12 days apart, eg. 24 April / 6 May 1828, refer to both the Julian and Gregorian calendars.
Brown mottle, leather spine and corners, bound, handwritten, paginated pp. 1-258+2 sheets inserted and unpaginated.
George Finlay's entry on front flysheet:
'Catalogue of Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Medieval and English coins with some Byzantine Seals and a few Modern Medals, in the possession of George Finlay. Athens, 1864.'
Some loose sheets. A number of detailed notes including Byzantine series+some red ink notes [? sold or donated, e.g. to British Museum]+a few notes on Antiquities (pp. 225-58+4 sides inserted).
Loose sheets with notes on objects purchased by George Finlay.
List of antiquities in the British School at Athens museum
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).
Black cloth board, calf spine and corners, spine broken, tied together with string, bound; paginated in part at random, bound, with many loose sheets. The letters are frayed at edges and in poor condition; they are 'carbon' copies of letters sent by George Finlay 1852-4, 1858-9, 1861, and 1867, together with drafts of articles and notices of books; pagination noted where it exists.
(1) (3 pp. loose) George Finlay to J. P. Schilizzi Junr., Liverpool. Athens, 29 November 1860.
Re purchase of clothes in England.
(2) George Finlay to M. A. Durand, 7 rue des Grès, Sorbonne, Paris. Athens, 20 December 1860.
Re subscription to Revue des deux mondes and payment for books (in French).
(3) (1 p.) George Finlay to Librarian of Oxford Union Debating Society, Oxford. Athens, 19 December 1860.
Re Union's subscription to Elpis.
(4) (p. 1) George Finlay to Messrs. Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh. Athens, 3 January 1861.
Re corrigenda to be made in George Finlay's MS. of his History of the Greek Revolution.
(5) (pp. 2-3) George Finlay to Messrs. Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh. Athens, 13 March 1861.
Submits paper on Ottoman Empire for publication.
(6) (pp. 3-59 with two loose sheets) George Finlay to [?]. 1861.
Draft of paper 'The Euthanasia of the Ottoman Empire' [published in Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, no. 547, May 1861, vol. 89, bound in George Finlay's Greek Papers, FIN/GF/E/38 (211)].
(7) (pp. 60-6) George Finlay to Editor of Athenaeum. Athens, 18 September 1861.
Submits notice on J. G. von Hahn's work, Reise von Belgrad nach Saloniki, published in Memoirs of Historical Section of lmperial Academy of Vienna, vol. xi, published separately, Vienna, 1861. Advantages of H's proposed railway. H also notes increasing Albanian population; value of H's geographical and ethnological observations.
(8) (p. 67 +1 sheet attached) George Finlay to [?]. Athens, 15/27 September 1861.
Regret at not being able to assist. Complains of neglect of Greek government (in Greek).
(9) (pp. 68-78) George Finlay to Professor C. C. Felton. Athens, 26 November 1861.
Re difficulties of travelling to Greece. Comments on American Civil War. Reference to George Finlay's History of the Greek Revolution and to modern Greek sculpture. Autobiographical sketch of George Finlay. Wishes to acquire portraits of American philhellenes.
(10) (pp. 79-85) George Finlay to Professor Comnos, Athens. Athens, 27 September 1862. Discussion on unpublished Hellenistic coin in possession of C. Numismatic problems.
(11) (loose, 3 pp.) George Finlay to [?]. [? 1862].
List of books to be ordered.
(12) (pp. 284-5) George Finlay to Leicester Warren. 2 June 1866.
Thanks for patronizing George Finlay's Thoughts [about the Coinage of the Achaian League, London, 1866]; asks him to arrange for publisher to send copies to various English scholars. Remarks on some Athenian coins (as and obolos). Comments on Greek internal situation.
(13) (pp. 303-4+1 sheet attached) George Finlay to W. S. Stillman, United States Consul, Canea, Crete. Athens, 16 March 1867.
Approval of Cretan declaration of lndependence; George Finlay's opinion re foreign assistance and Cretan problem.
(14) (p. 307) George Finlay to the Revd. J. H. Hill. Athens, 28 May 1869.
George Finlay's apologies for absence from meeting of Anglo-Greek Committee.
(15) (2 loose sheets, torn) George Finlay to Messrs. W. Blackwood, Edinburgh.
Re probable publication of George Finlay's work [on the Greek Revolution]; corrections proposed.
(16) (unpaginated, 6 pp., loose) George Finlay to Editor of Athenaeum. Athens, 17 February 1854. Request to publish George Finlay's enclosed notice on J. G. von Hahn's work on Albanians recently published by Imperial Press at Vienna.
(17) (unpaginated, 3 pp. loose, end missing). George Finlay to Messrs. W. Blackwood and Sons. Athens, 28 October 1856.
Discussion of proposal to publish second edition of George Finlay's History of Greece under Romans.
(18) (unpaginated, 2 pp., loose) George Finlay to A. Durand, Bookseller, rue des Grès 5, Paris. Athens, 11 February 1858.
Acknowledges receipt of Isambert Catalogue of Coins and Medallions (in French).
(19) (unpaginated, 2 pp., loose) George Finlay to A. Durand. Athens, 18 February 1858.
Request for coins and medallions from lsambert collection.
(20) (unpaginated, 1 p., loose) George Finlay to Sculudi. [? Athens] n.d. Order for clothes.
(21) (unpaginated, 1 p., loose) George Finlay to A. Durand, 7 rue des Grès, Sorbonne, Paris. Athens, 25 March 1858.
Encloses bill of exchange in payment for coins and medallions.
(22) (unpaginated, 2 pp.) George Finlay to Demarch of Athens. Athens, 11 September 1852. Finlay's reasons for refusing to pay for repairs to his house in Odos Adrianou (in Greek).
(23) (unpaginated, 2 pp., loose) George Finlay to Demarch of Athens. Athens, November 1852. Request that police clean street between the houses of General Church and Mr. King. This is visited by all travellers of distinction and its present insanitary condition fosters disease and makes bad impression (in Greek and English).
(24) (unpaginated, 3 pp.) George Finlay to C. Moussouris, Corfu. Athens, 18/25 October 1852.
Re liquidation of Bank of Piraeus, and George Finlay's accusation against managers.
(25) (unpaginated, 2 pp.) George Finlay to Charles W. Merlin, British Vice-Consul at Athens. Athens, 7 December 1852.
Private letter re Commission formed to inquire into affair of Bank of Piraeus.
(26) (unpaginated, 2 pp.) George Finlay to C. W. Merlin, Acting Consul, Athens. Athens, 7 December 1852.
Formal letter re Commission inquiring into affair of Bank of Piraeus.
(27) (unpaginated, 1 p.) George Finlay to Messrs. Merlin and Balanos. Athens, 26 November/ 8 December 1852'.
Re Piraeus Bank affair (in Greek and English).
(28) (unpaginated, 1 p.) George Finlay to C. W. Merlin. Athens, 8 December 1852. Acknowledging second consular communication on Piraeus Bank affair.
(29) (loose, 1 p.) 6/18 September 1852.
George Finlay to General Sir Richard Church.
Asks for payment of arrears of rent owed to George Finlay.
(30) (loose, 1 p.) 6/18 September 1852.
George Finlay to General Sir Richard Church.
Asks for payment of arrears of rent owed to George Finlay.
(31) (loose, 3 pp.) 21 October 1852.
George Finlay to General Sir Richard Church.
Asks for payment of arrears of rent owed to George Finlay.
(32) (bound, 1 p.) 14 December 1852.
George Finlay to General Sir Richard Church.
Asks for payment of arrears of rent owed to George Finlay.
(33) (bound, 1 p.) 8/20 December 1852.
George Finlay to General Sir Richard Church.
Asks for payment of arrears of rent owed to George Finlay.
(34) (bound, 2 pp.) 3/15 January 1853.
George Finlay to General Sir Richard Church.
Asks for payment of arrears of rent owed to George Finlay.
(35) (bound, 2 pp.) 20 January 1853.
George Finlay to General Sir Richard Church.
Asks for payment of arrears of rent owed to George Finlay.
(36) (bound, 2 pp.) 18 February 1853.
George Finlay to General Sir Richard Church.
Asks for payment of arrears of rent owed to George Finlay.
(37) (bound, 2 pp.) 19 February 1853.
George Finlay to General Sir Richard Church.
Asks for payment of arrears of rent owed to George Finlay.
(38) (bound, 1 p.) 1/13 April 1853.
George Finlay to General Sir Richard Church.
Asks for payment of arrears of rent owed to George Finlay.
(39) (loose, 1 p.) 2/14 April 1853.
George Finlay to General Sir Richard Church.
Asks for payment of arrears of rent owed to George Finlay.
(40) (bound, 1 p.) 3/15 April 1853.
George Finlay to General Sir Richard Church.
Asks for payment of arrears of rent owed to George Finlay.
(41) (3 pp.) George Finlay to Editor of The Times, London. Athens, 7 July 1853.
Protest against agents of Austrian steam packets who illegally retain passports.
(42) (bound, 1 p.) 11/23 July 1853.
George Finlay to General Sir Richard Church.
Asks for payment of arrears of rent owed to George Finlay.
(43) (bound, 2 pp.) 12/24 July 1853.
George Finlay to General Sir Richard Church.
Asks for payment of arrears of rent owed to George Finlay.
(44) (unpaginated, 1 p.) George Finlay to Secretary of General Post Office, London. Athens, 7 October 1853.
Requests dispatch of papers by English mail from Southampton.
(45) (unpaginated, 1 p.) George Finlay to H. F. Munster, Trieste. Athens, 13 October 1853. Informs M. that Heimbach's Basilica has already been paid for.
(46) (bound, 1 p.) 4/16 December 1853.
George Finlay to General Sir Richard Church.
Asks for payment of arrears of rent owed to George Finlay.
(47) (1 p.) George Finlay to the Revd. J. H. Hill. Athens, 20 January 1854.
Request for H's good offices in obtaining information concerning activities of English and American missionaries in order to complete George Finlay's chapter in History of Greece under Foreign Domination.
(48) (bound, 2 pp.) 13/25 January 1854.
George Finlay to General Sir Richard Church.
Asks for payment of arrears of rent owed to George Finlay.
(49) (1 p.) George Finlay to M. Sculudi, Athens. Athens, 2 February 1854. Request for payment of sum due (in French).
(50) (bound, 1 p.) 8/20 February 1854.
George Finlay to General Sir Richard Church.
Asks for payment of arrears of rent owed to George Finlay.
(51) (bound, 1 p.) 22 March 1854.
George Finlay to General Sir Richard Church.
Asks for payment of arrears of rent owed to George Finlay.
(52) (bound, Ip.) 2 June 1854.
George Finlay to General Sir Richard Church.
Asks for payment of arrears of rent owed to George Finlay.
(53) (2 pp.) George Finlay to Messrs. Firmin, Didot Frères, rue Jacob 56, Paris.
Re books sent in error by George Finlay (in French).
(54) (2 pp.) George Finlay to Messrs. Firmin, Didot Frères, rue Jacob 56, Paris. Athens, 11 October 1854.
Order for books (in French).
(55) (bound, 1 p.) 18/31 October 1854.
George Finlay to General Sir Richard Church.
Asks for payment of arrears of rent owed to George Finlay.
(56) (bound, 1 p.) 2/14 November 1854.
George Finlay to General Sir Richard Church.
Asks for payment of arrears of rent owed to George Finlay.
(57) (1 p.) George Finlay to Firmin, Didot Frères, Paris. Athens, 22 November 1854.
Re payment of books purchased by George Finlay.
(58) (bound, 2 pp.) 3/15 December 1854.
George Finlay to General Sir Richard Church.
Asks for payment of arrears of rent owed to George Finlay.
(59) (loose, 1 p.) 28 December 1857/9 January 1858.
George Finlay to General Sir Richard Church.
Asks for payment of arrears of rent owed to George Finlay.
(60) (2 pp.) George Finlay to A. Durand, 7 rue des Grès, Sorbonne, Paris. Athens, 24 April 1855. Book order.
(61) (3 pp., incomplete) George Finlay to 'Excellency'. Athens, 28 April 1855.
Brigandage in Greece; George Finlay accuses Mavrocordatos, Minister of lnterior, of failure to take effective action.
(62) (3 pp.) George Finlay to Messrs. W. Blackwood and Sons. Athens, 30 May 1855.
Re addenda and corrigenda to proposed second editions of George Finlay, Byzantine History, vol. i, and Greece under the Romans.
(63) (unpaginated, 3 pp.) George Finlay to James Finlay. Athens, 30 May 1855. English lack of interest in Greek affairs; failure of allies' half measures.
(64) (2 pp.) George Finlay to Messrs. A. Durand, 5 rue des Grès, Sorbonne, Paris. Athens, 20 June 1855.
Re payment for books; list of desiderata.
(65) (3 pp., first part missing) George Finlay to [Bracebridge]. n.d. [? 1856].
Kallergis's resignation and new constitution; military government necessary to exterminate brigandage; new communal system needed.
(66) (2 pp.) George Finlay to Jonas King. Athens, 28 September 1856.
Proposal for arrangements with municipal authorities concerning street between the houses of King and George Finlay.
(67) (2 pp., one loose) George Finlay to Messrs. Halliday and Storrs, Lord St., Liverpool. Athens, 23 July 1857.
Order for clothes.
(68 and 69) (each 1 p., loose) George Finlay to Messrs. Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh. Athens, 2 December and 3 December 1856.
Two letters concerning George Finlay's corrections for second edition of History of Greece under the Romans.
(70) (2 pp., loose, incomplete) George Finlay to Editor of Athenaeum. Athens, 16 December 1856. Athenaeum erroneously refers to George Finlay as Consul at Athens. George Finlay complains of indifference to his work.
(71) (2 pp., loose) George Finlay to Rollin, Paris. Athens, 30 December 1856.
Re payment for medallions purchased by George Finlay (in French).
(72) (1 p.) George Finlay to Librarian of Garrison Library, Corfu. Athens, 10 August 1857. George Finlay presents his works.
(73) (2 pp.) George Finlay to A. Durand, Paris. Athens, 8 April 1858.
Medallions from Isambert collection do not tally with catalogue description.
(74) (2 pp.) George Finlay to James Finlay. Athens, 8 April 1858.
Re the three allied Powers and Greek finances.
(75) (loose, 1 p.) n.d. [? April 1858]. George Finlay to General Sir Richard Church.
Asks for payment of arrears of rent owed to George Finlay.
(76) (loose, 1 p.) 4/17 April 1858.
George Finlay to General Sir Richard Church.
Asks for payment of arrears of rent owed to George Finlay.
(77) (loose, 2 pp.) 19 April/1 May 1858.
George Finlay to General Sir Richard Church.
Asks for payment of arrears of rent owed to George Finlay.
(78) (2 pp.) George Finlay to A. Durand, rue des Grès, Sorbonne, Paris. Athens, 1858.
Re items from Isambert collection purchased by George Finlay.
(79) (1 p.) George Finlay to Marinakis, Advocate. Athens, 10/22 June 1858. Acknowledges receipt of Marinakis's letter.
(80 and 81) (3 pp. and 1 p.) George Finlay to Messrs. W. Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh.
Athens, 24 June/1 July 1859. Book orders.
(82) (5 pp.) George Finlay to Sir Patrick Colquhoun. Athens, 22 February 1859.
Agrees with English policy in Ionian Islands, but admits Ionian desire for union with Greece; comments on English attitude towards Ionian problem.
Black cloth, bound, lettering on spine 'Greek Revolution 1.', handwritten, paginated pp. 1-219.
George Finlay's MS. draft of his History of the Greek Revolution.