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.
Blue mottle boards, brown calf spine, 'Correspondence' on spine, bound, pp. 1-70+4 loose items (9, 31, 40, 58), handwritten. Letter book 20 January 1837-28 November 1849.
(1) (pp. 9-10) George Finlay to J. Backhouse, Under-secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. 29 January 1837.
Greek agricultural law and taxes imposed by Greek government on acorn crops in private ownership; George Finlay's apology for trouble caused to Palmerston on this subject.
(2) (p. 10) George Finlay to Sir Edmund Lyons. 29 January 1837. Expresses esteem for L.
(3) (pp. 10-11) George Finlay to E. [?C.] Lyall, Foreign Department of the Geological Society, Somerset House, London. 25 February 1837.
Sends duplicates of fossil bones found by George Finlay at Pikermi; the originals are in Museum of Natural History at Athens; topographical remarks on the place of discovery; hopes for complete excavation.
(4) (p. 12) George Finlay to Major General Schmaltz, Minister of War. 31 May 1837. George Finlay's petition to resign as Major 'à la suite' (in French).
(5) (pp. 12-13) George Finlay to Rudhart, Minister of King's Household and of Foreign Relations. 16 June 1837.
Thanks king for receipt of Gold Cross of the 'Chevalier de Son ordre royal du Sauveur' conferred in consideration of services to Greece (in French).
(6) (p. 13) George Finlay to David Dundas, Brookes's Club, London. 21 June 1837.
State of Greece; Austria's influence provokes Rudhart's fall; Greek loan remains unpaid; financial difficulties of Greek government.
(7 and 8) (pp. 13-14) George Finlay to Baron de Stengel, Secretary of the King's House. 10/22 June 1837. 2 July 1837.
Two letters re indemnity for damages caused by Councillor Frey, tenant of George Finlay's house (in French).
(9) (p. 15) George Finlay to Sir Edmund Lyons, H. M. Minister Plenipotentiary in Greece. 2 August 1837.
Re title deeds of George Finlay's houses in Athens deposited in archives of British Legation.
(10 and 11) (pp. 17-18) George Finlay to Director of Archaeological Institute at Rome, and to Emilio Braun, Secretary of the Institute. 19 May 1838.
Two letters of thanks for election as Corresponding Member of Institute. Promise to send notices of Attic topography and of Persian arrowheads.
(12) (p. 19) George Finlay to Messrs. Burdin and Co., Milan. 6 September 1838. Order for plants (in French).
(13) (p. 20) George Finlay to Mr. Roberts, Syra. 18 September 1838.
Account of archaeological activity in Greece since Revolution.
(14) (p. 20) George Finlay to Sir Edmund Lyons. 22 September 1838.
Requests assistance in obtaining indemnity for property occupied by Greek government.
(15) (pp. 20-2) George Finlay to Chevalier de Heidenstam. 29 September 1838.
Difficulty of obtaining indemnity for land on which Royal Printing Office has been built, in which George Finlay has a two-fifths share, H three-fifths; George Finlay is applying to British Legation for support (in French).
(16) (p. 23) George Finlay to General T. Gordon. 14 October 1839.
Regrets inability to keep agreement to rent G a room in house at Liossia; returns G's payment with interest and hopes that G will not take the legal action threatened.
(17) (p. 25) George Finlay to Chevalier de Heidenstam. 7 April 1840.
George Finlay agrees to concede rights over land at Stadion St. in return for 6,000 dr. (in French).
(18) (p. 25) George Finlay to Director of Archaeological Institute at Rome. 21 May 1840. Again expresses appreciation of nomination as Corresponding Member of the Institute (cf. nos. 10 and 11 , above) ; failure to dispatch regular communications due to lack of material.
(19) (p. 26) George Finlay to Emilio Braun, Secretary of Archaeological Institute at Rome. 21 May 1840.
Will send archaeological communications from Greece when possible, though at present little activity in history, archaeology, or fine arts and Archaeological Society is not very flourishing. Regrets that Ross is not at present a member of it.
(20) (pp. 26-7) George Finlay to Rejoice Newton, Secretary of the American Antiquarian Society. 22 May 1840.
Expresses gratitude for diploma and election as member of the A.A. Society.
(21) (p. 27) George Finlay to Governor of Attica. 30 May 1840.
Re illegal usage of pasture ground at Maounais belonging to George Finlay as part of the tchiflik at Liossia (in French).
(22) (pp. 28-9) George Finlay to E. Braun. 9 August 1840.
Re two scarabs with inscriptions, found at Egina. Regret at the sudden death at Delphi of Chevalier C. O. Muller of Göttingen.
(23) (p. 30) George Finlay to John Green. 12 September 1840.
English church in Athens intended for divine service according to Church of England but property should be vested in representatives of British government.
(24) (pp.30--3) George Finlay to Robert Pashley (c/o J. Murray, Albemarle St., London). 5 April 1841. Requests interest in Cretan cause; examination of Cretan problem; need to assist Cretan population.
(25) (p. 33) George Finlay to Secretary of Natural History Society of Greece. 7/25 March 1841. George Finlay's resignation from Society (in Greek).
(26) (p. 33) George Finlay to Chief Royal Forester of Attica. Athens, 3/15 May 1841. Agreement for felling timber on George Finlay's property at Liossia.
(27) (pp. 34-5) George Finlay to Sir Edmund Lyons. 30 August 1841. Disputes re boundaries of George Finlay's property at Liossia.
(28) (p. 36) George Finlay to Mimis, Secretary to Ministry of Finance. 24 January 1842. Requests ratification of agreement signed before a notary concerning George Finlay's land at Piraeus.
(29) (pp. 36-7) George Finlay to Sir Edmund Lyons. 25 January 1842.
Requests L's intervention Greek government to obtain indemnity for Finlay's land taken to form part of the Royal Palace ground.
(30) (p. 38) George Finlay to Minister of War. 21 March/2 April 1842.
Asks whether dispatch of diploma and medal conferred by King Otho can be expedited owing to his imminent department (in French).
(31) (16-page notebook, loose at pp. 38-9).
List of letters sent 29 July 1842-23 August 1843.
(32) (p. 39) George Finlay to Sir Edmund Lyons. 16 April 1844. Claim for indemnity. See no. 29.
(33) (pp. 40-1) George Finlay to the Revd. J. H. Hill. 21 July 1844.
Re administration and upkeep of Protestant cemetery in Athens and adequate remuneration of custodian.
(34) (p. 42) George Finlay to Philip Green, London. 27 August 1844.
Mistake in books dispatched to George Finlay; request to exchange these for others on list enclosed.
(35) (p. 43) George Finlay to John Green, Manager of the Commercial Bank of Piraeus at Patras. 14 September 1844.
George Finlay offers no observations as Inspector of Accounts on G's arrangements with Gordon.
(36) (pp. 42-3) George Finlay to Gen. Sir Richard Church. 18 September 1844.
Announcement of Hane's death; caustic criticism of Mavrocordatos's treatment of him; Greek government should assist family.
(37) (pp. 43-5) George Finlay to C. H. Bracebridge, Atherston, Warwickshire. 25 September 1844.
Hope that Chadwick's proposal for water supply of Athens will be accepted by municipality or government. Criticism of Greek politicians; political state of Greece; reasons for Mavrocordatos's unpopularity; his unjust behaviour to Hane. Lyons's failure to assist Hane.
(38) (p. 46) George Finlay to Edward Masson, Judge of the Supreme Court of Greece. 24 January 1845.
George Finlay condemns apparent accusation against M in Morning Post.
(39) (p. 47) George Finlay to James MacGregor, Banker, Liverpool. 18 September 1845.
Sends first part of his work on Greece for publication; he hopes to make his next on Syria, Palestine, and Egypt.
(40) (loose between p. 48 and p. 49) Aristides [George Finlay] to the editor of the Liverpool Courier.
Athens, 6 February 1845.
Denounces H. W. Dewhurst for publishing Professor Young's 'Analytical lecture on Gray's Elegy' as his own.
(41) (p. 49) George Finlay to John Green. Athens, 14 May 1846.
Re G's tenancy of George Finlay's house.
(42) (pp. 50-2) George Finlay to John Blaikie, Advocate, Aberdeen. Athens, 9 June 1846.
George Finlay has found books of the Commercial Bank of Athens under the management of John Green to be in order. Detailed inspection of Patras branch would necessitate personal visit. Ionian Bank has established agency at Athens and may compete with Commercial Bank. Insecurity of property in Greece and deterioration of Law Courts.
(43 and 43a) (p. 53) George Finlay to C. H. Bracebridge, Athenaeum Club, London. 9 June 1846, 30 June 1846.
Two letters re George Finlay's essay on the various races in ancient and modern Greece.
(44) (p. 53) George Finlay to Mr. Moussouri, Corfu. 1/13 September 1846.
Re payment of George Finlay's debt to Miss Theonitza.
(45) (pp. 53-6) George Finlay to John Blaikie, Advocate, Aberdeen. Athens, 18 September 1846. After careful inspection of account of Commercial Bank George Finlay considers that Mr. Green should separate management of Commercial Bank from agency of Ionian Bank; details reasons for this recommendation.
(46) (p. 57) George Finlay to C. Moussouri, Corfu. Athens, 18 September 1846. George Finlay's difficulties as trustee re transfer of sum owed to M's wife.
(47) (p. 58) George Finlay to J. Green, Manager of the Commercial Bank. 23 October 1846. Asking for copies of balance sheet of Commercial Bank and list of overdue bills.
(48) (p. 58) George Finlay to James Robertson, Smyrna. 30 October 1846.
Re unsuitability of either George Finlay or Green to be managers of Commercial Bank since they are both small shareholders.
(49) (p. 58) George Finlay to John Green, Manager of Commercial Bank. 28 October 1846.
As shareholder of Commercial Bank Finlay protests at G's failure to supply documents requested; G's duty to call a meeting of shareholders.
(50) (pp. 59-60) George Finlay to John Blaikie, Advocate, Aberdeen. Athens, 31 October 1846. George Finlay sends copy of his correspondence with Green, manager of Commercial Bank. G's hostility due to George Finlay's opposition to proposed union of Ionian and Commercial Banks. George Finlay hopes Directors will wish him to retain his Inspectorship of the Accounts of the Bank; if not he wishes to sell his shares.
(51) (pp. 60-1) George Finlay to John Green, Manager of the Commercial Bank of Piraeus. Athens, 31 October 1846.
George Finlay again requests permission to inspect books and accounts of Commercial Bank as Inspector of Accounts and a shareholder.
(52) (p. 63) George Finlay to W. Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh. 30 March 1847.
Has already sent a paper on Belisarius and now encloses 'Crossing the desert'.
(53) (p. 65) George Finlay to Soutsos, Nomarch of Attica and Boeotia. Athens, 23 July/4 August 1847.
Sends his resignation from District Council for reasons of health (in Greek).
(54) (pp. 65-6) George Finlay to Andrikos Raphiou Politis. Athens, 20 September 1847. George Finlay repudiates legal claims of his neighbour (in Greek).
(55) (p. 66) George Finlay to Philip J. Green, London. 19 November 1842.
Re dispatch of magazines and books.
(56) (p. 67) George Finlay to John Green, English Consul, Athens. Athens, 14/26 February 1848.
Re parcel sent from London which has not yet reached him.
(57) (p. 68) George Finlay to A. R. Rangabes, Secretary of Archaeological Society of Athens. November 1848.
Expresses gratitude for diploma and nomination as Corresponding Member of Archaeological Society; George Finlay's financial contribution to the Society (in Greek).
(58) (loose at pp. 68-9)
Copy of no. 56 with letter in English to George Finlay.
(59) (pp. 69-70) George Finlay to Nast, Bookseller, Athens. 28 August 1848.
Re failure to send books and defects in those already received.
Red leather, 'Letters' pasted on spine, bound, unpaginated +5 loose sheets: handwritten, printed cuttings giving postal rates pasted in, bound.
Letter Book 27 January 1850-27 December 1866.
List of letters dispatched by George Finlay with occasional brief note of contents (only drafts noted here).
Meteorological notes 2 December 1827-23 June 1869.
(1) George Finlay to Printer of Medieval Greece and Trebizond. Athens, [20 February 1851]. Instructions re printing of work.
(2) George Finlay to Messrs. Blackwood and Sons. Athens, 20 February 1851.
Wishes to keep cost of Medieval Greece and Trebizond to not more than 12s.
(3) George Finlay to G. Muir, 247 Strada Reale, Booking and Superintending Agent to H.M. Packets in the Mediterranean, Malta. 8 February 1851.
Re dispatch and payment for MSS. and books sent to James MacGregor.
(4) George Finlay to John Grant Esq., or Messrs. Peter Stuart and Co., Malta. Athens, 28 Feb ruary 1851.
Re dispatch of manuscripts and books to England.
(5) George Finlay to Messrs. Blackwood and Sons. 28 February 1851.
Re dispatch of MS. of Medieval Greece and Trebizond via Malta. Desires speedy publication.
(6) George Finlay to A. Maresecq, Paris. Athens, 22 February 1851. Refusal to pay sum demanded (in French).
(7) George Finlay to the Revd. R. Cattermole, Secretary of the Royal Society of Literature. Athens, 22 March 1851.
Expresses gratitude for his election as Honorary Member of the R.S. of Literature.
(8) George Finlay to Lord Palmerston, 4 Gloucester Square. 24 July 1851.
Expresses gratitude for P's support in his attempt to obtain justice from King of Greece.
(9) George Finlay to Clark. Athens, 27 September 1861.
Re terms of admission of English printed papers into Greece (loose).
(10) George Finlay to the Revd. G. Phillips, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, President of Queens' College. Athens, 17 May 1862.
Expresses gratitude for the honorary degree of LL.D. conferred by University; regrets impossibility of receiving this in person.
Miscellaneous paper cuttings and letters found loose in leaves of bound volumes of newspapers now in keeping of the Gennadion Library in Athens [cuttings and letters handed back to this collection January 1958]. FIN/GF/B/05/2-14 are mostly on Greek politics and Greek loan.
Letters 1-236 (all loose), arranged chronologically, followed by undated letters. In the Hussey catalogue, the letters were arranged into folders A-G, which covered the following dates: A: 1824-39, B: 1840-49, C: 1850-55, D: 1856-59, E: 1860-65, F: 1866-74, G: undated. In the current catalogue they are simply presented chronologically, with undated letters at the end, but the physical letters are still in folders A-G. The letters sometimes have old paper enclosures that may be annotated in Finlay's hand.
George Finlay's own letters are copies, the rest originals unless otherwise stated.
Extract from Lord Aberdeen's instructions to Sir Edmund Lyons, 25 November 1843.
Extract from Lord Aberdeen's private letter to Sir Edmund Lyons dated 6 December 1843.
Note on misleading nature of Sir Edmund Lyons's eulogy of Armansperg's administration in Additional Papers relating to the third instalment of the Greek loan presented to Parliament, August 1836, p. 37.
Miscellaneous newspaper cuttings including biography of Sir Edmund Lyons.
(2 pp.) J. R[oberston] to George Finlay. Deplores state of Greece; comments on Lyons's attitude.
Sir Edmund Lyons to George Finlay. Incomplete.
Sir Edmund Lyons to George Finlay. Undated. Incomplete.
Sir Edmund Lyons to George Finlay. Undated. Incomplete.
Sir Edmund Lyons to George Finlay. Athens, 4 September 1842. Incomplete.
Sir Edmund Lyons to George Finlay. Athens, 16 December 1843
Sir Edmund Lyons to George Finlay. Undated.
Sir Edmund Lyons to George Finlay. Undated. Incomplete.
Sir Edmund Lyons to George Finlay. Athens, 11/23 April 1844.
Sir Edmund Lyons to George Finlay. Athens, 10 July 1846.
Sir Edmund Lyons to George Finlay. Athens, 19 July 1846.
Sir Edmund Lyons to George Finlay. Athens, 1849.
Sir Edmund Lyons to George Finlay. Undated. Incomplete.
Sir Edmund Lyons to George Finlay. Undated.
[? Green] to George Finlay. Reference to George Finlay's articles in Blackwoods. Sir Edmund Lyons and the Bank.
Thomas Graes to George Finlay. Malta, 11 November (1852). Encloses printed report from Malta Times re George Finlay's paper on 'The last pages of the history of the Last Greek Republic' read to Literary and Scientific Institute of Malta.
Alexander Cochrane, House of Commons, to George Finlay. 23 May 1843. Has given notice of motion on question of Greece in House of Commons; would welcome any further information from George Finlay.
Demetrios Calliphronas to George Finlay: Athens, 15 March 1843. re financial and political weakness of Greece (in Greek).
To George Finlay. n.d. Copy of Greek constitution sent to George Finlay (in Greek).
Greek translation of Earl of Aberdeen's dispatch to Sir Edmund Lyons dated 25 November 1843, printed with two omissions in Parliamentary Papers; correspondence relating to recent events in Greece 1843-4, p. 14, no. 8. (Also extract in English.)
Charles Macintosh, Dunchattan, to George Finlay. 20 May 1836. To introduce David Dundas.
G. Gropius to George Finlay. 17 October 1836. Proposes to visit George Finlay with Prince Pückler.
Psyllas to George Finlay. Athens, 3/15 November 1836. Sends lists of Greek studying abroad.
George Finlay to Museum of Natural History. Athens, 1/13 December 1836 (incomplete). Re fossil bones found near Pikermi and site of ancient Brauron and Persian arrowheads found in Attica. Offer made to Society's museum.
Maurer to George Finlay. 10 January 1837. Critical remarks re Rudhart and Armansperg. Palmerston's anger (in French). [Note added by George Finlay: 'This letter was sent by Mr. Maurer. Mr. Herzog, Professor of Roman Law at Athens brought it and received it from Mr. Weissenberg.']
James Robertson to George Finlay. Argos, 19 January 1837. Favourable comments on George Finlay's pamphlet on government of Greece exposing blunders of 'our successive rulers'. Had not expected such moderation. Comparison with Thiersch's book.
Thomas Gordon to George Finlay. Argos, 20 January 1837. Favourable comments on George Finlay's book. Asks for political news from Athens.
Sir Edmund Lyons to George Finlay. 29 January 1837. Requests George Finlay to read enclosed papers before they are sent to England.
The Revd. John Henry Hill to George Finlay. 25 February 1837. Favourable criticism of George Finlay's 'pamphlet'.
Joanna Baillie to Mrs. MacGregor (George Finlay's mother), Everton, Liverpool. Hampstead, 21 November 1837. Expresses gratitude for George Finlay's work on Greece.
Sir Edmund Lyons to George Finlay. 16 March 1838. Comments on King Otho's decision to keep Bavarian officers and civilians another year in Greece.
Rollin to George Finlay. Paris, 29 May 1838. Information re coins.
Thomas Gordon to George Finlay. Argos, 1 June 1838. Unwillingness to print George Finlay's Oropia together with his Thermopylae. Reflections on Ctesias' account of Cyrus. With letter added by James Robertson re crops on their property and Bank in Athens.
Lord Prudhoe to George Finlay, Athens. Malta, 7 July 1838. Thanks for cast of Gropius's 'little figure' offered by George Finlay. Requests information on excavations at Leuctra by Lord Haddo and other Englishmen.
George Anderson to George Finlay. Free Church House, Helensburgh, 27 September 1839. Letter introducing Mr. Agnew. Appreciation of George Finlay's work.
Charles-Félix-Marie Texier to George Finlay. Paris, 5 April 1843. Arrival of marbles from Magnesia prevents T from meeting George Finlay.
Marochetti to George Finlay. 21 April 1843. Desire to meet George Finlay and Mrs. F. Sends tickets for an exhibition of paintings and sculpture (in French).
Marochetti to George Finlay. Vaux, Seine-et-Oise, 22 April 1843. Pleasure of their visit (in French).
The Earl of Dundonald (Cochrane) to T. Bannister and the latter's reply (extract, copy only). 25 May 1843.
Lord D recounts his misfortunes. He cannot recollect from whom B received his appointment. (Extract.)
B replies that his commission as Major was signed by Lord D thus: 'Cochrane'.
T. Brown to George Finlay. London, 13 September 1843. Difficulty of obtaining dissertations.
A. Miaoulis to George Finlay. Piraeus, 19 July 1844. Sends good wishes to George Finlay in case he does not see him; is unexpectedly sailing this evening for Poros and thence to Toulon. Will execute any commissions for George Finlay if he writes at once to Poros. Regrets leaving Greece at this point and asks George Finlay to send him news (in German, Gothic script).
William Henry Humphreys to Col. Stanhope, Athens. Salona, 12 March 1824. Blackit has just brought a letter from Mesolonghi from George Finlay mentioning Byron's inclination to come to Athens.