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.
Edward Blackett to George Finlay. Athens, 2 April 1824. Acknowledges receipt of money and asks about George Finlay's plans during approaching campaign.
Leicester Stanhope, Stable Yard, St.James, to George Finlay, (?) June 1825 . Praises George Finlay's sketch of Byron.
Leicester Stanhope, Stable Yard, St.James, to George Finlay, 13 July 1825. Praises George Finlay's sketch of Byron.
Sir Patrick Malcolm to George Finlay. 2 December 1831, and 28 March 1832. Two letters expressing distrust of Gropius, Austrian consul at Athens, whom he had employed to build a house there; deplores delays and growing expenses.
Sir Patrick Malcolm to George Finlay. 28 March 1832. re his house and Gropius. [See 2 December 1831.]
Thomas Gordon to George Finlay. Cairness, 26 April 1832. Pessimistic remarks re British government; fears that Greece under Capodistrias will become province of Muscovy; prospects of Prince Otto of Bavaria.
Peter Wilhelm Forchhammer to George Finlay. Nauplia, 31 August 1833. Criticism of dictatorial ways and political ignorance of Mr. Franz. Has journeyed through Peloponnese. Hopes to obtain British Admiralty map of Greek coastal waters. With an old paper enclosure.
Thomas Gordon to George Finlay. Nea Patra, 15 September 1835. re expedition against bandits in Roumeli with Turkish co-operation. Ironical comments on Gen. Church sitting in Patissia leading 'the life of Nebuchadnezzar'. Note of greeting added by C. Soutzo.
E. Hill to George Finlay. Anavrita, 22 December 1835. Apologizes for delay in returning book lent by George Finlay. With an old paper enclosure.
Edwin Chadwick to C. H. Bracebridge (forwarded to George Finlay with a note by B). 5 August 1844. Suggestions re water supply of Athens. With an old paper enclosure.
Julius Millingen to George Finlay. Pera, 7 September (?) 1844. Thanks George Finlay for his Greece under the Romans. Present state of Greece; Serbians more sensible.
Bernard Bauer to George Finlay. Athens, 20 February 1845. Asks George Finlay to lend him Leake's book on Athens for M. de Bruce (in French).
Jean-Alexandre Buchon to George Finlay. Paris, 16 April 1845. Re B's publication on Frankish principality of the Morea. Discovery in Brussels of important MS. relating to the Morea (in French).
J. de Cigalla to George Finlay. Thera, 28 May 1845. Requests letter of recommendation to George Finlay's relatives at Constantinople, to use when visiting Constantinople and Vlachia (in Greek). With an old paper enclosure.
Adolphe Nast to George Finlay. Athens, 4/16 July 1845. Offer to sell Bibliotheca Historica in 22 vols. at reasonable price (in French).
J. de Cigalla to George Finlay. Santorini, 8/20 July 1845. Thanks for George Finlay's letter of recommendation (in French).
Jean-Alexandre Buchon to George Finlay. 17 July 1845. Re B's work on Greece from the thirteenth to fifteenth centuries. Refers to George Finlay's work on Turkish conquest of Morea (in French). Also drawing, newspaper cutting and loose note. With an old paper enclosure.
George Finlay to Sir Edmund Lyons. Athens, 26 July 1845. Note of expenses of different camps in Greek army (regulars and irregulars); list with details enclosed, letter in duplicate.
The Revd. Jonas H. King to George Finlay. 18 August 1845. Information on American Missionary Schools in Greece 1828-37. With an older paper enclosure.
Sir Edmund Lyons to George Finlay. Athens, 19 August 1845. Queries re accounts.
A. J. Kriezis to George Finlay. Athens, 6/18 May 1846. Invitation to meet Queen (in French).
? to George Finlay. 29 July 1847. Recommending servant to George Finlay (in French).
Demetrios Kalliphronas to George Finlay. 27 September 1847. Re postponement of meeting of city council (in Greek).
A. J. Kriezis to George Finlay. 19 July 1848. Re payment of rent for George Finlay's house (in Greek).
A. Schwab to George Finlay. Syra, 28 May 1849. Gratitude for George Finlay's hospitality in Athens (in French).
James Finlay to George Finlay. Glasgow, 16 October 1849. To introduce the Revd. John Anderson and Mr. James Stewart.
Col. William Mure to George Finlay. 20 November 1849. Introducing Mr. Allan Gilmour who is visiting Athens.
G. Muir to George Finlay. Malta, 24 November 1849. Acknowledges George Finlay's pamphlet on steam navigation in Mediterranean.
George Finlay to Editor of The Times. Athens, 28 March 1850. Statement in support of George Finlay's claim to indemnity from the Greek government for land taken possession of in 1836.
Allan Gilmour to George Finlay. Malta, 29 March 1850. Returns sketch map of Attica (21 x 32 cm).
Louisa Hay Kerr to George Finlay. In quarantine off Syra, 30 October 1850. Plans history on Greece since 1825. Anxious for publication of George Finlay's work on Trebizond. Regrets unable to visit Athens this winter.
Louisa Hay Kerr to Mrs. F. Hopes she will persuade George Finlay to publish work on Trebizond. Enclosed with FIN/B/6/53.
Jacob P. Fallmerayer to George Finlay. Munich, 13 March 1851. Apologies for delay in reply to George Finlay's letter of 12 August 1850, due to travel, illness, and other hindrances. His pleasant experiences in Athens, Trebizond, and Colchis now blotted out by unfortunate political condition of Germany .and merged into the melancholy remembrances of a lost paradise. Discusses scenes decorating 'the monastic church' and their dissimilarity with the court style of the Comneni at Trebizond. His sketch of the portrait of the imperial founder of the St. Dionysios monastery on the Holy Mountain (Athos). Refers to his other work on Trebizond and regrets lack of interest in this in Germany (in German, Gothic script).
The Revd. W. Palmer to George Finlay. Mr. Bruno's Lodgings, 4 May 1851. Returns books. Includes Palmer's visiting card.
Edward Masson to George Finlay. Holywood by Belfast, 4 July 1851. Invitation to stay before returning to Greece. Local news. Is preparing for press his Horae Hellenicae or Elements of Greek Dialectology, Ancient and Modern.
James Thrupp to George Finlay. 2 Park Place, Bath, 28 July 1851. Introduces T's nephew Frank Thrupp.
N. Hill to George Finlay. 4 St. Martin's Place, London, 2 September 1851. Will forward recent Transactions and Proceedings of the [Royal] Society [of Literature]. Regrets George Finlay's absence from recent meetings.
N. Hill to George Finlay. London, 3 September 1851. Has received news of George Finlay's box of books.
N. Hill to George Finlay. London, 8 September 1851. re Annual Reports of the Society requested by George Finlay.
Sir Stratford Canning to George Finlay, Athens. Constantinople, 20 January 1852. Expresses gratitude for gift of George Finlay's History of Greece.
Sir Henry Ellis, Principal Librarian, to George Finlay, Athens. British Museum, 19 February 1852. Acknowledges George Finlay's gift to British Museum of 24 amphora-handles found in Athens.
George Finlay to Charles Thomas Newton. Athens, 4 October 1842. Details on excavations by Beulé of the Ecole Française at the entrance of the Propylea. Thiersch's excavations at temple of Athena Polias. Thiersch's views on Greek need for oxen from Asia Minor and for agricultural development rather than salaries and uniforms for officials and generals.
Col. William Mure to George Finlay. Burlington Hotel, London, 19 April 1853. Introducing Professor Blackie of University of Edinburgh.
George Finlay to Sir Thomas Wyse, H.M. Minister Plenipotentiary in Greece. Athens, 16 December 1853. Sends copy of letter from Noel of Achmetaga in Euboea re Greek government complaint against N for violation of quarantine and custom-house regulations.
James Clyde to George Finlay. Ancona, 10 February 1854. C's experiences in Italy where he was suspect to papal and Austrian authorities by reason of rusty black garments and fiery beard and was taken for either a missonary or a Mazzinist. Returns to Scotland shortly.
R. Wilkinson to Charles L. Merlin. Syra, 28 April 1854. Extract from letter referring to Consular Agent for the United States, Evangelidis, and his debts.
Extract from Mr. Hill's letter to J. Sculudi. 10/22 August 1854. Dissatisfaction with present Greek admininistration; unfortunate attitude of Turkey.
George Grote to George Finlay. 12 Saville Row, London, 23 August 1854. Acknowledges receipt of letter with article to be submitted to Editor of Edinburgh Review (with stamped envelope addressed to George Finlay, South Lawn, Southport, Lancs., containing Grote's visiting card).
George Grote to George Finlay. East Burnham, Maidenhead, 13 September 1854. Is about to submit George Finlay's MS. to Editor of Edinburgh Review.
George Grote to George Finlay. East Burnham, Maidenhead, 17 September 1854. Reports that Editor of Edinburgh Review does not think George Finlay's article is written in attractive style but materials are authentic. He will accept it if George Finlay does not insist on immediate publication.