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.
Red leather pocket book, handwritten, paginated, pp. 1-127. 'George Finlay's road book July 11. 1835' on inside cover. Travel notes on various journeys in Greece, scenery and route described and time taken for various parts of the journey noted.
See also FIN/GF/A/19 and George Finlay's notes in his copy of W. Gell, The Itinerary of Greece (now D. 57 in BSA Main Library).
Black-red mottle notebook, black calf spine, gilt lettering on spine 'Journal 1835', handwritten, paginated by George Finlay, pp. 1-296+some blank sheets. Loose, newspaper cutting, advertisement for Sketches of Modern Athens
Indexed by George Finlay thus:
'Statistical Questions. Journal of Expedition under the command of General Gordon against the brigands' (begins July 11, 1835).
Observations on the State of Northern Greece Geographical notes
Journal of a visit to Lioussia On the position of Aphidna
Itinerary of a ride round Hymettus
Letters from General Gordon relating to the Expedition [bound in at end]
(1) Thomas Gordon to George Finlay. Neopatra, 20 September 1835. Requesting lodging and containing news of defeat of robbers at Smochovo.
(2) Charles Soutzos [Suzzo] to George Finlay. Hypata, 15/27 September 1835. Concerning contagious fever in Athens, brigandage, and George Finlay's arrival (in French) .
(3) Thomas Gordon to George Finlay. Zeituni (Lamia), 29 September 1835.Concerning brigandage and theft and state of troops in northern Greece, illness of cousin, and expectation of recall.
(4) H. Robinson to George Finlay. Patras, 3 October 1835. Concerning brigandage and theft at Lidoriki.
(5) Thomas Gordon to George Finlay. Zeituni (Lamia), 4 October 1835. Request for arrangement of lodgings in Athens and a note concerning brigandage.
(6) Thomas Gordon to George Finlay. Livadia, 15 October 1835. Concerning ambush by brigands at Agia Marina. Expected arrival in Athens.
(7) Thomas Gordon to George Finlay. Argos, 23 May 1836. Departure, increase of brigandage in Peloponnese, and corruption in government. Remarks on brigandage in northern Greece.
(8) Thomas Gordon to George Finlay. Cairness, 27 August 1836. Letter introducing Mr. Neeld.
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).
Brown mottle, cloth spine and corners, paginated pp. 1-89, mostly news paper cuttings pasted up, with 2 reviews of George Finlay's work (Fraser's Magazine, vol. 30, Oct. 1844, and The Scotsman, 25 June 1850) and 2 letters (L. Sgouta, 18 April 1863 and Cornelius Conway Felton, n.d.) loose, not in his Index, bound.
Listed by George Finlay on p. iii thus:
Reviews of and Observations on the writings of George Finlay.
Portraits of George Finlay aged 43 and 60.
Greece under the Romans published in 1843, 2nd ed. 1857
Blackwood's Magazine Oct 1844 by Thomas De Quincey, author of the confessions of an english opium eater
The North American Review Jan 1846 by Professor Cornelius Conway Felton LL.D. Notice of President Cornelius Conway Felton by Herman J. Warner of Boston 1862
Medieval Greece and Trebizond published in 1851
The Spectator July 26 1851
Britannia Aug. 16 and 23 1851
Athenaeum Aug. 23 1851
Edinburgh Advertiser Aug. 29 1851
Guardian Nov. 19 1851 and in Morning Chronicle
Allgemeine Zeitung 1851 by Dr Fallmerayer
History of the Byzantine empire, l. vol. 1st ed. 1852 2nd ed. 1856, II. vol. 1854
The Standard May 28 1853
Globe May 28 1853
Scotsman June 25 1853
Leader Sept. 9 1854
The Rambler New series No. IX September 1854
The North British Review No. XLIV Feb. 1855 by E. A. Freeman
Greece under Othoman and Venetian domination 1856
The Athenaeum May 24, 1856
Press May 31, 1856
The Leader May 31, 1856
Guardian June 18, 1856
The Saturday Review June 28, 1856
Critic July 1 and 15, 1856
Spectator July 19, 1856
The History of the Greek Revolution 2 vol. 1861
The Athenaeum Decr 14,1861
Glasgow Citizen Decr 21, 1861
Press Decr 21, 1861
Daily News Decr 26, 1861
Spectator Decr 28, 1861
Critic Dec 28, 1861
Guardian Feb 5, 1862
Examiner Jan 4, 1862
Bells Weekly Messenger Jan 25, 1862
Albion (Liverpool) Jan 23, 1862
Kolnische Zeitung February 25, 1862
The Saturday Review March 1 1862
The Edinburgh Evening Courant March 1, 1862
The Anglo Hellenic Witness Jany 1862 by Edward Masson
The Christian Examiner Boston Massachussets May 1862
Art VII. The Greeks by Herman J. Warner Esq.
The London Quarterly Review No. XXXIX April 1863
Art VI. Greece and the Greeks
The Edinburgh Review No. 240, Vol. CXVI April 1863
Art X. p. 590. The Greek Revolution
The Christian Remembrancer Vol. XLVIII No. CXXV July 1864. Art. VIII.
Finlay's Greek Revolution
'H IIaveM71viK l:71µa{a, 8 'lovvlov 1865
Finlay's history of the Greek Revolution
The National Review Jany 1864 Mediaeval and Modern Greece (pencilled commentary of Finlay)
On the site of the Holy Sepulchre Pamphlet 1847
The Classical Museum No. XVII, October 1847.
Notices of recent publications
Extract from Revue des deux mondes 1 Juillet 1865
Extract from Neue Fragmente aus dem Orient von Dr Jacob P. Fallmerayer
Remarks on the topography of Oropia and Diacria with a map. Pamphlet. Athens 1838
Bulletino dell'lnstituto di Corrispondenza Archeologica No. Vlb Giugno 1839. Opuscolo di Finlay. G. Abeken
North British Review No. XLII August 1854 Art V. Greece under the Macedonian period
North British Review No. XLIV February 1855 Art II. The Byzantine empire-Finlay
NB. These two articles were written by Edward A. Freeman, M.A. late Fellow of Trinity College, Oxford, author of History of Federal Government from the foundation of the Achaian League to the disruption of the United States. Volume 1. London· and Cambridge 1863.
Fraser's Magazine No. CCCCI May 1863: A day at Athens by Miss Frances Power Cobbe
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).
Faded blue cardboard, very worn leather spine, at one end of spine 'Extracts from Newspapers relating to Greece', at other end 'Extracts from Newspapers', bound with some loose material.
Miscellaneous press cuttings (English, French, German, Greek) dating from 1807 to 1863, the majority ranging from 1826 to 1863, some pasted up, others loose, in poor state of preservation being badly rubbed at outer edges. Some additions in George Finlay's hand and some loose handwritten sheets on case of Mr. King, the American missionary.
Albert Dumont to George Finlay. rue Jacob 50, Paris, 20 September [1868]. Has written a short preface to Brue and asks George Finlay to correct it. George Finlay's article on Stone Age will appear in the October Revue archéologique.
Nicolaos Dragoumis to George Finlay. n.d. Comments on George Finlay's views on payment of deputies; discusses Greek Chambers and position of the king (in French, stuck on back flyleaf of N. D., Ἱστορικαὶ Ἀναμνήσεις, 2nd edn., vol. 1, Athens, 1879).
Albert Dumont to George Finlay. rue Jacob 50, Paris, 29 September [1869]. Details of Brue volume.
Admiral Spratt to George Finlay. Athenaeum, 23 October 1869. Praises George Finlay's correspondence in The Times. Refers to his own book on Crete; asks George Finlay to review it in The Times. Includes old paper enclosure.
Albert Dumont to George Finlay. rue Jacob 50, Paris, 29 October [1869]. Asks for information on provenance of Brue MS.
Albert Dumont to George Finlay. rue Jacob 39, Paris, 30 December 1869. Publication of Brue; number of copies.
Albert Dumont to George Finlay. rue Jacob 58, Paris, 27 January [1870]. Copies of Brue dispatched to George Finlay. Greetings to Mrs. F.
Ernest Thorin to George Finlay. 7 rue de Medicis, Paris, 31 January 1870. Re dispatch of copies of Brue (in French). Includes old paper enclosure.
George Finlay to Albert Dumont. 2 February 1870. Telegram re dispatch of copies [of Brue].
Ernest Thorin to George Finlay. 7 rue de Medicis, Paris, 8 March 1870. re dispatch of copies of Brue (in French).
Albert Dumont to George Finlay. rue Jacob 58, Paris, 21 March 1870. Dispatch of copies of Brue to George Finlay. Appreciation of George Finlay's work on the funerary inscriptions collected by Koumanoudes (in French).
Edward H. Noel to George Finlay. Hampstead, 15 June 1870. re Mr. Erskine's attitude and the unfair charges brought against Frank Noel in connection with George Arvanitakis incident and brigands' murder of their prisoners. Attempt to establish truth.
Theodor de Heldreich to George Finlay. Candia, 31 July 1870. Comments on the state of Crete (in French). With old paper enclosure.
Edward H. Noel to George Finlay. Hampstead, 1 August 1870. Defence of Frank Noel against Mr. Erskine's charges re the Arvanitakis affair. Regrets George Finlay's ill-health.
Charles Keating Tuckermann to George Finlay. Athens, 8 December 1870. Agricultural problems of Greece; need for roads; a surfeit of selfish foreign counsellors; the Great Idea.
Ferdinand Keller to George Finlay. Antiquarische Gesellschaft, Zürich, 26 March 1871. Troubles provoked by Franco-German antagonisms in Zürich. Regrets George Finlay's ill-health, a warm welcome awaits him should he visit Zürich to avoid summer heat in Athens. George Finlay's collection and work on the Stone Age. Benndorf's work on vases and stelae (in German). With old paper enclosure.
Albert Dumont to George Finlay. rue Jacob 50, Paris, 20 May [1871]. Apologies for failure to take leave of George Finlay in Athens on account of his illness. His 7 months' travel in Thrace and Constantinople. Inquires where copies of George Finlay's article on coins of Achaean League can be obtained (in French).
Charles Keating Tuckermann to George Finlay. Athens, 12 June 1871. Reference to notes written by George Finlay.
Miss Winifred M. Wyse to George Finlay. Ballinlough Castle, C. T. Delvin, Co. Westmeath, 31 August 1871. Local news. The Prince in Ireland. Alarm at Prusso-Austrian alliance. Greece and the 'Grande ldée'.
Lady (Georgina) Sebright to George Finlay. British Consulate, Corfu, 8 April 1872. Sends her book to George Finlay. Comments on the superiority of Serbian economy and order to that of Greek. With old paper enclosure.
Lady (Georgina) Sebright to George Finlay. Corfu, March, 1873. Appreciation of George Finlay's wisdom derived from long experience in the East. George Finlay's letters much valued. Glad that he is 'fairly well . . . talking and thinking with as clear a head as ever'. Life in the Sebright household. Mining at Sunion. Orthodox Church of Bulgaria, geographical limits of Bulgarian population, and Greek policy toward Bulgaria. Praise of present Nomarch of Corfu, Dimitri Kazako, and Director of Police, Zangarola. Inadequacy of Sir Charles's salary. With old paper enclosure.
The Revd. George William Cox to George Finlay. The Knoll, Farnborough, Hants, 3 February 1874. Possibility of Greek translation of C's Tales of Ancient Greece. His History of Greece about to be published. Will gladly send copies to George Finlay and Professor C. Paparregopoulos. WIth envelope.
Amy M. Pennethorne to George Finlay. 76 Charlesworth Street West, S.W., 24 June 1874. George Finlay's niece thanks him for her wedding present; personal news. With old paper enclosure.
Jacques Argyropoulo to Mrs. F. 10 February n.y. Regrets unable to visit George Finlay (in French).
Benthylos to George Finlay. n.d. Knows that George Finlay has refused ambassadors but desires to borrow 'the demes' for 2 days only (in French).
John Stuart Blackie to George Finlay. 43 Castle St., Edinburgh, 23 February n.y. To introduce William George Clark of Trinity College, Cambridge, who is visiting Athens.
Professor John Stuart Blackie to George Finlay. 43 Castle St., Edinburgh, 5 March n.y. To introduce Mr. Cunningham who comes to visit 'your holy places'.
Miss Blackler to George Finlay. n.d. Thanks George Finlay for sending Saturday Review with article on modern poetry. She values his 'delightful note' with his autograph more than anything she has seen in Athens.
C. Blouet to George Finlay. Athens, 27 November n.y. Thanks for loan of pamphlet (in French). With old paper enclosure.
Canon C. M. Church to George Finlay. n.d. Asks to borrow Wordsworth's Athens and Attica.
Canon C. M. Church to George Finlay. n.d. Thanks for George Finlay's pamphlet and Wordsworth. Regrets that George Finlay was out when he called; is visiting Aegina tomorrow. With old paper enclosure.
R. C. Church to George Finlay. n.d. Thanks George Finlay for loan of articles.
William George Clark to George Finlay. Trinity College, Cambridge, 28 February n.y. Discusses distribution of George Finlay's book in England. Possibility of publishing Sgoutas' inscriptions; qualifications of Koumanoudes. Personal news.
William George Clark to George Finlay. Athens, 3 July n.y. [1856] Accepts invitation to visit George Finlay. Hopes his lumbago abates.
William George Clark to George Finlay. Therapia, 3 August n.y. [1856] Expresses gratitude for many kindnesses. Account of his journey to Constantinople.
William George Clark to George Finlay. Constantinople, 7 August n.y. [1856] Hopes to visit Athens; his plans for travel in Aegean.
William George Clark to George Finlay. 10 April n.y. [?1861]. Introducing A. H. Clough who is to tour Greece. Regrets George Finlay's indisposition. Thanks him for kindness to H. A. J. Munro. 3 pp. [cf. 105].
Frances Power Cobbe to George Finlay. 12 November n.y. [? 1859]. Family news. Literary and historical taste in England.
Frances Power Cobbe to George Finlay. Genoa, 18 April n.y. [? 1859]. To introduce Baron Schmidt Hals appointed Prussian Chargé d'Affaires in Athens. Refers to George Finlay's kindness to her and her article 'A Day in Athens'. Family news.
Commandant en Chef, Station Navale de Levant et Corps expéditionnaire de Grèce to George Finlay. n.d. Invitation to be present at Piraeus embarkation regatta (in French).
Albert Dumont, Membre de l'Ecole Française d'Athènes, to George Finlay. Athens, n.d. Sends an antique weight and a little axe which Noel has given him for George Finlay (with two visiting cards) (in French).
David Dundas to George Finlay. n.d. Note arranging excursion to Pentelikon with George Finlay.
David Dundas to George Finlay. n.d. Thanks George Finlay for presents of coins and arrowheads.