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.
Printed pamphlet (General Catalogue of Animals in the Museum of the Natural History Society, Athens, 1840, in Greek).
Loose papers and 4 letters taken from GF's books, notably his copy of T. Gordon, History of the Greek Revolution (2 vols., London, 1832).
G. Gropius (?). n.d. Asks to borrow Leake's book on Morea (in French) .
Schnitzlein (officer in Bavarian Artillery) to Col. Thomas Gordon (in camp at Metochi). Ambelakia, 28 January 1827.
Details of S's visit by sea to Piraeus and Phaleron (in French).
Sir Richard Church to George Finlay. n.d.
Criticism of Gordon's observations on C (George Finlay's comments appended: 'Gordon's observations appear to me to have been called for on the part of one who pretended to write history. He certainly owed Sir Richard Church no particular tenderness and could not be expected to suppress truth in order to please him.')
Edwin Hill Mandley. Athens, 14 January n.y.
Would like to keep George Finlay's History and Hellenic pamphlet longer.
Brown mottle board, brown calf spine, gilt lettering on spine 'Hellenic Kingdom', bound, printed, with cuttings and letters.
George Finlay, The Hellenic Kingdom and the Greek Nation (London, 1836), pp. i-vi+1- 115.
Cuttings from Morning Chronicle and other papers on state of Greece pasted up at back, 1839-40.
Extract from 9 April 1828 The Times announcing the death of John Finlay in 1828 (pasted inside front cover).
At end loose:
(1) Letter from A. Contostavlos to George Finlay. Egina, 10 April 1836.
Appreciation of George Finlay's pamphlet on Hellenic Kingdom. Criticism of Regency; German failure to understand Greek traditions. 2 pp.
(2) Letter from T. Ayrton to George Finlay. 17 April 1842.
Appreciation of George Finlay's pamphlet on Greece; comments on Greek affairs and organization of Greece. 4 pp.
(3) Printed extract (pp. 530-47) entitled 'Art. V. The Hellenic Kingdom and the Greek Nation. By John [sic] Finlay Esq. of Lyosha, Honorary Major in the Service of his Majesty the King of Greece'. London, Murray, 1836 ['Honorary . . . Greece' has been pasted over on this copy of the pamphlet].
Brown mottle board, black calf spine, gilt lettering on spine 'Finlay Sur la banque', bound, printed with letters and cuttings.
G. Finlay, Essai sur les principes de Banque appliques a l'état actuel de la Grèce (Athens, 1836), pp. 1-28. Date at end : 'Athènes, le 8 Janvier 1836'.
Letters and cuttings on this subject, pasted in at back of book:
(1) The Admiral Count D. to Gropius. Smyrna, 2/24 February 1836.
Extract of a letter of Count D. approving George Finlay's observations on the setting up of a Bank in Greece (in French ; stuck on back of FIN/GF/E/6). 1 p.
(2) A. Contostavlos to George Finlay. Egina, 28/29 February 1836.
Appreciation of pamphlet re principles of banking with reference to Greece; criticism of German economists' ignorance of Greek affairs (stuck in back of FIN/GF/E/16). 2 pp.
(3) N. K. (?) to George Finlay. Syra, 27 January 1836.
Appreciation of George Finlay's pamphlet on banking; requests its translation into Greek (in French ; stuck in back of FIN/GF/E/16).
Dark-blue mottle board, dark-green leather spine 'Greece 1843' pasted on spine, paginated, pp. 1-183, mostly printed cuttings pasted up.
Greek politics 1843-9 (printed newspaper cuttings) pasted up with a few loose cuttings and some disjointed comments on various historical topics at one end of book.
Printed official Greek Government Statistics for 1844 and 1845, mostly revenue returns and expenditure (large quarto and foolscap).
Drafts of letters on the state of Greece 1841 :
(1) George Finlay to Robinson, Patras. Athens, 26 July 1841.
Relations between King Otho and Mavrocordatos; the position of Melas; criticism of dictatorial policy of Otho (loose). 4 pp.
(2) George Finlay to Sir Edmund Lyons. 1841.
Views re Tricoupis's nomination as Greek Minister in England; comments on Lyons's attitude. 8 pp.
(3) George Finlay to the Editor of Spectator. 27 August 1841.
Appeals for support for civil liberty in Greece; comments on English support of Otho; king's dictatorial conduct; Greek political and administrative anarchy. Measures proposed by George Finlay (unfinished copy ofletter). 6 pp.
(4) George Finlay to Goss. n.d.
Pernicious foreign influence fails to foster genuine interests of Greece, particularly local communal development. Effect of Cretan insurrection. Provincial hatred of Bavarian Government. Otho and Mavrocordatos. Cretan position and need for support. George Finlay's house at Liossia (copy ofletter). 18 pp.
G. Finlay, Letter to the Athenians 1844' printed (in Greek), Athens, 1844, with MS. translation in English.
MS. copy of 'Palmerston's Despatch to Sir Edmund Lyons on the state of Greece in November 1847 with some observations from the Spectator'.
Extract from the Cairo Journal of Nassau Senior Esq. dated 1856. The file also includes some notes on Egypt hand-written by GF.
Small notebook with a plan for an essay (probably related to GF’s History of the Greek Revolution). It also contains notes on Chios, and on the ‘Greek character’ (undated).
Note on ‘Modern Greek History’ and on egoism as a trait of modern Greek society (undated).
Note labelled ‘Parties in Greece’ with a focus on the English party and the role of Hamilton in its formation (undated).
Note on the personality of Colonel Leake (undated).
Miscellaneous (undated) notes on the Greek Revolution (on the municipal system, on the naval losses of the Turks, etc.)
Note labelled ‘Bavarian Administration’ that focuses on defects of the centralized system of government the Bavarians introduced (undated).
Questions about the Greek Revolution (probably useful for F’s writing of his History) (undated).
Note labelled ‘Generals in yachts’ (undated).
‘Thoughts’ about Greeks as 'Orientals' (undated).
Note labelled ‘Conclusion’ with remarks on the state of the Ottoman Administration (undated).
Note (undated and fragile) of Pouqueville’s speech ‘Régénération de la Grèce’, and on Perraivos and Trikoupi’s view of the Philiki Etaireia’s failure to make progress in Northern Greece.
F’s thoughts on the ‘social condition of Greeks after their deliverance from the Sultan’s yoke’ (undated).
Note about the regular troops of the Greeks (undated).
Note on the financial administration in liberated Greece (undated).
Small notebook on the ‘Causes which created the mental impulses which ultimately led to the revolution’ (undated).
Small notebook with notes on ‘Money’ and on ‘Constantinople’ (undated).
‘The questions [on the Greek Revolution] to which I find it difficult to obtain precise answers’ (undated).
Note on the ‘Communal system’ in Greece prior to the Greek Revolution (undated).
Program for the reception of the King and the Queen (in French).
Notes on different chapters I-VIII (of F’s History of the Greek Revolution) (undated).
‘The story Kolokotroni told after Capodistrias’ death’ (undated).
The ‘Souliots’ (undated note, fragile) .
Note on the character of King Otto (undated).
Note on King Otto and his furniture (undated).
Collection of notes (undated) labelled ‘Material Greece’ (on the Ottoman Administration, on the history of political opinion in Greece, on the Greek Revolution, etc.).
Miscellaneous (undated) notes, some fragile (contains excerpts, proverbs, notes on his books, on Greeks, on the character of the Greeks, on the influence of Ali Pasha, etc.).
Brown mottle board, leather spine with 'Greece 1850' in gilt on spine, bound, now paginated pp. 1-75 (the rest blank).
Greek Affairs 1850.
(1) Press cuttings pasted up relating to George Finlay's claims and the Don Pacifico affair.
(2) Two sides handwritten (pp. 1-2), headed 'Copy, The Rt Hble Thomas Wyse to Mr Thouvenel' [on board H.B.M. ship Queen, Salamis Bay. 31 January 1850]. The Greek government's continued failure to indemnify British and Ionian subjects; Greek occupation of islets of Cervi and Sapienza (bound in front, 2 pp.).
Loose press cuttings.
Politics
Press cuttings (French, English, and Greek) on various topics, some relative to affairs in Greece and Turkey (mostly in the 1850s).
Faded navy cloth boards, on spine 'Papers on Greece M.S.' handwritten, items paginated separately, with some newspaper cuttings pasted up, bound.
Greek Affairs 1856-63.
Except for item 8 these are 'carbon' copies of George Finlay's own articles with place of publication. These are listed by George Finlay as follows:
(1) Memoir addressed by M. Rhangabe minister of Foreign Affairs to the Greek ministers at the European courts describing the progress of im provement in Greece under King Otto's government dated 28 July (10 Augt) 1856.
Printed in Le Moniteur Grec of 21 Decr 1857.
(2) Article from The Times 26 Novr 1856.
(3) Advertisements from The Times of 24 Octr 1856.
(4) Letter addressed by M. Soteropoulos to Mr Haslewood president of the committee of greek Bondholders in the tenths and national lands. 18 (30th) September 1862
(5) Memoir on the municipal institutions and on the causes of the rude condition of agriculture in Greece. Printed in Daily News 6 JanY 1863
(6) Articles indicating the basis of the national institutions of the Greeks which in some form or other ought to be inserted in the constitution
(7) Copies of three articles inserted in Saturday Review
The Revolution in Greece 8 Novr 1862
Affairs of Greece 15 Novr 1862
Civil war in Greece 25 July 1863
(8) Examination of some constitutional questions which have arisen in Greece
[Subdivided thus in the article:
I. Does the constitution of 1844 exist at present as the constitution of Greece, or has it been abolished by the revolution of 1862?
II. Who are the King's ministers?
III. What articles of the constitution require change?
IV. Must the constitutional King of Greece reign and not govern?
August 1863] (9) The Fall of King Otto.
Inserted in Blackwoods Magazine for Novr 1863.
(10) The prospects of George I, King of the Greeks
Brown mottle boards, light paper spine, bound, lettering on spine 'Letters on Greek Affairs 1864' [in fact 1857-64, though mostly 1864], handwritten with some printed material, now paginated continuously pp. 1-498 [George Finlay sometimes paginated items separately].
Letters, Memorandums, and Memoirs on the Affairs of Greece. These are listed by George Finlay as follows, but his list is only a summary and does not give details of all the letters or extracts from letters.
Letters Memorandums & Memoirs on the Affairs of Greece
Letter to John Finlay Esq. dated 17 FebY 1857
Extracts from Letters concerning the Revolution that expelled King Otho from Greece on the 22 October 1862.
Memorandum. Ministerial Crisis 1 JanY 1864
Memorandum. Second unsuccessful attempt of Count Sponneck to form a Ministry 16 FebY 1864
Memorandum. Modification of Bulgares' Ministry 3 March Letter to Alexander Finlay Esq M.P. 8 JanY 1864
Observations relating to the introduction of some stipulations in favour of municipal institutions into the constitution.
Observations on the establishment of a Senate.
Papers relating to the University communicated by Mr Phrearites, Prytanes of the University.
List of the Newspapers published in Greece. 1864
Observations on the reestablishment of a Senate in Greece communicated The Hon E. M. Erskine British Minister at the Court of Athens 14 Sepr 1864
Additional Note 17 Sepr 1864
Two Letters on the State of Greece inserted in the Daily News dated 4 Augt & 11 Augt 1864
Correspondence with 'The Times' [14 letters] On delay in framing the Constitution 18 Augt.
On the leading article in 'The Times' of the 12 Augt and the letter of Plasteras to the King 1 Sepr. Inserted 10 Sepr 1864
Translation of Plasteras' letter
Tenth letter to The Times
On the abolition of the Senate 22 Sepr inserted in The Times 30 Sepr 1864
Two letters to Mowbray Morris Esqr. 22 Sepr & 6 Octr
The attempt to assassinate Koumoundouros. 13 Octr inserted in The Times 22 Octr 1864
Letter on the establishment of a Council of State in Greece addressed to Baron Herbert Austrian Secretary of Legation dated 15 Octr 1864
Commemoration at the University, Administration of Dr Phrearites.
Royal Message to the National Assembly 18 Octr 1864 inserted in The Times 31 Octr 1864
Adoption of the Council of State 22 Octr inserted in The Times 2 Nover 1864
The Royal Message & the Revision of the Constitution 27 Octr Times 5 Novr
Translation of the King's First Message dated 6 (18) Octr.
Reply proposed by Mr Deligeorges. Greek & French
Translation of the Second Royal Message dated 31 Octr (12 Novr) 1864
Letter on the Second Royal Message & project to vote the supplies of 1865 17 Novr
Times 28 Novr 1864
Royal Oath. Dissolution of National Assembly Budget of 1865
1 Decr
Times 10 Decr
Attack on Baron von Schmidthals the Prussian Chargé d'Affaires 15 Decr
Times 26 Decr 1864.
Memorandum concerning an attempt of Count Sponneck to form a new ministry
Athens 9 Devr 1864 Finance memoranda.
Some loose letters and sheets,+1 ticket for the Diplomatic Gallery during the National Convention, and a slip of paper with the autograph of Sir Henry Elliot.
Letters to The Times with some not inserted (see George Finlay's note, p. 271).
(1) George Finlay to Editor of The Times. Athens, 1 January 1864. Encloses an account of ministerial crisis (loose at p. 33). 1 p.
(2) C. M. Cuhine to George Finlay. 19 August n.y.
Re the administration of Miss Topitza's property and Count Sponneck (loose at p. 33). 1p.
(3) C. M. Cuhine to George Finlay. Athens, 6 August 1864.
Thanks for information on ministerial crisis; it will show the Ionian Assembly what awaits it as a substitute for 'British tyranny' (loose at p. 33). 2 pp.
(4) N. Eber to George Finlay. 33 St. James Square, London, 16 April 1864.
Asks George Finlay to write weekly letter to The Times on Greek affairs (loose at p. 173). 3 pp.
(5) George Finlay to Mowbray Morris, Printing House Square, London, E.C. Athens, 29 April 1864.
Agrees to send The Times weekly letters on Greek affairs (loose at p. 173). 2 pp.
(6) George Finlay to General Eber, 33 St. James Square, London. Athens, 29 April 1864.
Re acceptance of offer to become correspondent of The Times. Brief account of Greek political situation (loose at p. 173). 2 pp.
(7) Mowbray Morris to George Finlay. Printing House Square, London, E.C., 25 May 1864. Acknowledges George Finlay's letters; fears readers will be few as attention now focused on America and nearer home on the continent (loose at p. 207). 1 p.
(8) George Finlay to Mowbray Morris. Athens, 2 June 1864. Sends further letter on uncertain state of Greece (incomplete copy, loose at p. 207). 1p.
(9) P. Herbert to George Finlay. 20 October 1864. Thanks for George Finlay's instructive communication (in French, loose at p. 327). 1 p.
Brown mottle boards, light paper spine, bound, lettering on spine 'Letters on Greek Affairs 1865', handwritten, paginated by George Finlay, pp. 1-246+pp. 1-4.
Greek Affairs (mainly 1865)
Letters, notes, and memoranda, listed by George Finlay as follows:
Contents of this Volume
Letter to 'The Times' on Municipal affairs of Greece and state of the government 5 JanY 1865. Inserted 16 JanY 1865
Private letter to Mowbray Morris Esqr 5 JanY 1865
Note to Hon E. M. Erskine minister in Greece 5 JanY 1865. Exaction by Leonidas Bulgares at Liosia
Account of an incident at the reception of the diplomatic body by the King of the Hellenes on Greek New Years day
Proceedings of the irregular police under Leonidas Bulgares. The facts were sent to The Times in a letter dated 19th JanY 1865 inserted 27 JanY
Conference of Prince Julius of Glucksburg and its results. Private to Mowbray Morris Esq. Letter to 'The Times' 3 FebY 1865 inserted 14. FebY
On the reply of the Minister of the Interior to the letter of the 5th JanY. Inserted 16th
Private letter to Mr M. Morris with letter of Ministry of Interior. Copy of french text
Memorandum of an interview with Count Sponneck
Letter to 'The Times'-Anarchy in the Administration and danger of a revolution. 9 March 1865
Modification of the Ministry 15 March 1865
,, Koumoundouros replaces Kanares as president of the Council Letter to 'The Times'. Alarm at Athens-modification of the ministry irregular troops at Aghios Asomatos-proclamation fixing date of elections &c. - - -
Letter to Mr Freeman 16 March 1865
Admonition from Mr Morris and reply 15 March & 30th
Another modification of the ministry-Koumoundouros President of the Council
To The Times. Museum of Antiquities 6th April inserted 15 April 1865
The Times. Decreased revenue & encreased expenditure. 27 April. Inserted 8 May 1865
Article for the Saturday Review. What has been done in Greece since 1862. 4 May 1865 inserted in The Saturday Review 20 May 1865
To The Times 18 May 1865 not inserted. Revival of brigandage-State of political society-Royal power-Functionary class People
Account of a diplomatic incident at Athens 14 May 1865
To The Times 1st June inserted 10 June 3rd. General election list of killed & wounded
To The Times 15 June. King opened chamber-disorder. inserted 27 June
The Times 6 July. Financial Statement, Drainage of lake Copais Railway from Vonitza to Volo
Private letter to M. Morris
4th Series The Times 27 July inserted 5 Agut
Popularity of the King since return from Corfu. Position of Koumoundouros since union of Bulgarists & Othonists. Petition of Bondholders.
The Times 7 Sepr. Financial Statement. Stone period. Excavation at Homeric sites. Private to M. Morris Esqr. Brigandage-Lake Copais-finance.
The Times 19 Octr. inserted 27 Octr. Koumoundouros' measures of retrenchment Ministry of 6th Octr-Postage
The Times 26 Octr-inserted 3 Novr. Murder of Pappa-Spêro of Marathon-Fall of Koumoundouros' ministry-Bulgares invited
The Times 2 Novr inserted 10 Nov. Formation of Deligeorges' ministry
The Times 16 Novr inserted 28 Nov. Formation of Bulgares' ministry-increase of brigandage Private letter to Mr M.M.
The Times 23 Novr inserted 1 Decr. Ministerial changes reviewed since 27 Octr
The Times 30 Novr inserted 8 Decr. Reinstatement of Deligeorges. Political principles of Koumoundouros and Deligeorges-,-affair of Malavasi.
The Times 14 Decr. Ministry of B. Rouphos. Sir T. Wyse's opinion of the Greek govt. Ransom of Ld J.H. &c. inserted 25 Decr
Private letter to Mr. M.M.
Copy of letter from Mr Crowe to Mr Merlin.
Account of the capture of Lord J. Hervey Hon. Henry Strutt and Mr Coore.
The Times 21 Deer inserted Decr 30
Capture of Lord John Hervey & party. inserted 30 Decr
Private letter to Mr M. Morris correcting error in Count Sponneck's place at banquet. To reinit £20 to T.C. and balance to me
The Times 29 Decr inserted 9 JanY 1866. correcting error in letter of 21 cong the National bank & pointing out error in La Grèce of 28th.
Law authorising loan of 15 millions. Statement of Accountant general.
State of Treasury on 31 Oct 1865
A Defence of the Greek Constitution 3rd Augt inserted in Saturday Review
Defects of the Executive government of Greece 31 Augt inserted in Saturday Review
Observations on Count Sponneck's performance of his duty as counsellor of the King of the Hellenes 27 May 1865
Letter to Earl Russell enclosing above
List of Greek ministers to Decr 1865 including a list of Councillors of State.
Letter to 'The Times' 5 JanY 1865 inserted 16 JanY 1865. On the municipal affairs of Greece and the budget of the demos of Keroneleon (?)
Private letter to Mowbray Morris Esq. Note to Erskine 5 JanY
Grey mottle boards, brown linen spine, lettering on spine 'Letters on Greek Affairs 1866', paginated pp. 1-180, mostly handwritten, bound with some loose sheets and letters.
Greek Affairs 1866.
(1) Letters and memoranda covering Greek finances, politics, insurrection in Crete
(2) Copy of printed Greek paper. 2 November 1861.
(3) Bibliographical notes (in Greek).
(4) Letters referring to George Finlay's election to Russian Imperial Academy of Sciences of St. Petersburg (from Mowbray Morris 4 February 1866; from George Finlay 29 January/ 10 February 1866).
Grey mottle boards, grey paper spine 'Letters on Greek Affairs 1867', paginated, pp. 1-24, and afterwards each item separately, handwritten, bound, with some loose sheets and letters.
Correspondence with The Times on Greek Affairs 1867. Covering insurrection in Crete, relations with Turkey,
Letter (loose, inserted at 12 September 1867) : Mowbray Morris to George Finlay. 6 September 1867.
Grey mottle, grey paper spine with lettering 'Letters on Greek Affairs 1868', handwritten, paginated pp. i-ix, 1-205 (George Finlay's pagination separates The Times, pp. 1-112 and the Saturday Review, pp. 1-66), bound.
Greek Affairs 1868.
Letters mostly to The Times and Saturday Review with some to Mowbray Morris and a number of loose sheets+cuttings and letters. Covering Greek politics, brigandage, relations with Turkey, Ottoman history, Cretan affairs