Finlay's manuscripts on various subjects

Department Archive
Collection George Finlay Papers
Reference No. FIN/GF/A/01
Level Item
Dimensions 21 x 32 cm
Dates 20 June 1821-28 May 1834
Donor/Creator Finlay, George
Scope and Content Brown mottle boards, brown calf spine, 'MSS. George Finlay.' pasted on spine, handwritten, bound.
Various different MSS. bound together now numbered 1-22; 1 loose letter 20 June 1821 from Haldane, Glasgow, on the rules of the Institution in Glasgow for the encouragement of the Fine Arts.
(1) Observations on Heeren's Vermischte historische Schriften and Handbuch der Geschichte des europäischen Staatenssystems, written at Göttingen March 1823 (paginated 1-40).
(2) 'Notes written on my first visit to Greece in 1823 and 1824. My journal I wrote was lost and the memoranda I wrote in quarantine at Ancona must be in Glasgow with my cousin John Finlay' (3 sides unpaginated).
(3) Reflections on 'the present revolution in Greece' (42 sides unpaginated).
(4) 'Words composing the Cypher of the Sultan. The Emperor Sultan Mahmoud son of Sultan Mustapha ever victorious' (4 sides unpaginated).
(5) 'Journal of a Tour in Sicily and return through Italy to England 1825' (5 April- 6 July 1825, 36 sides unpaginated).
(6) On the state of Political Naval and Military affairs in Greece, written at Egina July 1827 (26 sides paginated 1-26).
(7) Observations on His Royal Highness Prince Leopold's Resignation of the Sovereignty of Greece by George Finlay Esqr. A note at the beginning runs: 'The following observations . . . are the fruits of a long devotion to the cause of Greece. Egina 12 July 1830' (paginated 1-28).
(8) Four letters. I. To Alex. Mavrocordatos Esqr, Secretary of State for Finance (7 sides). 15/27 June 1833, signed Προμηθεύς.
(9) II. [To the same.] (Seven sides.) Undated, signed Προμηθευς.
(10) III. [To the same]. (Ten sides.) Undated, unsigned.
(11) IV. To the Greek people. (Nine sides.) Undated, signed Prometheus.
(12) A further letter (14 sides). 'My dear Sir', ending 'Adieu' and unsigned.
(13) 'Letter on the State of the Plan of Athens, 28 May 1834. Sent to Messrs D'Eichthal Weissenberg and Masson'; written below is a note from George Finlay to Noel asking for his views on this.
(14) On need for social order in Greece (8 sides loose and paginated in part).
(15) Memorandum on the situation in Greece. Salona, April 1824 (21 sides un­ paginated).
(16) On the formation of regular troops in Greece. Ancona, 16 November 1826 (9 sides paginated in part).
(17) Printed notice (3 sides) : Institution in Glasgow for the encouragement of the Fine Arts, signed by George Finlay, Secretary, July 1821.
(18) Letter (loose) dated Glasgow, 20 June 1821, to George Finlay from J. Haldane [who became one of the Directors of the British School at Athens] protesting that the principles of management were not sufficiently liberal.
(19) 'On the Progress of Civil Liberty in Modern Europe' (25 sides paginated 1-25). Paper read in the Speculative Society of Glasgow, 26 March 1821.
(20) 'Some Observations on the commercial situation and policy of Great Britain' (24 sides paginated 1-24). Paper read in the Literary and Commercial Society of Glasgow, 18 April 1821.
(21) Notes on Roman Law (paginated 1-33).
(22) Notes on legal topics (6 sides unpaginated).
Notes 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.