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.
Drafts of letter (n.d.) from 13 Chapel Place, Cavendish Square, concerning his possible appointment as Commander of a steam vessel in the service of the Greeks; discussion of artillery equipment
Drafts of letter (n.d.) from 13 Chapel Place, Cavendish Square, concerning his possible appointment as Commander of a steam vessel in the service of the Greeks; discussion of artillery equipment
Drafts of letter (n.d.) from 13 Chapel Place, Cavendish Square, concerning his possible appointment as Commander of a steam vessel in the service of the Greeks; discussion of artillery equipment
Drafts of letter (n.d.) from 13 Chapel Place, Cavendish Square, concerning his possible appointment as Commander of a steam vessel in the service of the Greeks; discussion of artillery equipment
7 letters from Hastings to the Greek government.
Hastings to [? the Greek government], Athens. 18/31 March 1824.
Need for the formation of a Greek navy; urges the use of steam vessels (in French).
Hastings to the Greek government. April 1824.
Need for a good Greek military system; minimum requisites (in French).
Hastings to the Greek local government at Idra. Napoli de Romanie, 12 June N.S. 1824.
On the defence of Hydra (in French).
Hastings to [the Greek local government at Idra]. Napoli de Romanie, 25 June/7 July 1824.
Urges use of steam vessel (in French).
Hastings to [the Greek local government at Idra]. Acoudhena, 27 June/9 July [?1824]. Need for a corps of artillery (in French, unfinished).
Hastings to the Corps Exécutif. Napoli de Romanie, 26 July 1824.
Need for a quick reply concerning steam vessel, in view of his imminent departure for England (in French).
Hastings to [the Greek local government at ldra]. n.d.
Discussion on artillery; refers to an earlier letter on this (in French).
Five letters from Edward Ellice, M.P., Chairman of the Greek Committee in London to Captain Hastings, London. Includes an annotated paper enclosure from the 20th century that predates the Hussey catalogue.
1 March 1825. Letter from Edward Ellice, M.P., Chairman of the Greek Committee in London to Captain Hastings, London. Discusses the provision of the steam vessel and H is offered the command.
14 June (1825). Letter from E. Ellice, M.P., Chairman of the Greek Committee in London to Captain Hastings, London. Discusses the provision of the steam vessel and H is offered the command.
25 July 1825. Letter from E. Ellice, M.P., Chairman of the Greek Committee in London to Captain Hastings, London. Discusses the provision of the steam vessel and H is offered the command.
8 August 1825. Letter from E. Ellice, M.P., Chairman of the Greek Committee in London to Captain Hastings, London. Discusses the provision of the steam vessel and H is offered the command.
n.d. Letter from E. Ellice, M.P., Chairman of the Greek Committee in London to Captain Hastings, London. Discusses the provision of the steam vessel and H is offered the command.
Contract between Hastings and Hofaker re use of Hofaker's incendiary cannon balls for the Greek navy.
Correspondence with the Hydriot and Spetsiot Government
Hastings to the primates of Idra and Spetsai. Karteria, Napoli, 19 October 1826. Refutes complaints that the Karteria is still inactive. He will sail when ready; the primates do not understand the art of naval warfare (in French).
John Malokinis to Hastings. [Spetsai], 18 December 1826.
Refuses to supply Karteria with coal (in Greek).
The primates of the island of Spetsai to Hastings. [Spetsai], 18 December 1826.
Discusses the problem of a coal supply for the Karteria (in Greek).
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).
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).
Paper enclosure "Letters from Speziote Government" Mathematical sums on back.
Drafts (loose) Includes scraps of paper by H, describing the contents as 'Letters respecting Greece inserted in English newspapers' and 'Letters and projects respecting Greece to be published in a Greek journal'.
No date. Need for Greek naval organization; Greek personal and private interests opposed to this.
Jotting re money for steam-vessel payment put at disposal of Lord Cochrane.
Karteria, Syra. 8 November 1826.
Account of delays in equipping steam vessels to be commanded by Lord Cochrane; attack on C's integrity and demand for his resignation.
To 'Mr Editor'. n.d.
State of Greece; delays; need for speeding naval organization.
A friend to truth' to Editor of Courier. n.d.
International law on neutrality and its relation to the present situation vis-a-vis
Greece and Turkey.
Mr Editor.' n.d.
Inadequacy of present impromptu Greek army; Greek fleet formed from small merchant vessels without artillery. Those wishing to help the Greeks should recognize need for proper naval and military organization.
Suggestions for use of funds (if any) for the relief of Candia; discussion of suitable artillery for use there.
Eleven drafts (loose) of papers on the state of Greece and Crete.
Prospects for a loan for Crete and for successful revolt there (in French).
Possibility of raising a loan from the moneyed men in Greece.
Need for unity in Greece. Government should develop communications and economy of the country (in French).
Hastings justifies purchase of steam vessel (in French).
Mémoire sur le bateau à Vapeur proposé dans le papier No 1' (in French).
Navy vital for Greek war (in French).
Greek need for good military organization; Hasting's suggestions (in French).
Difficulty of getting a loan for Crete; sea power a vital factor here (in French).
Regrets seeing so many beggars who are victims of war in Greek tours. Suggests that the Greek government might now ameliorate their poverty by internal economic development (in French).
Hazards of inhabitants of small Greek islands; they should be rehabilitated on the larger islands which could put up some resistance (in French).
Greek government now more secure. Need for sound naval establishment (in French).
Hastings' notes and observations, with extracts from works, on naval artillery (loose). Includes later enclosure with two paper labels for FIN/H/17 written by Hastings.
Manière de se servir des balles, boulets, valets et cordages incendiaires.
Suggestions for land and sea operations with details on artillery. 'Written at Athens in April 1824 and presented to the Greek government' (in French).
Extracts from the work of M. de Paix Hans (on artillery) (in French).