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.
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.
William Gordon Cornwallis Eliot to George Finlay. 18 August n.y. [1860] Encloses papers to be sent to Mr. Noel.
M. Ellis to George Finlay. n.d. Returns books borrowed.
T. S. Fay to George Finlay. n.d. Regrets his own indisposition; hopes that George Finlay will visit him.
George Finlay to Durand. n.d. Asks for renewal of subscription to Revue des deux mondes; orders Mas Latrie on Cyprus, vol. i, pt. 2. (On reverse side is an extract from a memorandum(?) of George Finlay's criticizing Kolettes' policy.)
George Finlay to Ionides. n.d. Desirability of improving postal facilities between England and Greece (incomplete). 3 pp. With an extract from letter of George Finlay deploring breaking of foot of Victory in Acropolis by French marine officers in 1860 and 1861. Discrimination against Elgin unjust.
George Finlay to Librarian of Oxford Debating Society on order of Mr. Newton of B.M. n.d. [in or after 1862 ?]. Asking for payment (if the Union is solvent) of subscription to the newspaper Elpis which he took out on its behalf at request of Mr. Newton. Money to be sent to George Finlay c/o T. Cooke, Rusholme Hall, near Manchester.
George Finlay to Baron Rouen, Ministre plénipotentiaire de France en Grèce. n.d. [?1852]. George Finlay thanks R for his good offices in matter of book lent several years ago to M. le Marquis de Boisguilbert. Thinking this was lost B had sent George Finlay the cost of a replacement, and George Finlay therefore returns present copy (2 copies of draft in French).
Peter Wilhelm Forchhammer to George Finlay. n.d. To introduce Professor Olshausen who is travelling in east Mediterranean. Request for pamphlets. Greetings to Mrs. Finlay and George Finlay's daughter (in German).
Cyril C. Graham to George Finlay. 7 April n.y. Announces his departure for Syria to explore topography of the northern mountains and Canaanite antiquities.
Cyril C. Graham to George Finlay. Athens, 29 December n.y. Regrets could not pay farewell visit. Hopes to send George Finlay his geographical papers but regrets slow communications between Athens and Egypt.
Demetrios Kalliphronas to George Finlay. n.d. Invitation to dinner and to see illuminations in the Botanic Garden (in Greek).
Georgina Muir Mackenzie to George Finlay. Gary Cottage, Perth, Scotland, 24 October n.y. Appreciation of George Finlay's objective point of view in Greek-Turkish dispute. Criticism of support of Turkey against the Christians. Praises Serbian qualities and achievements.
N. A. Miaoulis to George Finlay. n.d. Asks George Finlay to tell Perrons that the Μεθωνη has been ordered to bring him to Origino (?); he is asked to inform the captain if he does not wish to go (in German, Gothic script).
George Middleton to George Finlay. Hotel d'Angleterre. n.d. Asks George Finlay to visit his friend who is ill (Mr. David, Hotel d'Angleterre, pencilled in George Finlay's hand).
Alice Noel to George Finlay. n.d. Frank Noel and the Greek brigand affair.
L. R. Packard to George Finlay. 24 December n.y. Asks George Finlay to lend him Ernst Curtius's book on Piraeus.
Walter Pater to George Finlay. n.d. Regrets George Finlay's toothache. Accepts dinner invitation. With old enclosure.
Andrew A. Paton to George Finlay. Mesolonghi, 4 June n.y. Remarks on political state of Greece.
Sophie Duchesse de Plaisance to George Finlay. n.d. Thanks for gift of George Finlay's essay on state of Greece. Hopes to meet George Finlay (in French). With old enclosure.
Baron A. von Prokesch-Osten to George Finlay. n.d. Proposes to visit grotto of Archidamus [Vari Cave] and desires to borrow C. Wordsworth's work and William M. Leake's work on Attic demes.
Raoul Rochette to George Finlay. 27 May n.y. Asks George Finlay to deliver letter and pamphlet to Prokesch; requests drawing of Aristocles stele by architect Hansen (in French). With old enclosure.
Baron Rouen (Ministre Plénipotentiaire de France en Grèce) to George Finlay. [? 1 September 1852.] Returns book with George Finlay's name found in Legation (in French). With old paper enclosure.
N. Senior to George Finlay. Athens. n.d. Suggests meeting for a walk.
N. Senior to George Finlay. n.d. Leaves Athens. Books lent left with Sir Thomas [Wyse].
N. Senior to George Finlay. Paris, 19 April n.y. To introduce French consul passing through Athens en route for Monastir.
N. Senior to George Finlay. n.d. To introduce his relations Miss Hampden and her two brothers visiting Athens.
James H. Skene to George Finlay. n.d. Asks George Finlay to lend him books on vases and museum catalogues.
James H. Skene to George Finlay. Oxford, 14 November n.y. Requests George Finlay's assistance for the Revd. H. Coxe on his archaeological mission. (Cf. no. 81.)
J. L. Stoddart to George Finlay. Athens, 18 April n.y. Requests delivery of dispatch of Col. Rose to bearer or through Health Office (with visiting card).
John S. Stuart-Glennie to George Finlay. n.d. Proposes to visit Marathon but will be back by 5 p.m.
Sir Charles Trevelyan to George Finlay. Hotel des Etrangers, n.d. [? 1871 or 1872]. Regrets postponement of visit (with 2 cuttings from The Times, 14 November 1871, of letter on 'Indian Mussulmans' by C. E. Trevelyan, taken from Spectator, 12 Dec 1860).
Sir Charles Trevelyan to George Finlay. n.d. Announces time of visit to George Finlay.
David Urquhart to George Finlay. 14 Ledbury Terrace, Bayswater, n.d. [? 1851 or later]. Critical of George Finlay's views on medieval Byzantium and Bulgaria. Urges him to rouse himself to think for himself.
David Urquhart to George Finlay. Pera, 6 January n.y. To introduce Mr. Regaldi.
M. A. Wyly to Mrs. F. n.d. Returns book lent (Dodwell).
Sir Thomas Wyse to George Finlay. n.d. Thanks for present received. Invites George Finlay, Mrs. F, and Miss Grocott to dinner. With old paper enclosure.
G. Knowles to George Finlay. n.d. Accepts invitation to meet George Finlay after bathing in Piraeus.
Letters loose mostly from George Finlay to William M. Leake. See also George Finlay's copy of John Howard Marsden's Memoir of Leake with letters bound in (FIN/GF/A/42.).
1-2 April 1829. Topographical and archaeological notes made while travelling between Mesolonghi and Livadia.
Nottingham Place, London. Athens, 18 October 1833. Details of Gropius's archaeological work on antiquities of Acropolis and old city. Ross's work in Boeotia. Present policy concerning national land. Other land at present on market. George Finlay's property in Attica. Government distribution of land to 'the Captains'. An extract (in Greek) from the Minister of Finance Mavrocordatos defining national property.
n.d. His copy of L's recent work on Morea not yet arrived but has glanced at copy of British Minister at Agos and sends Tzakonian itineraries which seem missing (Argos-Astros-Lenidi-Palaeocastro-Paleomonembasia) with sketch map.
Athens, 20 April 1835. Ross's archaeological activity. Inscriptions found in and near George Finlay's house. Government building in Athens. Col. Gordon is to draw plan of Athens. The Cephissos and the system of irrigation round Athens. George Finlay's views on battle of Marathon and on temple of Egina. Legend of cavern near Kiapha in Morea.