Business and estate papers of Hart, Hart and Company, including copy of co- partnership agreement between Lemon Hart and Jacob Hart, both from Penzance, Cornwall.

Order book of Stephen Jackson, wine and spirit merchant.

Records of the Worshipful Company of Distillers, 1638-1978. Records include registers of freedom admissions from 1638 and list of apprentices from 1659 as well as charters; ordinances; Court minute books; Court and livery lists; financial accounts; legal papers; photographs; inventories and deeds relating to property on Upper Thames Street.

Please note: Access to Ms 06203-35A, 10808, 18873, 32941-59 is restricted.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING ACCESS: These records are stored at the Guildhall Library site rather than the LMA Clerkenwell site. Researchers wishing to access these records should do so at the Guildhall Library Rare Books table. The Library is open Monday to Saturday, 9:30 to 16:45. Researchers will need to have an Archives History Card or a Library Readers Card. An archivist will be available at Guildhall Library on Thursday mornings to answer any queries.

The records of Benjamin Slowman, merchant, comprise an order book 1835-42; bought ledger, cash book and vouchers 1820-50; business correspondence 1823-51; and a release regarding the estate of Moses Lewvy, 1848.

Personal papers of James Barr, employee of Trumans Ltd, including Transport and General Workers Union cards and papers, Truman's Sports Club rules and fixture lists, and papers relating to the company including redundancy scheme, annual excursions, regulations and agreements, 1939-1989; handbooks, programmes, rules, fixture lists and posters for the London Breweries Amateur Sports Association and the Highgate Harriers Athletic Club, 1951-1979; issues of company publications including 'The Black Eagle', the 'Truman Times', '1666', 'Truman News', 'Truman Topics', 'Watney Truman News' and 'Stag and Eagle' (Watney Combe Reid publication), 1948-1989; annual reports and pension scheme information, 1977-1989; and issues of 'The Master Brewer' and 'The National Brewery Museum Chronicle', 1968-1986.

Records of the Institute of Masters of Wine, comprising minute book of the Education Committee, correspondence and cartoons depicting wine tastings.

Holograph manuscripts of publications by Joseph von Schneller, notes, and some material by other persons collected by von Schneller, 1837-1885.

The Charles Hasler collection is comprised of printed ephemera, including greetings cards, cigarette cards, journals, invitations, books, exhibition catalogues, sales catalogues, prints, packaging, articles, books, business records, photographs, photocopies, manuscripts, slides, colour transparencies, newspaper clippings and journals and trade literature. There are also defined groupings of material, including designs and artwork, which usually relate to specific projects including: typography (contemporary and historical; particularly monotype), printing techniques (particularly colour), transport, Greenwich, architecture, wine, fashion, watercolour painting, book binding and photography. In addition, the collection includes material from the Ministry of Information campaigns during World War Two, including "Dig for Victory" and "Careless Talk Costs Lives" and material relating to the Festival of Britain, 1951.

Letter from Sir Benjamin Thompson of Munich to Lord Sheffield [John Baker Holroyd, 1st Earl of Sheffield], 18 Nov 1791. Describing the condition and people of Bavaria. Speaking of the Elector's troops: '... I know of no Troops that are so well and so comfortably clothed as ours, both for Summer and Winter ...'. Giving details of the crops, minerals and commerce of Bavaria. 'It would be difficult,'he writes, 'to convey to your Lordship an adequate idea of the Ignorance, Superstition and corruption which pervade and darken every part of this neglected Country.' Says that the clergy and nobility hold a monopoly of the beer in Bavaria: '... which is the great source of their riches, and on that account Drunkenness must be encouraged.'

Autograph, with signature.

Papers of John Ferguson CMG, Assistant Editor, later Proprietor and Editor of the Ceylon Observer 1861-1913, and member of the Legislative Council for Ceylon 1903-1908; also some of his uncle Alastair Mackenzie Ferguson CMG, Assistant Editor, later Proprietor and Editor of the Ceylon Observer 1846-1893; including correspondence and papers relating to the Ceylon Observer, the Handbook and Directory of Ceylon, and the Tropical Agriculturalist, 1874-1911; correspondence, papers and press cutting relating to railways in Ceylon, 1867-1912; papers on coffee, tea, coconut and other planting trades in Ceylon, c1858-1895; correspondence and papers relating to the governors and governance of Ceylon, including correspondence with Sir (Joseph) West Ridgeway, 1898-1913 and Sir Henry McCallum, 1908-1913, correspondence, press cuttings and papers on the Ceylon Legislative Council and other political matters, 1895-1912; papers on the award of the CMG, 1899-1910; papers on religious matters relating to Ceylon, including letters on missionary work, the Salvation Army, and on Buddist temporalities; papers on John Ferguson's visits and lecture tours , 1878-1910; personal and family papers, 1895-1913; correspondence and papers of Alastair Mackenzie (AM) Ferguson, 1850-1893; correspondence and papers on the Royal Asiatic Society, 1859-1912.

Copies of articles written in the 18th century:

1. 'The Natural History of Tea', beginning: 'Tea, which throws some people into vapours, affects their complexion...'. The article cites as authorities 'Dr. Waldsmith' [Johannes Waldschmid?], and 'Dr. Hermenane', and refers to directions for making tea 'on pp.123, 124, and 161 on the first volume of this magazine'.
2. 'Historical and Medical Observations on Sugar', beginning: 'Sugar was originally the product of the East Indies'.

The Antisemitic Biersteins papers, 1990s, include descriptions of the tankards from experts at museums in Frankfurt and Munich; photographs of the tankards; correspondence between Wiener Library staff and various institutions regarding the tankards.

Manuscript volume concerning the fraudulent activities of maltsters and distillers, [1860], including tables of inspections made by postmasters in Kingston and Surbiton Common, London, from 1838 to 1844, investigating frauds by distillers, with reports on hypothetical cases of fraud, one dated 1861, and what appear to be copies of answers to examination questions. This section includes printed Regulations respecting the entry of premises subject to the survey of the excise (Excise Office, London, 1835). Inserted are a number of loose sheets, 1859-1865, including a lists of examination questions on the control of disilleries which were set in an examination at Somerset House, notes on duties and law relating to the Excise, as well as a letter from J Williams dated 31 Jan 1863 and giving 'the particulars of the late examination'.

Brief for the trial of John Hatch and David Boyce, dealers in foreign and British spirits at Averstoake in the county of Southampton, [1723], headed 'For the Attorney General...Information for the 10s. per gallon penalty for not keeping British spirits seperate [sic] from foreign brandy', and endorsed with the signatures of Sir Thomas Pengelly, Chief Baron of the Exchequer, and J. White, solicitor, and with the words 'To attend Mr. Justice [Alexander] Denton upon the point reserved. Ellis Solicitor for the Excise. For Sir Thomas Pengelly'. The dealers had been accused of mixing foreign and British spirits to avoid the customs: '...the said dealers kept in their warehouses and storehouses great numbers of caskes both of foreign brandy and of British spirits, which they industriously laid and placed in the most confused and disorderly manner they could contrive, on purpose to perplex and confound the officers...'.

Manuscript account book kept by a wine merchant at Saumur (Maine-et-Loire), recording purchases of wine from farmers and proprietors in the Loire Valley, mostly for the period 1781-1793, but continuing up to 1812. The accounts are written in French, by several scribes (one of whom identifies himself as Tessie Boilesve, [1800]). Certain purchases, after 1800, are made 'pour la Flandre', 'pour la mer' and 'pour l'etranger'.

Papers, 1881-1891, of Donald James Mackay, 11th Baron Reay, as Governor of Bombay, comprising correspondence, memoranda, petitions and other papers, 1884-1889 and undated, on A'bkari administration (a system of licences for the distillation and sale of spirits in Bombay); correspondence, memoranda, minutes, reports and other papers, 1881-1891 and undated, relating to military and naval subjects; correspondence, memoranda, minutes and reports, 1885-1890 and undated, on education; correspondence and other papers, 1881-1891 and undated, on agriculture; correspondence and other papers, 1884-1889 and undated, on sanitation and water works; correspondence and papers, 1884-1891 and undated, on various other subjects including administration, hospitals, irrigation, railways and finance; addresses of welcome to Lord Reay, 1886-1890 and undated; a drawing of Bombay harbour and accompanying manuscript plan, undated; manuscript map of Karachi Harbour Board, 1887.

Records of Stowells and Sons, wine and spirits merchants, comprising a range of company records from 1845 to 1976 including records covering corporate and financial business, sales and production, staff, property and advertising, as well as records from companies acquired by Stowells from the 1930s onwards including Ellis, Wilson and Bacon Limited, Findlater, Mackie and Company Limited, E. Robins and Sons Limited and Apain and Albury Limited.

Production records of Barclay Perkins and Company Limited, including Bottling Department Committee minutes; brewing books; ale brewing books; lager brewing books; summaries of beer gyles (a gyle is the quantity of beer or ale brewed at one time); financial calculations relating to the cost of brewing; sugar and caramel books; stock records; papers relating to the production of lager including laboratory test results and complaint book; plans; and brewers' records.

Sales records of Harmans Uxbridge Brewery Limited, including papers relating to beer sales; sales summary sheets; sales journals; records of free trade and tied trade; records regarding wines and spirits; customer accounts; sales representatives expenses and sales records; stock and debt books; Building Department stock lists; price lists; papers relating to lager sales.

Records of William Coare (d 1830), wine and brandy merchant, including Coare's apprenticeship indenture and freedom of the City of London; sales ledger; bonds for money owed to Coare; lists of stock and inventories; correspondence; and legal papers.

Records of William Coates and Company, wine merchants, consisting of order and voucher books and a book of tables.

Three volumes of handwritten notebooks entitled, The London and Surburban Coffee-Houses, Taverns and Inns of the Eighteenth Century by J.Paul de Castro, listing the names of coffee-houses, taverns and inns with the book or newspaper in which they were referenced (n.d.); typescript list, Inns mentioned in the Journal of Martin Bere, from an article by Martin A.S.Hume in the Gentleman's Magazine, November 1891 (1p) (n.d.); typescript list, List of Taverns held by Members of the Company of Vintners, 1641 to Ambrose Head from C.W.F.Goss (10pp) (31 October 1932); letter from G.A.Tomlin regarding a letter in The Times about the signs for inns and shops (2pp) (28 August 1936).

Records of Cave Austin and Company Limited kept by the Stamp Family, comprising director’s report and printed material including Christmas brochures issued to staff, articles and event material. The survival of other records is unknown.

The records comprise deeds and legal, administrative and financial papers relating to the Castle Wemyss Estate, Jamaica, 1802-1845, belonging (during the period covered by the papers) successively to Gilbert Mathison, Simon Halliday and Rev Walter Stevenson Halliday. The deeds and legal papers record the ownership of the estate and financial claims upon it by other parties, as well as compensation claims under the Abolition Act. They include the title deeds to the estate 1802-1845; together with correspondence and other papers concerning financial claims upon it (particularly an annuity payable to Catherine Mathison, widow of Gilbert) 1830-1845, compensation payable under the Abolition Act 1834-1835, and the fate of the estate in 1843-1845 when it was no longer viable financially.
The administrative and financial papers illustrate the management of a West Indian sugar estate by attorneys on behalf of absentee landlords, and the process of shipping the sugar and rum produced back to London for sale by a firm of merchants. A fairly complete series of correspondence between Simon Halliday and his attorneys and merchants survives for the period 1823-1828, giving many details of the practical problems of managing a sugar estate and of ensuring an adequate performance by the attorneys. There are many reports on the progress of crops, as well as references to maintenance work required, the need for new cattle (a continuing problem on the Castle Wemyss estate) and the work and health of the slaves. There is further detailed information on the slaves in a series of returns; in addition there are lists of them in the title deeds to the estate after 1807 (following the abolition of the slave trade). There are references to specific events involving the slaves in the correspondence and/or the returns: for example, the case of Catalina alias Susannah Mathison who induced an abortion by taking Vervain and Contrayerva in 1824; and allegations of mistreatment of the slaves by one of the overseers, in 1827.
The correspondence of 1823-1828 also includes letters between Halliday and the firms of merchants he used in London to sell his produce. The state of the sugar and rum markets are regularly discussed, and both attorneys and merchants report on the despatch and receipt of shipments of sugar and rum, on which the successful running of the estate depended. There is one instance of a ship being wrecked and part of the cargo lost.There are also financial accounts, both of the attorneys and of the merchants, which illustrate the returns and financial problems of the estate.

Manuscript volume containing a statement of the revenue managed by the Commissioners of Excise, 1662-1713, including an account of the numbers of common brewers, victuallers and distillers in England, Wales and Berwick, and the quantities of exciseable liquors made and imported by them. Includes a statement of parliamentary appropriations from the excise revenue.

Manuscript essay entitled 'On the influence upon health of alcoholic Drinks as an article of Diet including the consideration whether any quantity of any kind be necessary for the maintenance of health in those who are engaged in laborious occupations'. The title-page is dated January 1st 1837 and the conclusion is dated December 31st 1836.

Records, 1909-1932, of Serdang Central Plantations Ltd, comprising Articles of Association, correspondence, annual reports and agreements relating to the voluntary liquidation and reconstruction.

Papers, 1890-1987, of Melvin Perlman, comprising correspondence; research data gathered during 1959-1962 for his study on Toro marriages in Uganda; data gathered for his research on Tea Estate Workers in Uganda; and his articles and lectures.