The collection illustrates the history of piracy from the seventeenth to the nineteenth century. It includes a journal of the voyage of Captain Bartholomew Sharp in the MAYFLOWER, 1680 to 1682, kept by his second-in-command, John Cox; it was on this voyage in the Pacific that Sharp captured a Spanish derrotero and the navigational information in it was used in the atlases of William Hack ([1656]-1708). Two letters from Sir Thomas Lynch (1603-?1684), Governor of Jamaica, give many details about measures taken to suppress piracy; the first, written to Sir Leoline Jenkins (1623-1683), Secretary of State, in 1683 relates principally to the interruption by privateers of the sugar trade of the West Indies; the second letter was written in 1683 to the Secretary of State for Northern Affairs, Lord Sunderland (1640-1702), and gives an account of the attack, led by Vanhorne (d.1683), on Vera Cruz. There is a journal and narrative account of the burning of La Trompeuse and other pirates in port at St Thomas's Island by Captain Charles Carlisle (d 1684) in the FRANCIS, 1683, and a collection of documents received by Sir Evan Nepean with some draft replies while Nepean was Governor of Bombay. These are mainly concerned with the expedition against piracy in the Persian Gulf between 1817 and 1819. There are also personal papers of Dr Gosse, which all relate to his publications on piracy.

Manuscript account book kept by John Goodman of Eversholt for the sales of household goods and groceries, 1786-1800. The accounts are arranged under the names of customers and cancelled as they were settled.

Records of Goodhews Limited, brewers, consisting mainly of minutes from the meetings of the directors of Goodhews Limited and later the subsidiary companies of Goodhews (Holdings), Goodhews (Caterers), Goodhews (Inns), Goodhews (Castle Richmond) and the Cromwell Hotel (Stevenage) Limited. There are also papers relating to the formation of the Goodhews Company and the sale of R.V. Goodhews' shares in the 1930s.

Records of Tai Tak Plantations Limited, comprising articles of association, annual reports, and circulars.

Records of Straits Plantations Limited, including articles of association; minute books; annual reports; prospectuses; and out-letters.

Access to records less than 30 years old (or records less than 70 years old which relate to staff) should be sought from Elementis plc (contact details may be obtained from a member of staff).

Records of the Selaba Rubber Estates Limited, including annual reports and circulars to the shareholders.

Records of the Prang Besar Rubber Estate Limited, including articles of association; board minutes; annual reports; circulars to shareholders; report of a visit to the estate; register of rubber crop types; and papers regarding rubber yields.

Access to records less than 30 years old (or records less than 70 years old which relate to staff) should be sought from Elementis plc (contact details may be obtained from a member of staff).

Records of the New Crocodile River (Selangor) Rubber Company Limited, including articles of association; board minutes; annual reports; and circulars to shareholders.

Access to records less than 30 years old (or records less than 70 years old which relate to staff) should be sought from Elementis plc (contact details may be obtained from a member of staff).

Records of the Lumut Rubber Estates Limited, including articles of association, report of a visit to the estates, and circulars to shareholders.

Papers of the Dusun Durian Rubber Estate Limited, comprising reports of visits to the Dusun Durian estates and circulars to shareholders.

Records of Bukit Kajang Rubber Estates Limited, including articles of association; annual reports and circulars to shareholders.

Records of Golden Hope Plantations Limited, rubber estates management, including articles of association; minute books; annual reports; circulars to shareholders; financial accounts; and some papers of subsidiary Coconut Plantations of Perak Limited.

Access to records less than 30 years old (or records less than 70 years old which relate to staff) should be sought from Elementis plc (contact details may be obtained from a member of staff).

The collection falls into two parts; papers relating to the dockyards and those salvaged from the German battleship Baden after she was beached in 1919. The former comprise a page from a Progress of Works register kept in Chatham dockyard, 1734; a 'Scheme of Prices for Performing Shipwrights Work by Job', 1815; a 'Scheme of Prices for Performing Shipwrights Work', 1857; two notebooks with engineering diagrams and drawings kept by students at Portsmouth engineering school, 1883, 1886. The Baden documents consist of eleven items and include a folder containing papers and letters relating to the fitting out of the ship at Danzig, 1916; a Chief Engineer's order book, 1916 to 1918, and three copies of German newspapers, 1919.

Records of the Gibson family, mostly relating to their property and estates, including:

ACC/1045/1-10: Pinner Wood, Shower family property, 1550-1717;
ACC/1045/11-21: Northolt, Islips Manor Farm, Shower family property, 1685-1755;
ACC/1045/22-23: Pinner, Barrowpoint or Berry Pond Hill, 1734;
ACC/1045/24-25: Pinner Street, cottage, 1691;
ACC/1045/26-48: Pinner, Brickwall House, 1664-1762;
ACC/1045/49-105: Pinner, Page family properties, 1664-1723;
ACC/1045/106-111: Pinner, Edlin family properties, 1692-1724.
ACC/1045/112-113: Hendon, Bunns Farm, 1733-1739;
ACC/1045/114: Heston, Upper Grove Meadow, 1750;
ACC/1045/116-117: St. James Westminster, Rupert St., 1736-1743;
ACC/1045/118: St. Paul Covent Garden, Bow St., 1683;
ACC/1045/119-121: Kent, Darenth, 1636-1653;
ACC/1045/122: Kent, West Malling, 1701;
ACC/1045/123-136: Shower and Gibson family wills and settlements, 1701-1797;
ACC/1045/137-140: Stanton family wills and settlements, 1713-1739;
ACC/1045/141-143: Articles of partnership, 1706-1758;
ACC/1045/144-148: Accounts, 1710-1747;
ACC/1045/149-153: Papers of Richard Stanton, 1718-1748;
ACC/1045/154-178: Papers of the Revd. John Gibson, 1740-1762;
ACC/1045/179-181: Miscellaneous items, 1677-1744.

Records of George White and Company, tea and rubber brokers, comprising ledgers.

Records of George Raggett and Sons Limited, brewers, including Directors' and general meeting minutes; certificate of incorporation; correspondence related to balance sheets, accounts and liquidation and private ledger.

Ledger of George Nicholas and Son, wine merchants.

Records of George Barber and Son Limited, printers, consisting of ledgers and cash books, as well as letterbooks. The records are held offsite, and therefore require 24 hours notice for access.

Records of the Department of Geology of Imperial College, 1876-1996, including histories and notes on the department, [1851]-1996; papers relating to courses, 1878-1949, comprising notes, 1896-1942, including laboratory work, 1878-1883; courses for teachers, 1895-1908; lectures and addresses by Professor Herbert Harold Read, 1942-1949; Rectors' correspondence, 1955-1981, concerning grants, headship, transfer of the department, courses; newletters, 1969-1995; research report, 1988; papers of Professors' and Heads of Sections' Meetings, 1969-1988; papers of historical interest accumulated by the department, 1876-1964, including Professorial correspondence, 1876-1916; departmental reports, 1907-1930; financial papers, 1906-1936; war work, 1914-1919; papers of Professor Percy George Hamnall Boswell, 1932-1960; Professor Charles Gilbert Cullis, 1923-1937; Professor Herbert Harold Read, 1944-1964 (KG);
papers relating to Geochemistry, concerning the opening of new laboratories, 1956; Wolfson Foundation grant, 1978 (KGC); items from the Murchison Museum, [1773-1825] (KGM); papers relating to Geophysics, including correspondence with the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and the Royal Society concerning the foundation of a postgraduate school, 1929-1943; leaflet, 1956 (KGP3); papers relating to Oil Technology (KGO).

General records relating to the supply of gas, 1825-1948, collected by the North Thames Gas Board and predecessor companies. Includes draft Parliamentary reports leading up to the Act for better regulating the supply of gas to the metropolis, 1860; minutes of weekly meetings of a Committee of Chairmen of the Metropolitan Gas Companies in connection with the Parliamentary Committee inquiring into the Metropolis Gas Act, 1860; Bill and relevant papers concerning the proposed amalgamation of all or some of the metropolitan gas companies; drafts, petitions and briefs concerning the London Corporation Gas Bill; report from the Board of Trade on the current Railway, Tramway, Gas and Water Bills, 1870; Gas and Water Facilities Bill, 1870; press cuttings; statistical information about gas companies, 1865.

Also papers relating to individual gas companies including Bill to establish a company for illuminating London and Westminster with oil gas (the London and Westminster Oil Gas Company), 1825; minutes of evidence before the House of Lords' select committee on the Phoenix Gas Bill, 1864; half yearly reports and accounts submitted by the Directors of the Phoenix Gas Light and Coke Co. to the Proprietors; Bills and Acts affecting the powers of the South Metropolitan Gas Light and Coke Company; Bill amending powers of the Surrey Consumers' Gas Light and Coke Association; annual reports and accounts submitted by the Directors of the Surrey Consumers' Gas Company to the Shareholders.

Records of General Apothecaries Co. Ltd including abstract of the deed of settlement of the Company; minute books, 1860-1942; share certificate books, 1856-1948; annual reports and balance sheets, 1882-1945 and miscellaneous papers, 1889-1951.

Papers of William Gelder including letters from Gelder to his parents in Wakefield, while a dispensing and visiting assistant to [R Lucie] Reed, surgeon, at Whitechapel Road, London, Mar-Nov 1832, and while in Edinburgh in the employ of Mr Cope, a wholesale, retail and manufacturing chemist and druggist, Mar-Aug 1834. Notebook begun by Gelder in Edinburgh in 1834, and continued on a tour through Lancashire, the Isle of Man, Ireland and Wales in 1835, and in trade in Yorkshire, 1836-1837. Containing verses, commonplaces, orders for medicines and other goods, and miscellaneous notes. Signature inside front cover, 'William Gelder, Apothecaries' Hall, Edinbro, 1834.' On the rear end-papers is a coloured engraving of Apothecaries Hall.

Manuscript copy of the Charter of incorporation granted to the Gas, Light and Coke Company by King George III, dated 30 April, [1812].

Records of Garden Reach Spinning and Manufacturing Company Limited, comprising board meeting minutes.

Records of the Gan Kee Rubber Estates Limited, comprising circulars to shareholders and annual reports.

Records of Gabriel, Wade and English Limited, timber importers and merchants, including annual reports, financial accounts, sales ledgers and daybook, records of timber imported, property deeds, and photographs of tree-felling, logging and timber constructions.

Records of George Jesse Dawson and his son Percy George Dawson, antique clock case makers and restorers. The records comprise job books and accounts.

Records of R.F. Fuggle Limited consisting of employment agreements, an underlease and correspondence, 1924-1928.

Manuscript volume containing information relating to the finances of France, [1757]-1766, namely a report on the actual state of affairs concerning the finances of the kingdom of France, 1766, including the revenues and expenditure of the king, the extraordinary transactions in France from 1755 to 1763 due to the war against the English, and annual transactions made in the kingdom in favour of the Court of Rome, bishops, dukes, counts and peers; a report giving particulars of the general and specific financial schemes of France, with political observations, 1766; a report on the actual state of the secret and general finances of France and of the organisation of those finances, [1757]; a printed pamphlet by John Holker, being an instructive memoir on the fabric and other woollen goods of England, published in Paris, 1764.

Records of Frederick Leney & Sons, brewers, consisting of printed reports and balance sheets for the period of 1925 to 1959.

This series contains reports concerning the acquisition of Thomas Tilling Limited's bus undertakings by the Board including details of the operation of bus garages and services, comparisons of operating costs and the valuation of the companies.

This series contains memoranda and extracts from minutes concerning the construction of new garages, the installation of new equipment and the extension of existing garages.

Records of Forest Hill Brewery Company Limited, including corporate minutes and registers, share certificates, accounts, trade books and property ledgers.

Records of Fisons (Ceylon) Limited, manufacturer of agricultural chemical products, comprising papers relating to business arrangements with Harrisons and Crosfield Limited.

Records of Fine Chemicals of Canada Limited, comprising correspondence regarding Dillons Chemical Company Limited.

Typescript copy of the memoirs of Harry Gooding Field entitled 'Adventures in Finance', 21 Oct 1942, detailing his accountancy career working in Canada, the United States, Malaysia and Singapore, with copies of birth, marriage and death certificate and other official documents relating to Harry Gooding Field.

Papers of George Field, comprising photographs and colour slides of five notebooks, [1804-1825], covering all aspects of colour making.

Account books, 1807-1827, of John Ferguson's textile manufacturing company, Robert Ferguson & Son.

Records of Fennings Pharmaceuticals, 1830s-1990s, comprising corporate records, 1906-1957; accounts and other financial records, 1900-1993; marketing and public relations records, 1845-1988; legal records, 1866-1970; personnel records, 1910-1980; recipes, mid 19th century; personalia, mid 19th century-late 20th century; records of premises, mid-late 20th century; records on production, manufacture and licensing of medicines, 1951-1994.

Records of Farnham United Breweries Limited, including Directors' meeting minute books; press cuttings; agenda book; lists of properties purchased; financial accounts; registers of mortgages and probates; register of sealing.

Notebook entitled 'Glass Furnace Notebook. Royal Institution' in Michael Faraday's hand.

Records of J W Falkner and Sons Limited, 1893-1982. This collection consists of administrative material including office files and correspondence (1902-1963); financial records including ledgers, cash books and accounts (1893-1964); and plans and files relating to the various commissions the company undertook (1893-1968).

Records of Falk Stadelmann and Company Limited, manufacturers of heating and lighting equipment, 1887-1980. The records include minute books, resolutions/declarations, reports/accounts, registers, letter books, ledgers, catalogues and brochures, journals and newsletters, historical notes, memorandum and articles of association/related papers, a signature book, and annual returns.

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.

Prescription books from 16 Jun 1745-25 Dec 1747 and 12 Nov1768-30 Nov 1769. The second volume contains entries for medicines prescribed for the Duke of Wellington, who was born at Mornington House, 24 Upper Merrion Street, Dublin on April 29, 1769. On the outside of the upper cover is a slip dated 17/8/1899, which states that the original earliest entry in the volume for 30 April 1769 has been cut out and framed for display in the shop at 49 Dawson Street, Dublin: another dated July 2 has also been cut out and 'given to Fielding Ould [?] Esqre' (i.e. Sir Fielding Ould, Dublin obstetrician, 1710-89). This manuscript still contains entries for the Countess of Mornington 2 May; 'Lord Mornington's young child', 4 May; 'The Countess of Mornington, the young child' 16 May; 'Lady Mornington, Master Frank Wesley, Young son', 25 May; 'The Hon. Master Arthur Wesley', 17 June. This last entry is also found for 2 July, 3 July, 6 July. According to the notice in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Wellington used the form 'Wesley' for his name until 1798. Produced in Dublin.

Records of the Equitable Gas Light and Coke Company, including endorsement to be made on the deed of settlement, 1835; supplemental deed of settlement, 1838; certificate of formal registration of the company, 1844; reports of the Company's Directors; papers relating to legal proceedings and lawsuits; correspondence; agreements and contracts; papers relating to premises owned by the Company in Kensington, Westminster, Pimlico and Chelsea.

Records of the Equitable Gas Light and Coke Company, 1831-1949, including minutes of Director's meetings; minutes of shareholder meetings; minutes of Committee of Works; minutes of Committee of Accounts and General Purposes; minutes of the Conference of representatives from the Equitable, London and Chartered Gas Light Companies; deed of settlement; site plan of gasworks; legal case papers and press cuttings.

Records of the The Empire Stone Works, consisting of rolled plans, 1950-1990, from the Drawing Office at Narborough. Among the buildings with which the company was involved are: Battersea Park Pagoda, British Museum, Ford Factory Dagenham, Bank of England, Haberdasher's Hall, Westminster Abbey, Royal Ballet School, Royal Free Hospital and Kingston Power Station.

Papers of Sir Alfred Egerton, 1908-1958, comprising research papers, notes and reports largely relating to explosives, manufacture of ammonia and hydrogen, [1916-1925], laboratory work at Oxford, 1919-1926, work for the Admiralty, 1940-[1950], papers relating to patents, 1928-1958; research notebooks, 1908-1937, including some correspondence and notably concerning vapour pressure of metals, amides of metals, residual gases in discharge tubes; lecture notes concerning combustion; papers on optical pyrometry, 1933-1938; correspondence and papers relating to research on the properties of steam, steam tables, international conferences on steam, 1930-1946.

Correspondence, lecture notes, subject files, personal papers and other documents belonging to Sir Ronald Edwards, [1920-1980]. Includes papers of, or relating to: Accounting Research Association, 1935-1937; Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Advisory Council papers, including the Industrial Grants Committee and various Industrial Research Associations; University Grants Committee (late 1950s-1964); British Leyland, 1975-1976.