The papers in the Museum relate to the Henleys' shipping and other commercial interests between 1771 and 1830. From about 1784, when Joseph seems to have taken charge, the records become fairly systematic and the 'ships' collections' begin. Most of the 109 wooden boxes (now replaced) related to individual ships, but 24 related to general matters. A small number of the ships were owned jointly with someone outside the family, usually the master; only one seems to have been divided into sixteenths. The bulk of the collection consists of ships' boxes, containing correspondence from masters, agents, brokers, merchants, government boards and sailors and their families. Masters' voyage accounts and vouchers have nearly always survived from 1784 on onward, together with some Articles of Agreement, portage bills, crew lists and wages and receipts; sometimes, and especially during the last decade of the eighteenth and the first decade of the nineteenth centuries, memoranda books were kept detailing Henleys' own expenditure on ships; and papers relating to freights including Charter Parties, Bills of Lading, manifests, protections, customs documents, freight and brokers' accounts were often retained. 'Transport papers', relating to voyages under charter to the Government, include agents' orders and certificates, individual orders and receipts for victualling ships, and forms with details of troops victualled. The subjects range over every aspect of the employment of the ship, including building, maintaining, victualling and manning, the process of chartering or seeking cargoes, and the convoys in which she sailed. The general boxes contained books with accounts, receipts, memoranda and lists covering all Henleys' activities and are the main source of information for the early years from ca.1771. There are detailed records of their activities as coal merchants, especially for the last years of the eighteenth century; there is a continuous series of cash books, 1807 to 1824, with various 'weekly expense' books and petty cash books kept by individual clerks. The Henleys ran their own sail loft and there is a run of account books from 1813 to 1824, in addition to material covering other years. The rest of the general boxes contained papers on other aspects of their activities: boxes of loose receipts covering business and domestic expenditure, a box relating to the premises at Wapping containing correspondence about leases, building and repairs, with detailed receipts for building and rebuilding the Henleys' three houses, counting house and warehouse; boxes with accounts, receipts and correspondence relating to shipping matters generally and sometimes to particular ships or groups of ships. At different times it was the practice to keep freight papers separate from ships' papers. There were four boxes relating to the supply of coal to government departments, particularly the dockyards and the Ordnance Board, 1790 to 1802 and 1807 to 1820. There were three boxes of correspondence and accounts reflecting the activities of James Kirton, 1800 to 1825; he had been successively carpenter, mate and master in Henley ships from the earliest years and set up as a shipowner and agent in Newcastle at the turn of the century. There is also correspondence with agents in other places.

This category includes single documents concerned with particular events relating to merchant shipping. Among the six items are an account by a passenger of an eventful voyage in 1829 in the ISAAC HICKS from Liverpool to New York; and a small diary of a voyage in a deep-sea trawler, the BELGAUM of Grimsby, in 1964.

Papers of Captain Henry George Hamilton, consisting of official service documents, letters to his family, 1822 to 1830, and from Australia, 1839 to 1843.

Papers of Adml Sir Frederick Tower Hamilton, consisting of logs, 1870 to 1872, 1877 to 1881, 1885 and 1915 to 1916, and semi-official letters received, 1914 to 1917, including some from Admirals Lord Fisher (1841-1920), Jellicoe (1859-1935), Beatty (1871-1936), Sir Charles Madden and Prince Louis of Battenburg (1854-1921). In addition, there is detailed material on the resignation of Lord Fisher in 1915. There are also a large number of private papers and letters received, 1889 to 1917, letters to his son Louis Henry Keppel Hamilton, 1906 to 1915, scrap and photograph albums, official service documents, notes on manoeuvering the HOOD, 1893 to 1894, and reports and memoranda, 1917.

Papers of Sir Louis Henry Keppel Hamiltom. The diaries cover most of his career and all periods afloat from 1908 to 1928. There are also diaries for journeys in the merchant ships Lagos, 1915, and in the Usaramo to Lisbon in 1924. In addition there are official reports and signals for the time when Hamilton commanded the First Cruiser Squadron and a very full collection of letters written by him to his family, 1906 to 1956. There are also photograph albums of Osborne and Dartmouth, 1903 to1907 of the Durbar, 1911, and of other periods in Hamilton's life. Finally, there are lecture notes and memoranda from Dartmouth, 1922 to 1924, and papers relating to Australia, 1947.

Papers of Sir Henry Keppel, consisting of logs, 1824 to 1825, 1830 to 1831, 1834 to 1835, 1842 to 1845, 1847 to 1851, 1853 to 1857, 1860 to 1861; private journals, 1867 to 1869; annual diaries, 1834 to 1838, 1842 to 1844, 1855 to 1857, 1867 to 1869; private letterbooks, 1867 to 1869, 1874 to 1875 and loose papers. These are mainly letters received, 1841 to 1900, the bulk of which date from 1870. Of the two groups of Keppel's letters to his family, one covers the Crimean War and the other his tour of the Far East, 1897 to 1900.

Papers of London and Rochester Trading Company Ltd., comprising the company's financial and business records including contract agreements for ship specifications for the building of company barges, bills of sale for various barges, general arrangement plans and miscellaneous material re: company's lease arrangements and other business records.

General Records: This group contains a large vellum-bound volume of Spanish diplomatic papers, mainly dating between 1603 and 1672, but with a section dealing with the Armada, 1587 to 1588; two English documents relating to the expedition to Cadiz, 1596; an enquiry into the loss of ships in the convoy guarded by Sir George Rooke (1650-1709) and the Streights Squadron, 1693; a gathering of Italian papers relating to the capitulation of Malta, 1799 to 1807. There are also a number of items relating to Lord Nelson and his family, 1805 to 1845. (PHB/: PHB/P: 2 vols: 3 items) Merchant Shipping Records: relating to merchant shipping, including the journal of the Blackham on a voyage to Constantinople, 1696 to 1698; the log of H.E.I.C.S. Ceres, 1743 to 1745; of H.E.I.C.S. Wager, 1745 to 1746; and an account in verse of H.E.I.C.S. Ceres, 1812 to 1814, on a voyage to China. There is also a memorial of 1774 by a Harwich pilot to the Treasury, seeking to establish an excise cutter there. Among the documents are Bills of Sale, 1651, 1695, 1775; Letters of Marque, 1780, 1799. (PHB/: PLA/P: 4 vols: 12 items) Royal Navy: Administration: This group consists of nineteen volumes and four documents relating to the administration of the Navy. It includes the naval accounts from 1422 to 1427 of William Soper (fl.1410-1459), Clerk of the King¹s ships; a list of ships' stores 'wasted' in the Prymrose after the Rochelle expedition, 1573; a volume of the records collected by Sir Robert Cotton (1571-1631), the antiquarian and collector, containing summaries of papers on naval matters and defence from the time of Henry III to Elizabeth I; a copy, dated 1638, of the first 'Discourse of the Navy of England' by John Hollond (fl 1624-1659); regulations for the Ordnance Office, 1683; an account, written by a clerk, of the dispute between Samuel Pepys and Colonel Middleton (d 1672) about the importation of cottons and kerseys, 1667 to 1668; two lists of official documents transferred by Pepys to his successor on leaving the Admiralty, 1689; two volumes of Navy Board orders to Deptford and Woolwich dockyards, 1644 to 1722; and eleven volumes of papers, bound by Phillipps in no particular order, relating to general administrative matters, including sea-men's pay, 1711 to 1790; however, among these papers are three letters from Vice-Admiral Benbow (1653-1702) written from Jamaica, 1699. Finally, there are a number of lists; of Admiralty Commissioners, 1673 to 1782; of ships, 1625 to 1636, 1705, 1706 to 1745, and of foreign navies, 1755 to 1778 (PLA/: PLA/P: 2 1/2ft: 76cm) Royal Navy: Law and Prize Money: This group consists of a volume, 1658 to 1673, containing a collection of sentences and decrees made at the Court of Admiralty; a volume of 1685 chiefly concerning the powers and rights of the Lord High Admiral, with an abstract of the judgements of Oleron, translated from the French; a further seventeenth-century volume concerning maritime customs and law from the time of Henry III; a French treatise of maritime law, 1690; a volume containing bound letters from senior naval officers expressing their opinion on the prize money dispute between Lord Nelson (q.v.) and Lord St Vincent (q.v.), 1801 to 1802; vindication of the conduct of Surgeon D.T. McCarthy, court-martialled 2 lines 1 field in 1804.

Merchant Shipping: Signal Books and Signals including a Vane List c 1810 and a pendant board of the same date.

Of the twelve volumes in this class, two relate to the society of East India Commanders; one, 1780 to 1833, records wagers between members and promises of gifts to the society upon such eventualities as marriage or leaving the service; the other is an account book, 1825 to 1879. The remaining eight volumes are 'Elements of Navigation' by pupils of Christ's Hospital Mathematical School; the earliest is dated 1723 and the latest is c 1845. All are very carefully executed and the subjects include arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, gunnery and navigation; the majority are illustrated with diagrams, maps, pen and ink sketches or watercolours.

Papers of Shaw Savill and Albion Co Ltd. The bulk of the correspondence files belong to the period 1947 to 1965, although the earliest paper is dated 1924. They are concerned with the building and trials of new vessels, ships in service, standard freight rates and routine instructions to masters. There are summaries of passage money and numbers of passengers, 1900 to 1946; analyses of passage money, outward, 1946 to 1960, 1970 to 1972; passage money, homeward, 1965 to 1968. the records cover chartered vessels as well as the Company's own ships. (Although there is some information about individual passengers, this is not a complete record of passengers carried: more comprehensive lists can be found in the passenger lists in the Board of Trade records at the Public Record Office.). In 1969 a series of refrigerator and engine logs, 1956 to 1962, were deposited as well as deck logs, 1944 to 1965.

Papers of South Western Steam Packet Company. They include Deeds of Settlement (later known as Articles of Association) of the Commercial Steam Packet Company, 1835 to 1837; the South Western Steam Packet Company, 1843; and the New South Western Steam Navigation Company, 1846. These documents give lists of shareholders and their occupations. There is a minute book covering shareholders' meetings of the South Western Company, 1842 to 1845; notices to shareholders and reports of the Commercial and South Western Steam Packet Companies, the New South Western and the London and South Western Railway, 1838 to 1847; mortgage deeds, Bills of Sale and Certificates of Sale. Of technical interest are two contracts of 1855 for a wrought iron steam vessel and a set of engines, and a 'Return of Rolling Stock owned by English, Welsh and Scotch Railway Companies', 1883.

Collection of bills, advertisements and letters relating to various London businesses, particularly shipping and photographic services.

Papers relating to Weston's career, 1916- 1945, including manuscript notes by Weston entitled 'Some notes on the discipline of Imperial troops in convoy on HM Transport LLANSTEPHAN CASTLE from Durban to Suez', 1941; notebook containing manuscript 'Standing orders for POWs', 1943; typescript report on the sinking of the EMPRESS OF CANADA, 1943; typescript instructions and duties of Draft Conducting Officers on board troopships [1943]; typescript memorandum by Weston on the co-ordination of Movement Control in South Africa, 1944, with typescript reports on officers attached to Imperial Movement Control, South Africa (IMPCON), 1944; printed material including memorandum on the German attack near Givenchy, Western Front, 1918, with printed map annotated with dispositions of German 4 Ersatz Div during attack north of Cuinchy, France, 9 Apr 1918, scale 1: 10, 000; trench map entitled France. Sheet 57D SE. Edition 3A, scale 1:20,000 (GSGS 2742, 1916), annotated with features near La Boisselle, Pozieres and Courcelette, Battle of the Somme, 1916, Field Service Pocket Book, Orders and intercommunication (HMSO, London, 1939), Rifle Drill illustrated (Gale and Polden, Aldershot, 1940), Restricted War Office booklet 'Standing instructions for Officers Commanding units and drafts ordered overseas', 1943.

Records of Bulkships Limited, comprising articles of association.

Records of Gray, Dawes and Company, general merchants and agents, including partnership deeds; articles of association; correspondence; memoranda; financial accounts; papers relating to investments; papers of the insurance department; papers of the inward freight department; papers regarding the British India Steam Navigation Company Limited; and secretarial papers.

Kilburn, Brown and Company Limited records comprise: partnership deeds and agreement, 1943-59 (Ms 27775-6); accounts, 1938-66 (Ms 27777-81); and correspondence, 1947-60 (Ms 27782).

Records of Macneill and Barry Limited, general merchants and agents of Calcutta, India, comprising: records of Macneill and Company, 1908-67 (Ms 27851-63); Barry and Company, 1883-1944 (Ms 27864-73); Macneill and Barry Limited, 1905-78 (Ms 27874-86); Kilburn and Company Limited, 1942-65 (Ms 27887-91); Kilburn Properties Limited, 1960-5 (Ms 27892); Kilburn and Company (Pakistan) Limited, 1964 (Ms 27893); and Macneill and Kilburn Limited, 1963-4 (Ms 27894). The records include articles of association, deeds, annual reports, financial accounts, reports on business operations, plans, and photographs.

Mediterranean Transport Company Limited records comprise: memorandum and articles of association, 1906-48 (Ms 27896); directors' and shareholders' minutes, 1906-54 (Ms 27897); AGM agendas, 1926-42 (Ms 27898); annual reports and accounts, 1926-58 (Ms 27899;) and accounts 1925-33 (Ms 27902).

Records of Morrison, Cryder and Company, London-American and general merchants, comprising: correspondence, 1834-55; accounts, 1836-49; shipping papers, 1836-9; legal papers, 1832-1851; insurance papers, 1837-1848; reports, 1846; and dividend lists, 1837-1839.

Bills of lading relating to William Brooke's consignments from London to Barbados, and occasionally to Bermuda and Rotterdam; with names of ships, masters and consignees and descriptions of cargoes.

Documents relating to merchant shipping; including release of 'Adina' at termination of voyage, 1867; release of 'Fontabelle' at termination of voyage, 1867; agreement and account of crew for 'Shalimar', including nature and place of voyages, provisions, special conditions of crew, certificates by consuls, with standard regulations and instructions, 1874; log book of 'Shalimar', 1873-1878; agreement and account of voyages and crew of 'S.S. Newburn, including nature of voyage, special conditions for crew, certificates from consuls, 1884; account of voyages and crew of 'Wood Park', 1884.

Records of the Baltic Exchange (1821-1994); the London Shipping Exchange (1892-1903), which was purchased by the Baltic Exchange; and the Jerusalem Coffee House (1757-1833), which was purchased by the London Shipping Exchange. The records include minutes, agendas, financial accounts, letter books and correspondence, administrative papers, membership records, shipping papers and records of the Airbrokers Association, 1947-1976 and the Institute of Shipbrokers, 1917-1987.

Records of the London Shipping Exchange, including financial accounts such as cash books, ledgers, and registers of shares; letter books; members' registers; and papers concerning the liquidation of the Exchange.

Records of George Brown, chandler, 1821-1843, comprising letter book dated 1821-1842, which contains information on Brown's business dealings including much comment on the state of shipping at various times, many references to steam vessels as early as 1821, and a large number of letters and memoranda relating to the seizure by the Portuguese of the steamship 'Lord of the Isles' in which Brown had an interest and subsequent attempts to get redress.

Also a memoranda book, 1833-1843, mainly recording brief memoranda of letters sent and received from 'George' or about 'George' who would appear to have settled in Canada and made attempts at farming and business. Evidence suggests that 'George' was the son of George Brown who was joined for a while in Canada by his mother and sisters. The book gives considerable information concerning shipping to and from North America; settlers in Canada and their acquisition of land; early government of Canada; references to the Canada Company, an account of 'stores required for a settler going to New Zealand' and details of goods sent out to 'George'.

This series relates to conveyance of mails within the United Kingdom and Ireland by sea. The majority of records are on the Irish and Scottish packet services, with a few contracts for mail services to the Scilly Isles, Lundy Island and the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands, placed at the end of the series.

The packet report series (POST 39 and 41) comprises reports to the Postmaster General from the Secretary to the Post Office, on the packet boat service and overseas mail arrangements. These are the surviving reports from those listed in POST 41.

POST 39 therefore consists of the actual Reports which are still in existence, with any enclosures. POST 41 consists of indexed volumes containing a copy of every Report submitted to the Postmaster General (including those which have since been destroyed) and is the only guide to the contents of POST 39. The Postmaster General's decision on each case is recorded. Examples of incidents recorded in the reports include the capture of packet ships, possibly due to pirates, smuggling of dry goods, loss of crew, terms and conditions of ship hire, victualling of crew and route changes and times.

In 1811 a parallel series entitled Packet Minutes (POST 29 and POST 34) was created. Cases for the attention of the Postmaster General were sometimes recorded in both series, but at other times in only one of the two series. Upon the cessation of the Report series POST 29 and POST 34 continued alone.

For further details of how this class relates to the other report and minute classes, see the following section 'Related Material'.

This series consists of a series of quarterly accounts of salaries and allowances due and payable by incidents to the officers, clerks and tradesmen employed by the General, Twopenny and London District Post Offices (the Twopenny Post was replaced by the London District Post in 1844). Items 6/4-6, covering 1794-1799, also include separate quarterly accounts of tradesmen's bills and incidental warrants paid out of the revenue of the Bye and Cross Road Letter Office. Accounts cover a wide variety of items and are arranged under general subject headings, such as 'pensions', 'packets', 'tradesmen' and 'rents'. Entries include what the bill is for, name of person owed and the amount. The date of the Treasury warrant authorising payment is often included at the end of each quarterly account. Volumes are not indexed. The accounts include bills for:

• Pensions, salaries and allowances to chief and senior officers, clerks, sorters, messengers and servants working in London headquarters departments, including offices of the Secretary and Accountant General, and the Foreign, Inland, Express, Mail Coach, Dead Letter, Ship Letter and Bye Letter offices; packet agents; surveyors; postmasters inspectors of mails, letter receivers and carriers and packet ships; commanders and mates of packet ships, or their widows; letter receivers and carriers in London; and mail guards

• Expenses for mail conveyance by sea, including costs incurred by packet ships operating from Falmouth, Harwich, Dover, Whitehaven, Donaghadee, Weymouth, Milford Haven and Holyhead, and in the West and East Indies, notably hire charges, lighting dues, arms and ammunition stores, wages and victualling for captains, officers and crew whilst at sea, out of employ or while the ship is undergoing repairs; and ship letter mails

• Expenses for inland mail conveyance, notably for payments to mail coach contractors; road, bridge and ferry tolls; supply and upkeep of fire arms, time pieces, mail bags and mail guards uniforms; mail coach maintenance; and railway and steam packet company charges

• Compensation for abolished positions or duties

• Items supplied or work done by tradesmen

• Legal expenses notably relating to investigation, detection, capture, and trail of felons

• Rents, taxes and rates for offices in London

• Stationery printing costs

• Transit postage and tonnage dues to foreign post offices

• Travelling expenses, particularly surveyors'

Item 6/11, covering 1805-1809, is different to the rest of the series. It contains certified accounts of the quarterly salaries and allowances paid by incidents upon which the Civil List deduction, or tax, of six pence in the pound is chargeable. Each account lists the 'salaries' and 'incidents' of individual officers and clerks at the General Post Office headquarters in London, including the Postmaster General, Secretary and other senior officers, and the total duty payable each quarter.

These accounts probably originate from the office of the Receiver General, who was in charge of all moneys received and paid out of the revenue of the Post Office.

Papers of Hamburg-Amerika linie, 1939, comprise of a notice from the Breslau office of the Hamburg Amerika Linie, travel company, regarding sailings and prices for illegal emigration to Palestine.

MSS. 5958-5963 comprise journals of A B Barton, mainly written while he was a medical officer in the service of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P & O), 1853-1858. They cover his journeys between Bombay, Singapore and Hong Kong; to the Crimea; and to the Far East. They include descriptions of the progress of the Chinese rebellion (MS. 5959), tending to and transporting the sick and wounded from Balaclava to Scutari (MS. 5960), and his shipwreck off the coast of Ceylon, together with General Henry Havelock, on the steamer Erin (MS. 5962). Some are manuscript or typescript copies. MSS. 7589-7594 comprise journals and sketches mainly relating to the Yangtse expedition, led by Captain Thomas W Blakiston, on which Barton served as a medical officer, 1861. One journal, MS. 7591, also records the end of the expedition and Barton's journey to Ceylon via Singapore, with entries on hunting expeditions in Ceylon. The journals are all fair copies. MS. 7592 comprises a narrative of the Yangste expedition read by Barton to the Royal Geographical Society, based on his journals. MS. 7593 is a series of mainly topographical illustrations relating to the expedition, comprising sketches by Barton, plus photographs and engravings based on other sketches by Barton, some of which were used to illustrate Five Months on the Yang-Tse by Thomas W Blakiston (London: John Murray, 1862). MS. 7594 comprises later papers of Brian M Gould relating to Barton and his journals, 1967 and n.d.

The collection consists of diaries, correspondence and other papers from the period in which Ross was medical officer of the coolie ship Hong Bee, travelling between Penang and the China coast via Hong Kong. MS.6117 includes a temporary commission in the Royal Army Medical Corps, 1916.

Medical log of the slave-ship LORD STANLEY, kept by Christopher Bowes the ship's surgeon between 23 March-26 July 1792. The ship traded between the African coast and the Isle of Grenada, West Indies. Of the 389 slaves on board, 16 died. The log gives the daily sick rate and there are brief notes of the cases and treatment.

At the end of the manuscript, Christopher Bowes states it is a "just and true journal" which he then presents to Custom House, at St George, Grenada in 1792. This is witnessed and signed by George Ferguson [Possibly George Ferguson, Governor of Tobago c1781]. The next page of the volume contains a statement signed by George Ferguson, saying that this is a "true copy of the original journal", and is dated September 5th 1792. Therefore it is likely that this manuscript is a copy of the original journal, which was perhaps retained in Grenada.

At the front of the volume is a letter to Arthur Bowes Elliot (grandson of Christopher Bowes) dated 5th October 1911, from Sir Ronald Ross (FRCS) 1857-1932, regarding the contents of the volume, and the diseases the slaves were suffering from.

Letter from John Taylor of the Cannon Coffee House, Charing Cross to Alexander Dalrymple Esq, 17 Feb 1795. Covering letter to a 1794 proof copy of Captain Taylor's Considerations on the practicability and advantages of a more speedy communication between Great Britain and her possessions in India [advocating the superiority of the overland route above the usual sea voyage]. 'I hope I have profited by the advice you was kind enough to give me some time ago in regard to the accompanying plan ... I have ... condensed the subject and am now busy in arranging what authorities I have been able to collect ...'.

Autograph, with signature.

Papers relating to property of John Michie, Director of the East India Company, at 'Muffets' or North Mimms, Hertfordshire, comprising a list of the fields, woods, etc. with their acreages, dated May 1780. There is also a list of those paying land tax, with the amounts, headed 'Present rate of North Myms Common' 7 Jul 1780.
On the reverse of one list is a brief memorandum headed 'By the Joint Committee of private Trade and Shipping', concerning an enquiry into the conduct of captain Peter Douglas of the Queen and Captain John Coggan of the Shrewsbury for 'parting company outward bound contrary to the orders of the Secret Committee' in 1777, dated 5 May 1780, initialled by four of the Company directors, and with a note that it was read in court. The documents are accompanied by a wrapper endorsed 'Muffets. (Account of Grounds by Messrs. Michie'.

Photocopies of 13 letters, 1882-1899, from Alexander Russell to his sister, Barbara Russell, recounting trips on missionary and other vessels in the South Pacific, including visits to Sydney (Australia) and Fiji.

Typescript transcript of letters and extracts of letters, and some photocopies of original letters, 1818-1821, from Thomas and Abigail Beighton to family and friends, recording problems encountered on the journey from England to Madras; local customs; and missionary work in Malacca and Penang, particularly their work in education; also including much discussion of family matters and of relationships among the missionary communities.

Papers of and relating to Sir Robert Hart, 1866-1954, comprising two series of private letters from Sir Robert Hart to his personal representative in England, J D Campbell, one dating from 1868-1879 and one from 1879-1906; a run of semi-official letters to Campbell, 1874-1906; a file on the Chinese Fleet, 1876-1894; correspondence and papers, 1866-1954, concerning the letters, including their ownership. A run of Campbell's letters to Hart, 1874-1877, is also included in the collection.

Files of the Port Health and Environmental Services Committee, 1948-1958, on subjects including air pollution, Basildon New Town, the disposal of condemned food, Denton Hospital, houseboats and the inspection of ships.

Records of the companies making up the Inchcape Group, including:

• Adamson, Bell and Company: see Dodwell and Company;
  • Adamson (W. R.) and Company: see Dodwell and Company;
  • African Marine and General Engineering Company: see Smith, Mackenzie and Company;
  • African Wharfage Company: see Smith, Mackenzie and Company;
  • Alexandra Brickworks Limited: see Borneo Company;
  • Anglo Siam Corporation: see Anglo Thai Corporation;
  • Anglo Thai Corporation: Ms 27001-034;
  • Arbuthnot, Ewart and Company: see Anglo Thai Corporation;
  • Argonauts Investments Limited: see Assam and African Investments Limited;
  • Assam and African Holdings Limited: see Assam and African Investments Limited;
  • Assam and African Investments Limited: Ms 27035-45;
  • Assam Company Limited: Ms 8794-8803; 9924-9936; 11497-504; 23723-5 and 27046-103;
  • Assam Estates Limited: Ms 27104-7;
  • Australasian United Steam Navigation Company: 27108-45;
  • Baghdad Light and Power Company: 27146-7;
  • Bahrein Slipway Company: see Gray, Mackenzie and Company;
  • Bally Paper Mills Company: see Borneo Company;
  • Bangalore Woollen, Cotton and Silk Mills Company: see Binny and Company;
  • Barnagore Jute Factory Company: see Borneo Company;
  • Barry and Company: see Macneill and Barry;
  • Barry, J. B. and Son: see Duncan Macneill and Company;
  • Bhooteachang Tea Company: Ms 27148;
  • Binny and Company: Ms 27149-73;
  • Borneo Agencies Limited: see Borneo Company;
  • Borneo Company: Ms 27174-474;
  • Borneo Motors Limited: see Borneo Company;
  • Brae and Chingoor Tea Estates Limited: Ms 27475-7;
  • British India and Queensland Agency Company: Ms 27478-9;
  • British India Associated Steamers Limited: Ms 27480-6;
  • Bruseh Tin and Rubber Estates Limited: see Borneo Company;
  • Bulkships Limited: Ms 27487;
  • Cawnpore Electric Supply Corporation: Ms 27488;
  • Cheerie Valley Tea Company: Ms 27489;
  • Child, Macfarland and Company: Ms 27490-1;
  • Dalhousie Jute Company: Ms 27492;
  • Delmege, Allen and Company: Ms 27493-4;
  • Delmege, Forsyth and Company: 27495-7;
  • Dilmun Navigation Company: see Gray, Mackenzie and Company;
  • Dodwell and Company: Ms 27498-526;
  • Dodwell, Carlill and Company: see Dodwell and Company;
  • Dodwell Motors Limited: see Dodwell and Company;
  • Duncan Macneill and Company: Ms 27527-90;
  • Eastern and Australian Steampship Company: see Australasian United Steam Navigation Company;
  • Ewart, Latham and Company: see Anglo Thai Corporation;
  • Ewart, Lyon and Company: see Anglo Thai Corporation;
  • Ewart, Ryrie and Company: see Anglo Thai Corporation;
  • Ganges Transport and Trading Company: Ms 27591-2;
  • Garden Reach Spinning and Manufacturing Company: Ms 27592A;
  • Garden Reach Workshops Limited: see Rivers Steam Navigation Company;
  • Gibb, Livingston and Company: Ms 27593-6;
  • Gillanders, Ewart and Company: see Anglo Thai Corporation;
  • Gilman (Holdings) Limited: Ms 27597;
  • Gourepore Company: Ms 27598;
  • Gourepore Electric Supply Company: Ms 27599;
  • Gray, Dawes and Company: Ms 27600-87;
  • Gray, Mackenzie and Company: Ms 27688-745;
  • Gray, Paul and Company: see Gray, Mackenzie and Company;
  • Greenwood Tea Company: Ms 27746-52;
  • Haboko Tea Company: see Borneo Company;
  • Hain (Edward) and Son: see St Mary Axe Securities Limited;
  • India General Navigation and Railway Company: Ms 27753-65;
  • India General Steam Navigation Company: see India General Navigation and Railway Company;
  • India Rivers Steam Navigation Company: see Rivers Steam Navigation Company;
  • Islay, Kerr and Company: Ms 27766-9;
  • Java Agency Company: Ms 27770;
  • Kalline Tea Company: Ms 27771-4;
  • Kenya Landing and Shipping Company: see Smith, Mackenzie and Company;
• Kilburn and Company: see Macneill and Barry Limited;
  • Kilburn, Brown and Company: Ms 27775-82;
  • Koyah Tea Company: Ms 27783;
  • Macdonald, Hamilton and Company: Ms 27784-7;
  • Mackay and Company: Ms 27788-92;
  • Mackay, Lynch and Company: see Mackay and Company;
  • Mackinnon, Mackenzie and Company: Ms 27793-848;
  • Mackinnon (W.) and Company: Ms 27849-50;
  • Macneill and Barry Limited: Ms 27851-94;
  • Macneill and Company: see Macneill and Barry Limited;
  • Macneill and Kilburn Limited: see Macneill and Barry Limited;
  • Macneill and Magor Limited: see Macneill and Barry Limited;
  • Macneill, Barry and Company: see Duncan Macneill and Company;
  • Majagram Tea Company: Ms 27895;
  • Mediterranean Transport Company: Ms 27896-902;
  • Mesopotamia Persia Corporation: see Gray, Mackenzie and Company;
  • Metro-Dodwell Motors Limited: see Dodwell and Company;
  • New Rivers Company: see Rivers Steam Navigation Company;
  • Ngambo Limited: see Assam and African Investments Limited;
  • Northern Dooars Tea Company: Ms 27903-8;
  • Nuddea Mills Company: Ms 27909;
  • Pahang Consolidated Company: see Borneo Company;
  • Pakistan River Steamers Limited: see Rivers Steam Navigation Company;
  • Pakistan Rivers Steam Navigation Company: see Rivers Steam Navigation Company;
  • Rejang Agencies Limited: see Borneo Company;
  • River Steamers Company: see Rivers Steam Navigation Company;
  • Rivers Steam Navigation Company: Ms 27910-28101;
  • St Mary Axe Securities Limited: Ms 28102-5;
  • Salonah Tea Company: Ms 28106-11;
  • Sarawak Rubber Estates Limited: see Borneo Company;
  • Sarawak Steamship Company: see Borneo Company;
  • Scottish Assam Tea Company: Ms 28112-16;
  • Siam Forest Company: see Anglo Thai Corporation;
  • Silonibari Tea Company: Ms 28117;
  • Singapore Plywood Company: see Borneo Company;
  • Smith, Mackenzie and Company: Ms 28118-53;
  • Tanganyika Landing and Shipping Company: see Smith, Mackenzie and Company;
  • Tarrapore Tea Company: Ms 28154-5;
  • Thanai Tea Company: Ms 28156-62;
  • Upper Assam Tea Company: Ms 28162A;
  • Western Cachar Company: Ms 28169-73.

Also published history 'Pioneering Spirit: The story behind Inchcape's remarkable journey', 2010.

Records of Inchcape and Company Limited (1939-2010), including subject files belonging to Kenneth James William Mackay (third Earl of Inchcape) and other directors and seniors. Files concern the formation of the holding company in 1958 and also individual companies within the group.

Records of the British India and Queensland Agency Company, comprising articles of association, agreement, and journal.

Records of Dodwell and Company Limited, importers, exporters and shipping agents, including board minutes; register of directors; annual reports; financial accounts; private notebooks of George Benjamin Dodwell (relating to the business); correspondence; company handbook; publicity material; newspaper cuttings; photographs; and personal papers of George Benjamin Dodwell.

Records of Gray, MacKenzie and Company Limited, general merchants and agents in the Persian Gulf, including partnership agreements; articles of association; correspondence; legal papers; financial accounts; annual reports; papers relating to property; historical notes; papers relating to Euphrates and Tigris Steam Navigation Company Limited, Bahrein Slipway Company Limited and Dilmun Navigation Company Limited.

Minute book of the Java Agency Company Limited, shipping agents.

Journal of A G R Sutherland, apprentice on the Merchant Vessel "British Renown".

Records of the New India Assurance Company Limited, comprising a salvage book giving details of insurance claims on shipping.

Records of Harrisons and Crosfield Limited relating to insurance; including Insurance Department reports, financial accounts, papers and policy journals; and papers relating to insurance claims, particularly for cargoes diverted or requisitioned during the Second World War.

Records of W Barnett and Company, including letter from Messrs Dale and Stretton, Gray's Inn Square, inviting applications for debenture stock of the London Bridge Land Company, Ltd. secured on the freehold estate of the Company at London Bridge, 1865; sales particulars of 9 Fleet Street with rear premises abutting on Hare Court, Temple, 1878; poster and handbill issued by W. Barnett and Company, advertising passages to Australia and other destinations, c 1850-1860.

Papers covering a short period of the career of Admiral Pelham Aldrich. There are extracts from journals, 1860 to 1867, returns from the sledge CHALLENGER and notes and journals concerning surveying 1879 to 1884. There are no papers for the CHALLENGER expedition in this collection: the main Arctic papers are with the Scott Polar Research Institute at Cambridge.

This catagory contains examples of various types of ships' papers and documents relating to the operation of merchant ships. There are examples of Charter Parties, including one of 1322 between Walter Giffard, master of the cog OUR LADY of Lyme and Sir Hugh de Berham for a freight of wine; the remainder are twentieth-century examples. The earliest example of a Bill of Lading is for the TRIPLE CROWN of Bristol, 1689; there are others from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Among the examples of Bills of Sale of ships and shares of ships is one for the Dutch East India Company ship DEHELDWOITEMADE, sold to James Mather, a London merchant, 1782; and also one for the SPECULATOR, a French prize, formerly LE CARME, sold in 1810. Examples of documents relating to insurance include a Statement of General Average for the POLLY AND EMILY made after she had been damaged in a gale in 1895. There are also Muster Rolls and Articles of Agreement of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries (see also entry no.13); Bills of Health, nineteenth and twentieth centuries; Safe Conducts, eighteenth and nineteenth centuries; and various nineteenth-century passenger documents and papers relating to wreck and salvage, including an order issued by Sir Cyril Wyche (1632-1707) and Sir Henry Capel (d 1696), Lord Justices of Ireland, for the arrest of the pilot of the wrecked TALBOT pink, 1695.

Papers of Hood Hanway Christian. The papers refer in the main to Christian's period at the Cape of Good Hope, with the exception of an order book from Castro in 1812. There is a section of letters of congratulation on his appointment, correspondents including Admiral Keats, Viscount Exmouth and the second Earl of Malmesbury. Also, there is a lengthy section regarding a court case which arose over Christian's impounding of the Portugeuse merchant ship GRATIDAO in 1826 The majority of the collection relates to the day to day running of the station, with correspondence to and from the Navy Office, Admiralty Office and also local offices, such as the Victualling Office and the ship yard at Simon's Town. There is also correspondence with local officials, such as the Governer of Mauritius, General Sir Galbraith Lowry Cole, and the Lieutenant-Governer of Eastern Cape of Good Hope, Sir Richard Bourke, as well as his own captains - Charles Richard Dyke Ackland of HMS HELICON, and Sir David Dunn on HMS SAMARANG. Other items include the ill-fated British settlement on Mombassa, draft treaties with Radama I of Madagascar regarding the suppression fo the slave trade, as well as letters from Captain William Fitzwilliam Owen.

Papers of William Schaw Lindsay, including Section 1 - bundles of papers or volumes which cover the whole of Lindsay's concerns and cannot be given a particular category. Section 2, 3 and 4 cover his main areas of activity- writing, business and property matters.

Lindsay had many friends and contacts in business and politics and his correspondence included many of the foremost men of his time in the fields (LND/2,3,4,6). His interest in the maritime affairs of the USA, and the civil war of 1861-5, is reflected in the compilation of 1867 of his correspondence with leading participants in the war, particularly Confederate politicians. This together with Lindsay's notes was brought together in a single volume (LND/7).

Lindsay's writings on maritime matters are represented by a working manuscript of the 'History of Merchant Shipping' (LND/12), printed proofs of the first two parts of the work (LND/13) and various notes and correspondence relating to it and other works on the navigation laws (LND/8,9,10,11). Lindsay also turned his hand to poetry (LND/18), biography (LND/19) and autobiography (LND/16).

Activities on Lindsay's estates at Shepperton and elsewhere are also reflected in various papers LND/2 23-32).

Collection of books, papers and photographs relating to the Stephens family of Fowley, [1887-1980], comprising unsorted papers, newspaper cuttings, photographs and postcards relating to the Stephens family and their ships. Including the following: Lloyd's Register certificate confirming classification of the LITTLE SECRET, 1887. Bill of lading and charter party documents for the RIPPLING WAVE, 1890-1892. Bill of lading and charter party documents for the ISABELLA, 1894-1908. Statement of general average for the LITTLE MYSTERY, Captain J.H. Greet, from Herring Neck, Newfoundland, to Figueira with a cargo of codfish, 1905. Statement of general average for the R.T.K., Captain Henry Purches, from Batteau, Labrador, to Seville with a cargo of codfish, 1905. Board of Trade Examination of Oath document for Robert Acford, master of the R.T.K., lost after a collision in 1910. Folder of typescript reports relating to damage and loss of cargo during the voyage of the ISABELLA from Newfoundland bound for Oporto, 1911-1912. Last log of the ISABELLA, 22 April to 11 October 1913. Original photographs of the vessels JANE BANKS, LITTLE GEM, LITTLE MYSTERY, MARIA JOSE, OCEAN SWELL, SPINAWAY and others.

Papers of the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company. There are copies of the Royal Charter granted to the Company in 1839 and subsequent renewals: a continuous series of minute books of Directors' meetings, 1839 to 1934 (three volumes); of General Meetings, 1842 to 1933 and a less complete set of Directors' reports, 1850 to 1902. A minute book of the Stores Committee, 1842 to 1843, illustrates the deployment of the very large stocks of coal necessary to maintain the services. The Mail Contracts for the various services are well documented. In- and out-correspondence, 1842 to 1868, with 'Public Departments' (the Admiralty, the Post Office and Board of Trade) is contained in nineteen volumes. A very early letterbook, 1826 to 1828, contains letters from the Post Office to Lieutenant Edward Chappell R.N. (d.1856) who subsequently became Secretary of the Company. A Marine Superintendent's confidential letterbook, 1826 to 1899, casts light on staff selection. General correspondence, 1904 to 1943, both in and out, is largely about the carriage of mail, legal matters and inter-company communications. Four memorandum books (1860 to 1904, 1884 to 1902, 1905 to 1909 and 1915 to 1917) are Directors' 'vade mecum's', containing a valuable cross-section of information about the Company's operations. Route books and 'Details of Service' 1841 to 1920, locate the services geographically. Agency arrangements are dealt with in nine books, 1876 to 1954, containing details of agreements entered into by the Company, including mortgages, leases or purchases of properties, powers of attorney and commissions. The technical part of the collection includes builders' specifications for ships, 1876 to 1954; fleet regulations for officers and engineers, 1850 and 1950; instructions to pursers, 1876; a treatise by Captain Chappell on 'Smith's Patent Screw Propeller', 1840; a Fire and Boat Station Bill for the Avon, 1845; reports on the stranding of the Magdalena, 1949, and a number of early log books, 1842 to 1869. The only account books are two cash books, 1839 to 1849, and some day-to-day cash books from the West End passenger office, 1959 to 1969. There are no service records although there is an album of photographs of captains, 1870, and information about pensions, national health and unemployment insurance. Finally the collection contains a wealth of publicity material of various dates. (Section 3: RMS/: 100ft: 30m) Ships' Plans: consist mainly of linen tracings of general arrangements, profiles and deck plans of nine Royal Mail steamships, 1850 to 1880, and paper prints of cargo spaces on six early twentieth-century vessels.