This is a collection of records of various companies involved in the trading of Ceylon [now Sri Lanka] and Indian teas. It consists of import registers for an un-named company, auction catalogues for private trade teas and photographs of tea plantations, possibly in Ceylon, and the offices and staff of R.M. Holborn and Sons Limited, tea and coffee merchants.

Records of Whitbread and Company Limited, brewers, relating to advertising, memorabilia and personal records, including substantial albums and guard books with Whitbread and Company advertising and labelling from 1935 through to 1980, newscuttings book of adverts commissioned (1921-1996), photographs of premises (1930-1979) and correspondence relating to advertising campaigns. Also included are published histories of the Company from both the nineteenth and twentieth century. This collection also includes the Whitbread Archivist's research files on public houses in the London area, subsidary companies and individuals associated with Whitbread and Company.

Records relating to the International Bookfair of Radical Black and Third World Books, including original programmes, stationery, correspondence and notes from members of The Alliance and from artists and those who attended the conferences. Also listings of families and individuals who provided accommodation for artists and rotas for the staffing of the Fairs.

The programmes are an excellent resource for information about the social and political issues that were of concern to Black people living in London in the 1980s and 1990s. They show the international links and connections between individuals of different artistic disciplines.

The development of the organisation and it's influence on diverse groups in the community are well documented in the correspondence and minutes; LMA/4462/M/01 and 02.

The photographs are both formal and informal. They show the Fair in action and special guests and artists performing or speaking at the different events. One album was put together by a participant as a gift to the Huntleys.

The press cuttings give valuable information on how the Fairs were being received by the Black community and others in London and internationally. There is an exclusive interview with Sonia Sanchez and an article by Margaret Busby which gives an historical overview of the Fair.

The copyright to these records rests with the depositors, Race Today Publications and New Beacon Books. Permission for the use of images for publication must be sought from all three organisations.

Records of Furness Withy and Co Ltd. For the parent company the records in the Museum include: ship files from the Naval Architect's Department, 1941 to 1961; building and service files from the Superintendent's Department, 1947 to 1964; movement books, 1946 to 1966; Charter Parties arranged by the Charter Department, 1917 to 1965; financial records, including wages and salaries, 1911 to 1958; one volume of commission accounts (mainly North American berths and the Danube), 1896 to 1952. There are papers for the three companies concerned in the South American trade: the Argentine Cargo Line Limited, minutes, 1908 to 1918; freight agreements, mainly 1908 to 1910 and printed reports, 1909 to 1917; the British and Argentine Steam Navigation Co Ltd, minutes, 1911 to 1934; meat contracts, 1914 to 1915; Furness-Houlder Argentine Lines, freight agreements (including Brazilian fruit and meat), 1914 to 1921; balance sheets and profit and loss accounts, 1940 to 1946. For the Prince Line (including the Rio Cape Line) there are reports of meetings, 1921 to 1949; files on oil prices and contracts, 1953 to 1958; and some notes on the Far East-U.S.A. Conference, 1919 to 1968. There are also the following records for other subsidiary companies: River Syndicate Ltd, minutes and accounts, 1920 to 1968; Compagnie Furness (France), accounts, 1923 to 1939; Furness (Montreal) Ltd, minutes, 1954 to 1964; Watson and Youell, cashbook for London, Bucharest and Galatz, 1919 to 1923. (Section 3: FWS/: 36ft: 1,097cm) Ships' Plans: the plans were presented in 1970. They consist mostly of prints of details of a few ships of the late 1940s and early 1950s. There are also two data books.

Records of the London County Council Restaurant and Catering Department (later the School Meals and Catering Department), 1940-1956, including a history of the Londoners' Meals Service (1944); correspondence with the Ministry of Food; papers of the Inter-Departmental Committee on the organisation of the Londoners' Meals Service; papers on the delegation of powers to Borough Councils under the Civic Restaurants Act 1947; annual accounts and reports on operations; papers on the re-organisation of the Restaurants and Catering Department; paper by Chief Officer on 'Emergency Feeding in London, the Experience of World War II and Plans for the Future', given at the Combined Conference on Administrative and Scientific Problems of Food Aspects of Civil Defence; general files on meals for old age pensioners, nutrition of young people in wartime, closures of restaurants, school meals, take-away lunches, outdoor catering and special functions catering, opening hours, serving alcohol, and the discontinuance of restaurants service.

Papers of individual civic restaurants including the Bun House Restaurant, 111 High Holborn, Bell Tower Restaurant, 76-79 St Paul's Churchyard, Netherhall Restaurant, 251-253 Finchley Road and Ramillies Restaurant, 197-205 Oxford Street. Statistics and analysis including weekly returns of meals provided for children under the School Scheme, weekly returns of adult meals, weekly summaries of meals served in each division or area and weekly analyses of returns.

Blitz Circulars relating to the Londoners' Meals Service; Ministry of Food Circulars; directories of restaurants and children's meals centres; handbook of instructions for superintendents; pamphlet on hygiene in relation to the service of meals; newspaper cuttings on civic restaurants and on the Department's activities; informative notices for display at Meals Centres; 'The Organisation and Work of the Restaurants and Catering Department', handbook for new entrants and training notes.

Papers of Leadenhall Market comprising administrative papers including letters, petitions, superintendent's reports and clerk's books, 1686-1978; and financial papers including rents and returns, 1913-1948, collector's books, 1779-1825, tenancy agreements, 1881-1913, weekly cash receipts, 1934-1966, disbursements, 1927-1947 and various accounts and dues, 1826-1889.

Minutes and papers of various small, temporary committees of the Court of Common Council, 1668-1990. The Committees were formed to consider various matters including the election, remuneration and behaviour of officers and staff of the Corporation of London; consideration of the effects of various Parliamentary Acts and Bills; the historical rights and privileges of the City of London; the provision of cemeteries; parishes and benefices; metage, particularly of coal and corn; the reform of the Corporation; markets; building maintenance and preservation; debtors, insolvency and bankruptcy; the Gresham bequest; food imports; transport including railways; presentation of the Freedom to William Pitt; militia; the erection of monuments and statues; the funerals of Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington and Horatio, Viscount Nelson; legacies and bequests; care of orphans; poor relief; estate management; schools and libraries; City finances; water and gas supply; Port of London; sewers; regulation of trade and licensing; street lighting; prisons and compters.

Also papers relating to the general organisation and running of Court of Common Council Committees, including the decision to allow public and press to attend certain committees, 1974; lists of committee Chairmen and members for various years; committee books, 1690-1727 and 1813-1990; bills books, 1873-1884; notes on the historical powers of the Court of Common Council and the Court of Aldermen and notes on the streamlining of committees and administration, 1835-1965.

Minutes and committee papers of the Markets Improvement Committee, Court of Common Council, 1849-1874.

Minute book and committee papers of Special Markets Committee, Court of Common Council, 1918-1922.

Records of the Spitalfields Market Committee, Court of Common Council, including minutes, 1937-2001 (closed from 1976 onwards) and committee papers, 1937-1957.

Papers of Thomas Bowrey, sea captain and merchant, including ledger; correspondence; diaries; drawings; charts; and maps; relating to travel and trade in India, Africa, Holland, France, Batavia (Jakarta) and Persia (Iran); the "Coffree" language of Delagoa and the Telenga language; shipping insurance and Lloyd's coffee house; whaling; and piracy.

Inspeximus by King Edward VI of a grant made by King Edward I in 1296 to the Prioress and Nuns of Saint Elena [Saint Helen's] of London and their successors, allowing a market to be held within the manor of Brentford every Tuesday and an annual fair to be held for six days from the eve of Saint Lawrence's day. 1553. Includes a portrait of the King in the initial E and a decorated heading.

An 'inspeximus' is a charter in which the person granting the charter avouches to have inspected an earlier charter which he repeats and confirms.

Letters Patent from King James II to John Shales, permitting a market to be held in Hounslow, near Hounslow Heath, for buying and selling all kinds of provisions for the support of the king's soldiers encamped on Hounslow Heath, every day, except Sunday, for the duration of the camp from time to time for ever; and the said market to be held henceforth every Thursday for ever for the convenience of the inhabitants of neighbouring townships, with all liberties, tolls, piccage stall, and without any composition to be paid, 4 March 1686.

Records of Duncan Macneill and Company, including partnership deeds; correspondence; financial accounts; annual reports; agreements; and valuations of tea companies managed by the company.

Records of J. B. Barry and Son, including partnership deeds, correspondence and financial accounts.

Records of both companies including articles of association; annual reports; financial accounts; maps of tea gardens; goods ledger; produce ledger; tea companies' ledger; correspondence and legal papers.

Also records of John Mackinnon's trusts and Duncan Macneill's trusts.

Records of Ganges Transport and Trading Company Limited, including memorandum and articles of association; annual statements of account; and half-yearly accounts.

Records of the Levant Company, comprising English translation of the Company charter of 1661.

Records of merchants John Richards and John Rooke, comprising invoice and account of sales books.

Records of George G Sandeman, Sons and Company Limited, wine shippers and cotton merchants, comprising financial records 1799-1812 and 1838-9; an order book 1792-1809; merchant bankers' ledger 1817-1819; letter books 1795-1797 and 1885-1887; shipment register 1869-72; trade circulars 1840-2; private account books of stocks and shares 1821-60; and a copy of a letter by George Sandeman dated 1790.

Records of E D Sassoon and Company Limited including combined register of shares.

Records of E D Sassoon and Company Limited including correspondence files relating to business links and investment in South Africa; and copy judgement.

The records of general merchants Steel Brothers and Company Limited mainly comprise annual reports and accounts, photographs and unpublished histories.

Papers of John Motteux and Company, merchants, comprising letters from the company's agent in L'Orient (Brittany) and Paris.

Outgoing letters of John March, merchant trading with Turkey.

Letters from Norris and Collet, merchants, to their factor Henry Norris in Sweden.

Out-letter book of John Oldbury and Henry Stanley, merchants, containing copies of letters to ships' masters, agents, contacts and consignees, relating to business and private affairs.

Please note these are photostat copies; the whereabouts of the original is unknown.

Sales records of Courage and Company Limited, including Sales Committee minutes; trading figures; trade books; records of supplies; prices and charges; records of beer bought and sold; records of beer recieved; purchase and adjustment account papers; sales summaries; delivery records; licences, agreements and contracts.

Records of Slough Retail Centre Limited, comprising correspondence and papers relating to formation of company ('HPIC - Slough Retail Centre Ltd') and memorandum and articles of association.

Records of Saccone and Speed Limited, wine and spirits merchants, comprising papers and correspondence, mainly related to purchase by Courage, Barclay and Simonds and subsequent re-organisations.

Records of the Bournemouth Wine Company Limited, comprising register of seals; papers and correspondence, including those relating to change of name and memorandum and articles of association.

Records of Goschens and Cunliffe, merchants and bankers, comprising out-letter books, telegram books and register of policies. Also records of predecessor Fruhling, Goschens and Company, comprising letters to their agent in Germany.

Records of Deli Estates Engineering and General Union Limited, including articles of association; minute books; annual reports; circulars to shareholders and a ledger.

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 Harrisons and Crosfield (Borneo) Limited; including minutes and agendas; correspondence with head office; papers regarding operations in Brunei; financial accounts; memoranda; correspondence concerning the general trading of the Company, the work of secretarial and agency companies in Borneo and the work of the Engineering Department; papers relating to political news in Borneo; and financial accounts of sub-branches.

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).

Correspondence, papers and journals of Charles Tilstone Beke, 1824-1910, principally relating to Abyssinia and the Middle East, with papers of his wife Emily Beke (née Alston). The collection holds information on all aspects of Beke's career, from his early legal training to the search for employment and financial security of his final years. His intervening travels, geographical and biblical studies and resulting publications are documented by journals, notebooks and printed material. Correspondence includes that generated during Beke's secretaryship of the National Association for the Protection of Industry and Capital throughout the British Empire; and generally reflects a wide range of scholarly acquaintance and interests. Supplementary papers of Emily Beke record her championing of C.T. Beke's posthumous reputation, and her attempts to gain recompense for his occasional government service.

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.

Agreement between Don Francisco de Paula Alvarez and Henry Clay and Bock and Company Ltd, 1890.

Letter from Magnús Stephensen of Copenhagen to His Excellency the Rt Hon Sir Joseph Banks, 17 Oct 1807. Referring to Banks's visit to Iceland and complaining of the severe effects of war [i.e the Napoleonic Wars] on the trade of that country. 'For it is altogether unavoidable for this Island to escape hunger if it is only to hold out one single winter without being supplied with provisions.'

Written in another hand and signed by Stephensen.

Letter from Samuel Plimsoll of 28 Park Lane, London to [?a newspaper editor], 26 Feb 1890. Complaining of frequent allegations that: 'I seek to subject English ship-owners to restrictions and regulations from which foreigners are exempted.' He has obtained evidence from the Board of Trade to show that foreign ships are not thus privileged.

Autograph, with signature.

Letter from Richard Cobden to R C Chawner, Esq of Wall, near Lichfield, [Staffordshire], 9 Apr [1844]. Asking him to give a 'free trade address from the boards of Covent Garden.'

Autograph, with signature. With the original envelope, bearing the seal of the National Anti-Corn Law League.

(1) Letter from William Manning of 14 New Street, Spring Gardens, [Westminster] to Thomas Tyrell, Esq, 29 Nov 1800. Concerning proposals for the regulation of a new coal market. Asking whether Tyrell sees any difficulty in it being managed by the Lord Mayor of London and whether the Corporation interferes with any market in the City. The building in Mark Lane is open to all on market days, but the Coal Exchange is open to subscribers only; the first buyers do not exceed about one hundred.

(2) Letter from William Manning of Totteridge, Hertfordshire to Thomas Tyrell, Esq, 4 Apr 1801. Discussing the fees to be incurred in passing the Coal Bill through the two Houses of Parliament [ordered Mar 1801; order for second reading discharged 12 May 1801], and the means of paying them. Asks Tyrell to show the letter to Mr Stracey, 19 Fludyer Street, and to confer with him about it.

Both letters are autograph, with signatures, and headed 'private'.

A collection of 240 invoices, printed forms completed in manuscript, often with engraved headings and scenes, dated between 1833 and 1879, addressed to 107 companies and individuals in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and to 2 in New York, from one German and 89 British manufacturers. Goods invoiced consist mainly of textile and textile machinery, pottery, cutlery and tools. Most invoices after Sep 1835 bear the stamp of the Custom House, Philadelphia, and after Feb 1869 many have attached a consular certificate combined with a sworn declaration by the manufacturer as to the origin, destination and price of the goods.

Holograph drafts of speeches, 1765-1784, to be made in the House of Commons (but apparently not delivered) on subjects including American internal taxation, trade with Canada, the window tax and defence of the current administration.

Copy of a treatise by Sir Patience Ward entitled 'Scheme of the trade as it is at present carried on between England and France in the commodities of the native product and manufacture of each country, calculated as exactly as possible in obedience to the command of the Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners for the treaty of commerce with France...28th November 1674'. Tables included in the manuscript list quantities and prices of commodities exported to France and imported from there, and a comparison of these figures should enable their lordships...'easily [to] discerne ye great prejudice ye English nation hath sustained and the great advantage ye French have and doe dayly make by holding this treaty in suspense...'.

Letters and accounts, mostly concerned with the cloth and clothing trade, between 1755 and 1763. The material was created by both Benjamin Wilson and Jonathan Dickinson, who appear to have been business partners.

Manuscript volume containing 18th century transcripts of two treatises relating to European trade, 1697 and 1699, namely a treatise on the trade and navigation of the Dutch, 1699, written in Amsterdam and ascribed in a different hand to Camille Tallard, Marquis de la Baune-d'Hoston; and a historical treatise on European trade in Africa, Asia and America, 1697, ascribed in a different hand to Claude Le Blanc, who produced it for Louis, Duc de Bourgogne.

Financial abstract of the East India Company, entitled 'Abstract of the finances and disbursements for 1783-4, the estimate from the end of 1783'. The abstract is 'extracted from materials received from Bengal', and signed by John Annis 'Auditor of Indian Accounts' and endorsed by John Michie, Director of the Company. Other endorsements include the following: 'Deficiency 156 Lack 17 m[ohurs?]. Bond Debts 193 [Lack] 43 [mohurs?] or about £2,200,000'.

Copy of a memorandum [by George Fyler] entitled 'Further memorandum as to the most eligible transit route for mails, passengers & traffic through Mosquito & Costa Rica (being a rider to the memorandum of Dec 5th 1849) and directed to consider the shackles which now impede the development of trade with Central America, the means available for their removal and the concentration of the British Mails and traffic to and from Australia as also the Pacific generally... Presented to the Right Honourable Henry Labouchère [President of the Board of Trade], 29 Jan 1850. The manuscript memorandum suggests a route via Greytown (now San Juan del Norte), River St. John, Lake Nicaragua, and by road, eventually by canal, from the lake to Port Salinas, and indicates the advantages of the route, such as quicker mail services and avoidance of the influence of the United States at Panama.

Petition to Henry Pelham, First Lord of the Treasury, presented by glass makers giving 'Reasons against importing French Wine in Bottles', dating from either 1743 or 1754. Signed by Richard Ricardi, Gerard van Horn, William Jackson and Samuel Lowe.

Manuscript volume containing [transcripts of] papers relating to the union of England and Scotland, 1707, including the proceedings of the Commissioners of both kingdoms concerning freedom and intercourse of trade between England and Scotland in 1667 and 1668; a copy of the articles of the intended union between England and Scotland in 1604.

Printed certificate with texts in English and French testifying that Henry Wright was an Englishman, possessed a 'handsome property', and 'may be depended upon in any mercantile concern he may transact between England and France, or any other nation', signed by Wright and 16 inhabitants of the parish of Tamworth, Staffordshire. With two duty stamps, one dated 1797. Printed by 'Cotton, printer, Tamworth'.

Copy letter book of William Scott, Commissioner [of the Board of Control], mainly to Richard Rocke, Acting President of members of the East India Company Board of Revenue at Fort William (Calcutta), 1817-1827. Scott details the collection of accounts of the East India Company's revenue, referring to revenue due from agricultural holdings (land tax, tenantry holdings) in Calcutta, Chardpore, Shahpore and Bindhnapore. Scott also writes about the economic condition of the Indian people.