Letter from P K Seaman of HMS Wolverine, docked at St Helena, to his father, 1 Jun 1851. '... I have already told you that we have caught 3 slavers ...'.

Autograph, with signature. 4 sketches of vessels captured by the Wolverine are pasted to the second leaf of the letter.

Poem by John Edward Masefield, 1965. Verses entitled Lines for the 1965 HMS Victory Calendar, produced to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the ship's launch.

Autograph.

Manuscript volume containing a [transcript of a] speech by the Recorder of Chichester to King James I, [1600-1606], requesting a licence to export grain produced in Sussex from the city's port in order to pay the costs of cutting a channel from Chichester to the sea.

Manuscript volume containing a notarial instrument, 16 Sep 1655, by Frederick Ixem of London, public notary, with attestations by Bright and Daniell, also public notaries, recording the appointment by the Treasurers and Collectors of Prize Goods (John Sparrow, Richard Blackwall and Humphrey Blake) of Captain Dean of Cork as attorney to receive sums owed by William Hovell of Kinsale, County Cork, and Humberson Hurst. Also includes a printed copy of an Act of Parliament of 17 Apr 1649, An Act for appointing Commissioners for sale of prize-goods.

Manuscript items relating to the proposed London and Birmingham Railway, 1830-1833, as follows.

1. Copy of an estimate by John Sinclair, civil engineer of Hartshill, Atherstone, of a railway between Coventry and Birmingham, dated 21 March 1832. (2 leaves. 12¾" x 8").
2. Notes on the projected route of the London and Birmingham Railway, from a plan 'deposited with the Clerk of the Peace', 1830. (4 leaves. 9" x 8").
3. List of cuttings, tunnels and other works on the railway line between London and Birmingham, [1830]. (2 leaves. 10" x 7¾").

Papers collated by Charles Lawrence relating to his interests in the Liverpool and Manchester Railway and the Grand Junction Railway, 1826-1845, comprising the following:
Papers relating to the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, 1826-1842, including four letters from Thomas Brand, 20th Baron Dacre, to Charles Lawrence, Chairman of the Railway, 1826-30, concerning the Company's Bill in the House of Lords; a summons to Lawrence to give evidence before Parliamentary Committee of 1826 on the Liverpool and Manchester Railway Bill; material relating to William Huskisson, such as a printed notice regarding his election (1830), a printed copy of the inscription on Huskisson's memorial tablet and a letter to Lawrence regarding the monument erected to Huskisson's memory (1836), as well as letters from C.Heming, Emma Stanley, Countess of Derby (1830), George Granville Leveson-Gower, 2nd Duke of Sutherland (1835) and Robert Benson Dockray (1835) regarding his death; names and numbers of all locomotive engines on the Liverpool and Manchester Railway to 1 Mar 1836; statistics of tonnage carried, arranged by subjects, 1830-1836, probably prepared for the Board of Trade; names and numbers of locomotive engines on the Railway to 18 Jan 1837; an abstract of locomotive expenses, 1841; a letter from Edward Woods to Lawrence giving the state of the company's stock of locomotive engines to 31 Dec 1842.
Papers relating to the Grand Junction Railway, 1840-1845, including a report by John Moss, Chairman of the Board of the Grand Junction Railway Company, on the creation of shares, adopted 20 May 1840; a draft agreement in the hand of George Carr Glynn for the amalgamation of the London and Birmingham and Grand Junction Railway Companies, 1845.

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'.

Printed share certificate no. 1399 of the Grand Junction Canal, completed in manuscript, owned by Elizabeth Grant, spinster of Stony Stratford, Buckinghamshire. It is dated (in print) 16 Sep 1793, at the second general meeting at Daventry, Northants, signed by two clerks to the company, and sealed with the paper seal of the company.

Papers of A G E Jones including biographical notes on Sir Allen Young, 1981; biographical notes on John L Cope, 1982; lists of ships leaving London for New South Wales and Van Diemans Land, 1786-1825; copies of press cuttings relating to finding the grave of one of Franklin's men in North Canada, 1984; copies of two letters on the loss of the log book of the DISCOVERY, 1904; copy of an article by Jaones in 'Notes and Queries' Dec 1984 on the crew of the TERROR and Franklin's last voyage; copies of two pages from the log of the SOUTHERN CROSS; typescripts of 'The Southern whale fishery' and 'Danial Bennett and Company', 1968.

Log and private journal of John Wilson as ship's surgeon on the second voyage of the South Seas whaler GYPSY, 23 Oct 1839-19 Mar 1843 and portfolio of 23 watercolours, illustrating places named in the journal.

Papers of William Sherriff relating principally to historical and survey work on plans for a Burma-China railway through the Shan States of Northern Burma, [1885-1900], including a survey by Sherriff on the feasibility of a Burma to China railway for Rangoon Chamber of Commerce, [1886-1899]; article by Sherriff in the Manchester Guardian, 'Railway communication with China - The Burmah-China Railway', 09 Mar 1900; correspondence, 1888-1890; blueprints for the Burma Railways Mandalay Kunlon railway, 1899; note by [A] R Colquhoun entitled 'Amongst the Shans', 1885; report by Capt A Bowers, 'Bhamo Expedition Report in the Practicability of reopening the trade route between Burma and Western China', 1869; memorandum on a possible railway route on to the Shan Plateau, 1889; reports on the Shan States, 1887-1889 and notes by Sherriff relating to Burma.

Papers mainly concerning the construction and administration of bridges, roads, piers, railways, harbours, reservoirs and canals in Scotland, 1782-1841, including correspondence of Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville (1742-1811), Robert Saunders Dundas, 2nd Viscount Melville (1771-1851), and Sir Thomas Dundas, 1st Baron Dundas (1741-1820). The collection comprises letters, petitions, memorials, plans, estimates, reports, financial accounts, legal papers, trustees minutes and circulars relating to bridges including the Dee, Don, Urie, Findhorn, Montrose, Nairn, Pease, and Spey; canals including the Borrowstone Canal Navigation, the Clarence Canal, the Forth and Clyde Navigation, and the Union Canal (Falkirk to Edinburgh); ferries such as the Dysart Ferry, Queensferry, and Tay Ferries; harbours and piers notably Burntisland Harbour and Pier, Kinghorn Harbour, Hartlepool Pier, and Newhaven Pier; the Gala Water Railroad; the North Esk Reservoirs; roads in Aberdeen, Inverness, Dalkeith, Edinburgh, Glenlaidnaig, Glenlichorn, Lanarkshire, Lauriston, Perth, and Stirling.

Papers of the Inland Waterways Association (IWA), 1971-[1983], including minutes of the Commercial Carrying Group/Inland Shipping Group, 1971-1982; minutes and reports of the Regional Inland Shipping Committees, 1976-[1983]; official IWA/ISG correspondence, 1973-1980; IWA and ISG address and membership lists; ISG publications, [1972]-1982, including fact sheets; press cuttings, papers and printed material not relating to ISG, 1975-1979.

Records, 1926-1951, of the Chinese Government Purchasing Commission (CGPC), including information on the state of Chinese communications; the workings of the Chinese Ministries of Communications, Railways and Industries; Chinese banking; construction and engineering technology and the work of British manufacturers; and some information on Chinese educational and cultural institutions in receipt of subsidies from the Board of Trustees for the Administration of the Indemnity Funds Remitted by the British Government.

Records, 1926-1951, relating to the foundation and constitution of the CGPC comprise printed report of the Anglo-Chinese Advisory Committee (China Indemnity Advisory Committee), 1926; correspondence, largely letters from the Board of Trustees to the CPGC, 1931-1950, concerning the constitution of the Commission, procedural issues, personnel and financial matters; file on procedure on appointment of a new member of the Commission, 1947-1948; correspondence concerning events preceding the winding-up of the Commission, 1951.

Financial records, 1931-1951, comprise papers on the Board Account, 1937-1950; papers on the Chin Fund (apparently a grant paid to Constance Chin, a patient of the Bethlem Royal Hospital), 1945-1951; summaries of expenses relating to purchase orders made by Chinese ministries, 1931-1951; Indemnity Fund cash books, 1937-1950; invoices and receipts relating to CGPC business, 1937-1951; financial statements and correspondence relating to banking matters with the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank, 1931-1951, the subjects including investments and tax.

Operational records, c1928-1951, relating to the administration of purchase orders, comprise register of tenders/purchase orders, 1942-1946; contract registers (not comprehensive), 1931-1949, recording the management of contracts for the supply and delivery in China of plant, machinery and other materials manufactured in the UK for the Chinese government, and over 1,000 related contract files for engineering companies and manufacturers for industrial, construction, railway and other projects; tender forms, 1934, issued to contractors by the CGPC; specifications and standards, c1928-1937 and undated, largely for the construction of railways and carriages; correspondence concerning administration of purchase orders, 1932-1951, relating especially to delivery of locomotive spare parts and related materials; registers of export licences issue to British manufacturers under wartime regulations, 1941-1946; applications for export licences, 1939-1945; registers of shipments, insurance, freight and inspection fees, 1931-1951; shipping letters, 1937-1950, issued for CGPC shipments; general correspondence concerning the administration of the CGPC, 1931-1951, including correspondence with solicitors and correspondence concerning the CGPC premises in Tothill Street, London.

Annual reports and accounts, 1931-1950, comprise typescript accounts and reports, 1931-1950, of the CGPC and published annual reports, 1931-1950, including summaries of receipts and payments; and annual reports of the Board of Trustees, 1931-1938.

Miscellaneous records, c1932-1950, comprise one file including papers on subjects including railways, training Chinese students, Japanese imperialism, and CGPC records, a photograph of ships in harbour, and maps of China and the Far East.

Records, 1939-1943, of the China Purchasing Agency Ltd comprise standing regulations of the Board of Directors, undated; correspondence, 1939-1943, concerning various purchase orders; miscellaneous items, c1939-1940, including list of tenders passed for acceptance, 1939, and an undated schedule of materials shipped.

Records, 1764-1966, of the London Missionary Society (LMS), dating mainly from the foundation of the Society in 1795, but with some material from 1774 onwards relating to Madagascar and Mauritius, and a series of 'Extra' correspondence dating from 1764. The records relate to the structure and administration of the Society and mission activity overseas and comprise LMS Home Office minutes and papers, committee minutes, correspondence inward and outwards, candidates' papers, and papers of official deputations; official journals, reports and correspondence from LMS missionaries in the field; special series of 'Odds', a collection of miscellaneous documents including material from the mission field; a large collection of portraits of missionaries; more than 15,000 photographs, showing individual converts, mission staff and buildings, and also depicting the lives, work and pursuits of indigenous peoples, means of transport, topographical scenes and historical events.

Records, 1848-1984, of the Melanesian Mission, including minute books; correspondence, journals and diaries of pioneer missionaries including R H Codrington and J C Patteson; correspondence of more recent missionaries; logs relating to the Mission vessels including the first 'Southern Cross' log book, 1855. Material relating to the Church of Melanesia includes the proceedings of the Provincial Synod from its inception in 1975, conference reports, and lists of missionaries from the Mission's beginnings to the 1920s. Printed materials include the Southern Cross Log, 1895-1954, 1963-1973, and Annual Reports, 1864-1939 (1917 and 1923 missing). There are also a large number of photographs and manuscript maps of the Diocese of the Melanesian Mission dating from 1875 onwards.

Records of the Hammersmith and City Railway Company, comprising capital account (items charged to capital in period 1875-1877 but incurred from 1865-1868) includes extracts from minutes of Hammersmith and City Railway Joint Committee; Audit Office notes; a note of Hammersmith and City Railway Company investment shares; expenditure by Great Western Railway Company and Metropolitan Railway Company, c.1865-1880.

Records of the Hammersmith and City Railway Joint Committee, including capital account (charges in half-yearly units), 1867 - 1873; expenditure on capital account (of dissolved Hammersmith and City Railway Company), 1867-1874; miscellaneous accounts, including correspondence with Messrs Grierson and Lewis, extracts from minutes of Joint Committee, and statement of number of times GWR exceeded the agreed number of trains (as in Agreement of 1868), c.1866 - 1878; papers and memoranda relating to accounts for half-year ended June 1878, includes extracts from minutes of Joint Committee 1866-1869; papers relating to case in High Court Baylis V Metropolitan Inner Circle Completion Railway Company; loss of working of Omnibus Service; statement of GWR/MRC working expenses on passenger traffic, c.1866-1878; statements of account for period December 1877 to December 1878; together with statement of train mileage, 1878; estimated statement of account for half-year ended December 1878 with correspondence and extracts from minutes; includes traffic receipts and passenger numbers, 1868; and revenue for half-year ended June 1879; together with expenditure on Capital account 1 July 1877 to 31 December 1878; correspondence with Hammersmith Gas Works 1879; notice to ratepayers of St Marylebone, 1879.

Records of the Metropolitan Railway Provident Savings Bank, comprising annual reports and statements of account, including lists of deposit accounts and balances; 1875-1935.

Agreement to arrange foreign travel, c. 1860; stating that voiturier Richard will take a family through France from Calais to Nice; giving details and charges for services to be provided. The booking was to be in advance at White Bear Coach Office, 221 Piccadilly.

Records of Rotax Limited including nominal and private ledgers covering holding company and subsidiaries, bound in one volume only. No other records are currently known to survive.

Records of London Tramways Ltd, consisting of printed circulars, 1881.

Plan of underground and terrestrial electric railways, showing existing and proposed electric railways in London. Undated, probably between 1900-1919.

Records of the Metropolitan Railway Company, comprising mortgage for premises at Bishopsgate Street and 3-6 Devonshire Street, 1870; lease for premises at Bloomfield Street, 1831, and lease for premises at Moorfields, 1840.

Records of Lord Charles Latham, leader of the London County Council, consisting of reports, papers, correspondence, notebooks and diaries including photographs and press cuttings belonging to Lord Latham.

Collection comprises photographs of both the ambulance train and the servicemen's hospital in Berkshire showing servicemen and nurses [including Eliza Wakelin]; and two letters regarding Miss Wakelin's health.

Records of Wilson, Sons and Company Limited, coal and steamship agency, and associated companies. The records include minutes; financial accounts; letter books; constitutional documents; historical notes; registers of members; annual reports; and agreements.

Minute book of the Aviation Insurance Offices Association.

Records of the Worshipful Company of Shipwrights, compiled between around 1595 and 1998, including copy ordinances of the Fraternity of St Simon and St Jude, 1456-83. They also include registers of freedom admissions from 1660; apprentice bindings from 1659; Court minute books; livery lists; quarterage books and ledgers.

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.

Records of the Airport Committee, Court of Common Council, 1938-1956, comprising minutes, committee papers and various files, including correspondence, particularly regarding use of the land by the Air Ministry during World War Two and the post war sale of land to Ilford Borough Council; relevant Acts and Bills; minutes of meetings of the Aerodrome Owners Association; off-prints and press cuttings; memorandums; sub-committee minutes and surveyors reports.

Also papers relating to the inauguration of the first direct air service between London and Venice, April 1956.

Papers of Airwork Limited relating to Heston Aerodrome, comprising two annotated copies of a plan entitled 'Heston Aerodrome: Survey of land to be purchased by Airwork Ltd. April 5th 1935' and two annotated Ordnance Survey maps of the area.

Papers of predecessor companies of London Transport. More information regarding each company can be found in the separate sub-fonds entry for that company.

Companies:

Aylesbury and Buckingham Railway

Baker Street And Waterloo Railway

Central London Railway Minutes

Central London Railway Correspondence, Contracts, Reports, Etc.

City And South London Railway

City And South London Railway

Charing Cross, Euston And Hampstead Railway

Earls Court Grounds Limited

Edgware And Hampstead Railway

Great Northern And City Railway

Great Northern Piccadilly And Brompton Railway

Hammersmith And City Railway

Hounslow And Metropolitan Railway

Harrow And Uxbridge Railway

Hammersmith And City Railway

Kingston And London Railway

London Electric Railway

London General Country Services (Buses)

London General Omnibus Company

Lots Road Power House

London Passenger Transport Board

London And Suburban Traction Company (Tramways)

London Transport Board Reports And Accounts

London Transport Executive Files

London United Tramways

Metropolitan And Metropolitan District Joint Railways

Metropolitan And District Electric Traction Company

Metropolitan District Railway

Metropolitan Electric Tramway

Metropolitan And Great Central Joint Railways

Morden Station Garage

Metropolitan And St Johns Wood Railway Company

Metropolitan Tower Construction Company

North Metropolitan Tramways

Railway Equipment And Construction Company

South Metropolitan Electric Tramways

Tramways M.E.T. Omnibus Company

Underground Electric Railways

Union Construction Company

Union Surplus Lands Company

Whitechapel And Bow Railway

Watford Joint Railway Committee - Metropolitan And London North Eastern Railways

Watford And Edgware Railway

Wembley Park Estate Company

Also bus companies comprising:

A1 Bus Company

Acme Pullman Services (Buses)

Alberta Omnibus

Amersham And District Motor Bus And Haulage Company

Associated Omnibus Company

Atlas Omnibus Company

C W Batten And Company Limited (Buses)

Bracklin And Vandy Limited (Buses)

Britannia Traction Company

Brixton Motor Omnibus Company

Bucks Expresses (Buses)

Cambrian Coaching And Goods Transport Limited

Cambrian Landray Coaching Limited

Celtic Omnibus Company

Central Omnibus Company

Chesham And District Bus Company

Cosgrove Omnibus Company

Criterion Omnibus Company

Dangerfield Limited (Buses)

Direct Omnibus Company

District Omnibus Company

Dominion Omnibus Company

East Ham Omnibus Company

Empress Omnibus Company

Fleet Omnibus Company

Florence Omnibus Company

Gearless Motor Omnibus Company

Grafton Omnibus Company

Grangewood Omnibus Company

Green Line Coaches Limited

Haywood And Nowell Limited (Buses)

Horseshoe Traction Company

Invicta Traction Company (Buses)

Jockey Omnibus Company

Lea Valley Omnibus Company

Legion Omnibus Company

London Road Car Company

Lonsdale Omnibus Company

Loveland Omnibus Company

Mcmahon Omnibus Company

Marathon Omnibus Company

Mason Omnibus Company

Metropolitan Steam Omnibus Company

New Central Omnibus Company

Northern Omnibus Company

Nulli Secundus Omnibus Company

Olympic Traction Company

Omnibus Proprietors Limited

Overground Limited (Buses)

Edward Paul Limited (Buses)

Pc Omnibus Company

Priest Brothers (Buses)

Primrose Omnibus Company

Ra Motor Services

Charles Randall Limited (Buses)

Reburn's Motor Services

Shamrock Traction Company

Skylark Motor Coach Company

Silver Star Omnibus Company

Superbus Limited

T And W Omnibus Company

Tottenham Hotspur Omnibus Company

Tower Carriers Limited

Unique Omnibus Company

Victoria Road Car Company

Vivid Omnibus Company

W And P Omnibus Company

Watford Omnibus Company

Wellington Omnibus Company

Western Omnibus Company

White Star Omnibus Company

London And South Coast Transport Limited

National Omnibus And Transport Company

Records of the City and South London Railway (formerly the City of London and Southwark Subway Company), comprising Board meetings minutes and General meetings minutes; volume of monthly reports giving Operating Statistics of the City and South London and Central London Railway Companies and volume of monthly reports relating to the generating stations at Stockwell (City and South London Railway) and Shepherds Bush (City London Railway).

Records of the Charing Cross, Euston and Hampstead Railway, comprising Board meeting minutes and General meetings minutes.

Records of the Hammersmith and City Railway, including Board meeting minutes; General meeting minutes; Board of Trade inspection reports; agreements, tenders and contracts; list of staff; financial accounts and petitions from inhabitants of Westbourne Park for a station between Notting Hill and Bishops Road.

Records of London General County Services (Buses), comprising Board and General meetings minutes; and financial records including private journal; salaries ledger; cash payments books; journals; and joint services ledger.

Records of the London Passenger Transport Board, including minutes of Meetings of the Board; reports to the Board; album of photographs illustrating the catering facilities afforded by the LPTB to shelterers in the London Tubes during the air raids on London; minutes of Accounts Advisory Committee; plans and sections; tenders, specifications and contracts; Traffic Circulars (Central Buses); papers relating to the Passenger Pooling Scheme; diaries; official booklets, pamphlets and leaflets; and appointment books, issued annually (those filed herewith have had the calendar leaves extracted but the interesting photographs which interspersed them are left in position. They give a true contemporary picture of the life of London and its surroundings, including its building and transport).

Records of the Metropolitan and Great Central Joint Railways, including minutes of the Joint Committee; minutes of Officers' Conferences; reports and papers of the Oxford and Aylesbury Tramroad Company; plans of the line between Harrow and Verney Junction; and financial records including ledgers, journals and cash books.

Records of North Metropolitan Tramways, comprising minutes of Board meetings, minutes of General meetings and minutes of Shareholder meetings.

Records of the Union Construction Company, manufacturer of tube and tram cars, comprising minutes of Board meetings and minutes of General meetings.

Records of the Whitechapel and Bow Railway, comprising Board meeting minutes; General meeting minutes; minutes of the London, Tilbury and Southend and Metropolitan District Railways Whitechapel and Bow Railway Joint Committee; and minutes of the Midland and Metropolitan District Railways Whitechapel and Bow Joint Committee.

Records of the Watford Joint Railway Committee; including minutes of Committee meetings; general ledger; journal; cash book and financial accounts.

Records of the Watford and Edgware Railway, comprising minutes of Board meetings and minutes of General meetings.

Records of the Wembley Park Estate Company, property developers, comprising minutes of General meetings and minutes of Board meetings.

Insurance policy upon passengers' effects, to be shipped on the "Rhone" from London to Algoa Bay, Cape Province, South Africa, taken out by A. F. Evans, 1894.

These records comprise compilations of London signs, 1649-1767, of advertisements by goldsmiths, 1666-1731, and list of city stage-coach and carrier services, 1749.

Financial records of the Aircraft Insurance Committee.

Papers of the Coal Meters' Committee, including minutes, letter books, cash books, ledgers, books of notices and orders, ships' registers, records of coal exports and imports, and papers relating to the reorganisation of the Coal Meters' Office.

The records of the Coal Meters' Benefit Society, the Coal Meters' Provident Club and the Coal Meters' Office Protection Branch also form part of the archives of the Coal Meters' Committee. The Benefit Society records consist chiefly of minutes, resolutions touching amendments to the constitution, statements of account and correspondence relating to the Coal Meters' Benefit Society and Widows' Aid Fund. The Provident Club records contain a copy of rules, nomination form counterfoil book and account book. The Protection Branch records consist of annual reports, ledger accounts and cash books.

Records of Heseltine, Powell and Company, stockbrokers, including a register of clients, clients stock ledgers, correspondence, diaries and financial material. Some of the records relate to the mining industry, and to the funding and development of railroads in America. There are also papers regarding the loss of stock certificates on the S.S. Titanic.

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.

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