Guide to the Papers of Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquess (as filmed by the AJCP)
M1888 - M1889
National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record
Created: 2018
Collection Summary
- Creator
- Wellesley, Richard Colley, 2nd Earl Mornington, 1st Marquess Wellesley
- Title
- Papers of Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquess (as filmed by the AJCP)
- Date Range
- 1792 - 1805
- Collection Number
- M1888 - M1889
- Extent
- 44 items
- Language of Materials
- English
- Repository
- Australian Joint Copying Project
- Sponsor
- The Australian Joint Copying Project (AJCP) online portal was created with the assistance of the Australian Public Service Modernisation Fund, 2017-2020. The National Library of Australia gratefully acknowledges the contribution of the other foundation AJCP partners, the State Library of New South Wales and The National Archives of the UK, and all other organisations which supported the work of the AJCP, the world's most extensive collaborative copying project, operating from 1948 to 1997.
Introduction
Scope and Contents
Correspondence relating to: the spice trade; settlement in India of convicts from New South Wales; relations with Dutch East Indies; expedition against Batavia 1800-01; British defences at Malacca; and administration of Prince of Wales Island (Penang). There is also correspondence concerning the Residency of R.T. Farquhar at Moluccas and Prince of Wales Island, and a journal of Capt. W.C. Lennon with an account of Ambon and Banda 1795-96. Main correspondents are Lord Hobart, General D. Baird, R.C. Birch, C. Stokes, Sir Home Popham, Sir Edward Pellew, Admiral P. Rainier, Capt. R.T. Farquhar and Capt. W. Bathurst.
Conditions Governing Access
Available for Access.
Conditions Governing Use
Readers wishing to publish or reproduce documents should seek permission, in the first instance, from the British Library. For more information visit: How I use the images I order?-The British Library [https://www.bl.uk/help/how-can-i-use-the-images-i-order].
Preferred Citation
Acknowledgement of use of this material should refer to the location of the original material and to the Australian Joint Copying Project.
Items from this collection should include references to the location of the original material and to the AJCP nla.obj number, which serves as the online identifier for the digital copy.
Example: M Series: Journal of Capt. James Cook, 18 February 1770, British Library Add. MS 27885 (AJCP ref: http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1234)
Archival History
Material selectively filmed as part of the Australian Joint Copying Project, 1981 (AJCP Reels: M1888-1889). Original microfilm digitised as part of the AJCP Online Delivery Project, 2017-2020.
Existence and Location of Originals
British Library, 96 Euston Road, London. Collection reference: Add MS 12564-13915. For further information see Richard Wellesley at the British Library (http://hviewer.bl.uk/IamsHViewer/Default.aspx?mdark=ark:/81055/vdc_100000000046.0x00002a).
Existence and Location of Copies
The original AJCP microfilm of the records filmed from this collection is available at the National Library of Australia [https://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn761066] as well as other institutions holding AJCP microfilm.
Finding-aid Notes
This finding aid is a revised online version of the original finding aid prepared by the Australian Joint Copying Project (AJCP), published by the National Library of Australia in 2018. The original AJCP finding aids were unpublished typescripts or photocopies available from libraries that held copies of the original microfilm.
Dates used in this finding aid refer to the date range of the records selected for filming rather than to the date range of the Series or Files.
Subjects
Ambon, Indonesia; Baird, D., Gen.; Banda Islands, Indonesia; Birch, R.C.; Britain: Politicians; Dutch East Indies; Farquhar, R.T.; Hobart, Sir Robert, Lord Hobart, 4th Earl of Buckinghamshire; Governors and Governors General: India; Jakarta, Indonesia; Lennon, W.C., Capt.; Malacca, Malaysia; Maluku Islands, Indonesia; Pellew, Sir Edward, Admiral; Penang, Malaysia; Popham, Sir Home, Admiral; Rainier, Peter, Admiral; Spice trade; Stokes, C.; Straits Settlements: Army and Defence; Trade: Dutch East Indies; Wellesley, Richard, 1st Marquess
Bibliography
Originally cited in Australian Joint Copying Project Handbook. Part 8: Miscellaneous (M) Series. Third Edition, published 1998. Entry 488, p190.
Biographical / Historical
Richard Colley Wellesley (1760-1842), 2nd Earl of Mornington (succeeded 1781), 1st Marquess Wellesley (created 1799). Brother of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, and Henry Wellesley, 1st Baron Cowley.
Educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford, Tory M.P. 1784-97. Lord of Treasury, 1786-97, member of Board of Control for affairs of India, 1793-97. Governor-General of India, 1797-1805. Ambassador Extraordinary to Spain 1809. Foreign Secretary in Perceval Government, 1809-12. Lord Lieutenant of Ireland 1821-28, 1833-34.
Item Descriptions
Series Add MS 12582. Secret letters from Court of Directors to Governors in India, 1796
3 itemsFilmed selectively.
Series Add MSS 13393-13396. General letters, in the Public Department, from the Court of Directors to the Governor General in Council, 1798 - 1804
4 itemsFilmed selectively.
Series Add MSS 13397-13400. General letters in the Commercial Department, from the Court of Directors to the Governor General in Council, 1799 - 1804
3 itemsFilmed selectively.
Series Add MSS 13400-13405. General letters in the Military Department, from the Court of Directors to the Governor General in Council, 1801 - 1803
2 itemsFilmed selectively.
Series Add MSS 13411-13420. General letters from the Governor General in Council to the Secret Committee of the Court of Directors, 1803
1 itemFilmed selectively.
Series Add MSS 13429-13432. General letters, in the Public Department, from the Governor General in Council to the Court of Directors, 1798 - 1805
4 itemsFilmed selectively.
General Letters, December 1798 - July 1801 (File Add MS 13429)
9 itemsSeries Add MSS 13444-13445. General letters, in the Law Department, from the Governor General in Council to the Court of Directors, 1801 - 1804
1 itemSeries Add MSS 13450-13451. Draft letters from Wellesley to Secret Committee of Court of Directors, 1801
1 itemFilmed selectively.
Series Add MSS 13456-13457. Letters from Wellesley to H. Dundas, President of Board of Control, 1801
2 itemsFilmed selectively.
Series Add MSS 13461-13463. Enclosures in letters from Wellesley to Lord Lewisham, 1800 - 1801
2 itemsFilmed selectively.
Correspondence, May 1800 - November 1800 (File Add MS 13461)
Papers concerning the proposed invasion of Java and Isle de France. The correspondents include the Governor-General of Batavia, F. North, Lord Clive, J. Duncan, Col. A. Wellesley, Col. Champagne, Admiral P. Rainier, Admiral Blankett and Sir Roger Curtis.
Series Add MS 13469. Letters from Wellesley to Lord Hobart Secretary of State, 1801 - 1803
5 itemsFilmed selectively.
Series Add MS 13709. Papers on expeditions against Batavia and Red Sea, 1801
3 itemsFilmed selectively.
Series Add MS 13710. Drafts of letters from Wellesley to various persons, 1802
2 itemsFilmed selectively.
Series Add MS 13712. Drafts of letters from Wellesley to various persons, 1804 - 1805
3 itemsFilmed selectively.
Wellesley to Governor P.G. King, 2 March 1804 (Item ff.151-152)
Pardon granted to Bellasis, late of East India Company military establishment; his work on batteries and artillery of N.S.W.
Series Add MS 13713. Copies of letters from Wellesley to various persons, 1800
1 itemFilmed selectively.
Series Add MSS 13717-13718. Letters and instructions from Wellesley concerning expeditions against Batavia and Ceylon, 1801
2 itemsFilmed selectively.
Series Add MS 13751. Copies of letters from Wellesley to Admiral P. Rainier, 1800
10 itemsFilmed selectively.
Possibility of Government of Batavia placing itself under British protection; military force needed; naval blockade of Batavia, 9 May 1800 (Item ff.48v-55v)
Instructions for expedition against Batavia; military and civil arrangements following Dutch surrender, 22 May 1800 (Item ff.58v-70v)
Series Add MS 13752. Copies of letters from Wellesley to various naval officers, 1801 - 1803
Items of interest include:
Wellesley to Admiral P. Rainier, 24 Jan. 1801: proposes to annex Java; strength and command of expedition; appointment of R. Birch as Commissioner for affairs of Batavia.
Wellesley to Admiral P. Rainier, 5 Feb. 1801: further details of expedition against Batavia.
Wellesley to Admiral P. Rainier, 5 Feb. 1801: changes in plan for Batavian expedition.
Wellesley to Admiral P. Rainier, 5 Feb. 1801: command of Batavian expedition.
Wellesley to Admiral P. Rainier, 10 Feb. 1801: postponement of expedition.
Wellesley to Admiral P. Rainier, 18 March 1803: proposes delay in restitution of Dutch Settlements at Malacca and Moluccas.
Series Add MS 13753. Correspondence between Major M. Shawe and various naval officers, 1803 - 1804
8 itemsFilmed selectively.
Admiral P. Rainier to Capt. W. Bathurst, 28 December 1803 (Item ff.17r-18r)
Refers to building of hospital at Penang.
M. Shawe to Capt. W. Kent, 8 February 1804 (Item ff.19r-20r)
Thanks for offer to provide protection to ships; purpose of voyage from N.S.W.
Capt. B. Page to M. Shawe, 13 February 1804 (Item ff.77r-79v)
Account of activities of Caroline at Penang and in Eastern Seas.
J. Lumsden to M. Shawe, 4 February 1804 (Item ff.94r-95v)
Allowances claimed by Capt. W. Kent of BuffaloBuffalo, sent from N.S.W. to obtain supplies.
Capt. W. Kent to Wellesley, 31 January 1804 (Item ff.96r-v)
Claims allowances granted to ships in India.
Series Add MS 13755. Correspondence between Wellesley and Sir Edward Pellew, 1805
1 itemFilmed selectively.
Series Add MS 13757. Letters from Sir Home Popham and Admiral P. Rainier, 1801
4 itemsFilmed selectively.
Series Add MSS 13758-13759. Letters from Admiral P. Rainier to Wellesley, 1797 - 1800
2 itemsFilmed selectively.
Correspondence, 1799 - 1800 (File Add MS 13759)
14 items
Destruction of Spanish stores at Manila; sends intelligence about Batavia, 24 December 1799 (Item ff.41-43)
Need to strengthen garrison at Malacca; readiness of Dutch to betray British, 21 January 1800 (Item ff.47-48)
Admiralty orders to capture Batavia on same terms as Demarary and Surinam, 6 May 1800 (Item ff.62-66)
Capture of Dutch ships near Batavia, 26 June 1800 (Item ff.91-92)
Although described individually, this letter was originally microfilmed with a page from another letter. The last page of the letter described can be found at the beginning of nla.obj-752403638.
Series Add MS 13760. Letters from Admiral P. Rainier and other naval officer, 1800 - 1801
8 itemsFilmed selectively.
Admiral P. Rainier to Wellesley, 24 January 1801 (Item f.17)
Return of ships from blockade of Batavia; high mortality rate due to climate.
Return of detachment of 12th Regiment serving in blockade of Batavia, June 1800 - January 1801 (Item f.21)
Copies of correspondence between Capt. H. Ball of Daedalus and Dutch officials at Batavia, August 1800 (Item ff.22-23)
Although described individually, this letter was originally microfilmed with a page from another letter. The last page of the letter described can be found at the beginning of nla.obj-752403854.
Series Add MS 13761. Copies of enclosures in letters from Wellesley to naval officers, 1800 - 1804
5 itemsFilmed selectively.
Series Add MS 13762. Letters from Admiral P. Rainier and other naval officers, 1803 - 1805
4 itemsFilmed selectively.
Capt. W. Bathurst to Wellesley, 1803 (Item ff.18-19)
Rattlesnake sent to Prince of Wales Island to protect trade from privateers.
Capt. W. Bathurst to Wellesley, 28 December 1803 (Item ff.20-23)
Increased number of armed proas in Straits of Singapore.
Series Add MS 13773. Copies of letters from Wellesley to Colonel A. Wellesley, 1801
3 itemsFilmed selectively.
Decision to resume expedition against Batavia, to be followed by expedition to Isle de France, 26 January 1801 (Item ff.111-19)
Orders Col. Wellesley to communicate with General Baird, Admiral Rainier and R.C. Birch about Batavia, 5 February 1801 (Item ff.125-26)
Although described individually, this letter was originally microfilmed with a page from another letter. The last page of the letter described can be found at the beginning of nla.obj-752404214.
Series Add MS 13818. Statements on trade between Europe, India and China, 1792
1 itemFilmed selectively.
Series Add MS 13869. Letters and papers of R.T. Farquhar in defence of his conduct at the Moluccas, 1798 - 1802
Includes a letter from Farquhar to Lord Clive protesting at his removal from the Residency of Moluccas, 22 February 1802 (pp. 19-25), memoranda and remarks on evidence referred to in the letter, 28 February 1802 (pp. 30-47), extracts from correspondence, 1798-1801 (pp. 50-151), and information on the Papuan fleet, 18 December 1800 (p. 94).
(151 pp.)
Series Add MS 13870. Correspondence of Wellesley and Major M. Shawe with R.T. Farquhar, 1803 - 1805
Includes instructions to Farquhar on the restitution of the Dutch settlements at Malacca and Moluccas, March-May 1803 (pp. 1-56), letters from Farquhar at Prince of Wales Island, May 1804-March 1805 (pp. 65-81), memoranda on the defences and revenues of Prince of Wales Island (pp. 111-14), memorandum on British interests in Sumatra, 16 May 1805 (pp. 123-28), memorandum on the settlement at Malacca, 25 May 1805 (pp. 129-37), letters from Farquhar on his removal from the Residency of Prince of Wales Island, June 1805 (pp. 152-61), appendices on the fortifications, shipping, public works, laws, and revenues of Prince of Wales Island and its relations with the Malay States (pp. 168-225).
(225 pp.)
Series Add MS 13874. Capt. W.C. Lennon. Journal of an expedition to the Moluccas Islands under Vice-Admiral P. Rainier in 1795 and 1796, with an account of Amboyna and Banda, 1803 - 1805
The Journal (pp. 3.61) covers the period 15 Oct. 1795-19 Aug. 1796 and includes description of Penang (pp. 7-14) and Celebes (pp. 20-23), as well as the Moluccas. The remainder of the manuscript is a description of Amboyna and Banda, with suggestions on their administration.
(116 pp.)