Guide to the Records of Baring Brothers & Company Ltd (as filmed by the AJCP)
M1973 - M1975
National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record
Created: 2018
Collection Summary
- Creator
- Baring Brothers and Company Ltd
- Title
- Records of Baring Brothers & Company Ltd (as filmed by the AJCP)
- Date Range
- 1827 - 1880
- Collection Number
- M1973 - M1975
- Extent
- 106 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
Letters of Paine, Stricker & Co concerning coffee and sugar production in Java.
Correspondence 1853-57 relating to the sugar estate of E. Horsman in Penang.
Memorandum 1838 on cotton and wool production in Australia.
Papers 1855-58 relating to a loan to the Victorian Government for railway construction, including letters of Sir Henry Barkly and H.C.E. Childers.
Correspondence 1844-48 with Sir Evan MacKenzie on trade between Brisbane and London.
Correspondence 1830-66 with Hope & Co on trade with Dutch East Indies.
Papers 1848-50 concerning Kapunda Copper Mine.
Ships' papers 1869-80.
Letter-books 1831-70 containing copies of Baring Brothers business letters. Recipients include E. Horsman, Paine, Sticker & Co, Russell and Sturgis, Revesby & Co, and H.C.E. Childers.
Statistics of general trade 1829-58.
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 London Metropolitan Archives. For more information contact London Metropolitan Archives Enquiry service [https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/london-metropolitan-archives/visitor-information/Pages/enquiry-service.aspx].
Preferred Citation
Acknowledgement of use of this material should refer to the London Metropolitan Archives and to the Australian Joint Copying Project.
Items from this collection should include references to the London Metropolitan Archives and to the AJCP nla.obj number, which serves as the online identifier for the digital copy.
Example: Western Australasian Trade Section Minute Book. 22 April 1895- 12 October 1904, London Metropolitan Archives. MS 16512 (AJCP ref: http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-798920226).
Archival History
Filmed at the Guildhall Library as part of the Australian Joint Copying Project, 1985 (AJCP Reels: M1973 - M1975). Original microfilm digitised as part of the AJCP Online Delivery Project, 2017-2020.
As the Guildhall Library did not allow selective filming, only those manuscripts relating entirely or substantially to Australia have been filmed.
Existence and Location of Originals
Guildhall Library, London, England. Collection reference: MSS. 18321-18324.
Currently held at the London Metropolitan Archives, London. For more information see:London Metropolitan Archives (https://search.lma.gov.uk).
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-vn765729] 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.
Pieces that were not filmed by the Australian Joint Copying Project have not been included in this Finding Aid.
Subjects
Australia: economic conditions; Banks and banking; Baring Brothers & Co Ltd; Barkly, Sir Henry; Brisbane, Queensland; Business records; Childers, Hugh C.E.; Coffee industry and trade; Cotton and cotton growing; Dutch East Indies: trade; Hope & Co; Horsman, Edward; Java; Kapunda Copper Mine; London, England; MacKeNew Zealandie, Sir Evan; Mines and mining; Paine, Stricker & Co; Penang, Malaysia; Railways: Victoria; Revesby & Co; Russell and Sturgis; Straits Settlements; Sugar industry and Trade: Java; Trade: Australia; Dutch East Indies: Trade; Wool and woolgrowing: Australia
Bibliography
Originally cited in Australian Joint Copying Project Handbook. Part 8: Miscellaneous (M) Series. Third Edition, published 1998. Entry 24, p8.
Biographical / Historical
Johann Baring emigrated from Bremen in 1717 and established a prosperous business as a cloth manufacturer and merchant in Exeter. In 1763 his sons set up the firm of John and Francis Baring & Co. in London, an import and export commission house mainly acting as an agent for the Exeter house. Under the leadership of Sir Francis Baring (1740-1810), the company soon established contacts with leading commercial houses in Europe and America, including the Amsterdam merchant bankers Hope & Co. Baring was an expert on trade with Turkey, the Mediterranean and the Baltic and in 1792 became Chairman of the East India Company.
From 1803 to 1828 the firm was led by Alexander Baring (1774-1848), later 1st Baron Ashburton. In 1806 a new partnership was formed, Baring Brothers & Co., and the firm moved to Bishopsgate. In this period it reached its zenith as the leading banking house in Europe, financing trade, remitting huge subsidies to Britain's allies on the Continent, and taking a leading role in the Louisiana Purchase. By 1828 its preeminence as banker to governments had been eclipsed by Rothschilds, but it had greatly expanded its American business, making loans to State Governments, and built up its Far Eastern and Latin American business on American account.
Baring Brothers was recognized in 1828. Of the new partners the most dominant were Thomas Baring (1799-1873), a politician, Chairman of Lloyds, director of the Bank of England and many companies, and the American Joshua Bates (1788-1864), who directed the routine commercial operations. The company continued to play a major role in American and Canadian public finance and trade, while in the Far East it acquired ships in the China tea trade and extended its credit system to Singapore, Batavia and other ports. It faced its greatest crisis in 1890, when excessive commitments in Argentinia left it with liabilities amounting to £21 million, It was saved by a private guarantee fund organized by the Bank of England and was then reconstructed as a limited company, Baring Brothers & Co. Ltd.
Item Descriptions
Series MS. 18321. House Correspondence, 1827 - 1879
81 itemsFilmed selectively.
General
Originally filmed on AJCP reels M1973-M1975.
Subseries HC. 1. General, 1841 - 1865
6 itemsLetters from E. and J. Lawford, solicitors, January 1850 (File HC. 1. 65)
4 itemsE. & J. Lawford to Baring Brothers, 8 January 1850 (Item)
Kapunda Mine; sends power of attorney to E. Stephens, A. Hardy and W. James of Adelaide to establish rights of Baring Brothers against Bagot.
E. & J. Lawford to Baring Brothers, 19 January 1850 (Item)
Kapunda Mine; alteration of power of attorney.
Correspondence, June 1841 - February 1843 (File HC. 1. 78)
3 itemsSubseries HC. 2. Statistics of general trade, 1827 - 1862
29 itemsCorrespondence, 1838 - 1862 (File HC. 2. 160)
3 itemsJ. Moore (N.S.W. and V.D.L. Commercial Association) to Baring Brothers, 29 May 1838 (Item)
Sends account of quantity of wool exported and tonnage of shipping employed in trade of N.S.W. and Van Diemen's Land.
Subseries HC. 3. England, 1848 - 1852
2 itemsSubseries HC. 5. North America, 1827 - 1829
1 itemSubseries HC. 5. 1. Boston, 1827 - 1829
1 itemPerkins & Co., merchants of Boston, January 1827 - 1829 (File HC. 5. 10A)
3 itemsSubseries HC. 6.. East Indies and China, 1832 - 1878
15 itemsSubseries HC. 6. 1. China, 1834 - 1876
2 itemsSubseries HC. 6. 2. East Indies, 1832 - 1863
6 itemsPaine, Stricker & Co. (Batavia) to Baring Brothers, 1832 - 1863 (File 1)
Coffee purchases; ship movements; market reports; sales of produce in Java; coffee and sugar crops. (11 letters)
H.C. Mair (Batavia) to Baring Brothers, 1837 - 1838 (File 2)
Arrival in Batavia; prices; Java merchants; piece goods; China trade. (5 letters)
A. Forestier (Batavia) to J. Bates, 1836 - 1843 (File 3)
Java trade; speculations of H.C. Mair; orders from Barings; H. Ritchie; coffee production in Java; agency business. (8 letters)
Includes letter of A. Morgan (Batavia), 12 Dec. 1839.
T.P. Freyss & Co. (Macassar) to Baring Brothers, 28 July 1848 (File 5)
Arrival at Macassar; political situation; produce of Celebes; sends samples of cloth.
Correspondence of concerning sugar estates of E. Horsman in Penang, 1853 - 1857 (File 6)
Letters refer to assignment of produce of estates to Baring Brothers, conditions of estates, labour shortages, sugar shipments, estimates of future production, history of sugar cultivation in Penang, selection of manager, production reports, settlement with former manager, claims against Horsman. Correspondents include E. Horsman (Rugby), J. Higginson, E. & J. Lawford, Gladstone & Co., W. Taylor (Penang), J.T. White (Penang), Revesby & Co. (Penang).
(75 letters)
Subseries HC. 6. 4.. Australia, c. 1838 - 1878
7 itemsMemorandum on cotton and wool production in Australia, c. 1838 (File 1)
Referring to need for reliable supply of raw materials from British dominions; unreliability of India; suitability of Australia for cotton and wool and also coffee, tobacco, silk, flax, wine; advantages of Indian labour in northern Australia weaknesses of system of disposing of Crown lands
(38pp., ms.)
Estimate of capital necessary for establishment of a cotton and sugar estate in N.S.W. to be worked by European labourers and profits that may be expected to arise therefrom. (11pp., ms.)
Correspondence, 1844 - 1848 (File 2)
Concerns proposal of E. Mackenzie that direct trade be established between Brisbane and London, indemnity granted by Sir Colin Mackenzie to Baring Brothers on account of loans granted to his sons at Moreton Bay, and proposal that Barings make advances to pastoralists.
Correspondents include J. Balfour (Edinburgh), W. Mackenzie (Edinburgh), Sir Evan Mackenzie (Sydney, Brisbane). (15 letters)
Also list of parties holding squatting licences at Moreton Bay and Darling Downs (1843) and list of summer cargoes suitable for Sydney and Brisbane markets.
E. & J. Lawford to J. Bates and T. Baring, 4 Aug. 1848: loan for Kapunda Copper Mine; encloses minute of 3 title deeds. Accounts of Kapunda Copper Mine, 1845 - 1849 (File 3)
Statement of shipment of Kapunda ores, 1844-1847.(4 docs.)
Rev. J.D. Lang (London) to Baring Brothers, 23 August 1852 (File 4)
Proposal that Baring Brothers finance emigration of Scottish and Northern Irish small farmers to N.S.W. to cultivate cotton in northern rivers region; land to be held exclusively by Barings until loan and all expenses paid.
Papers concerning a loan to Victorian Government for railway construction, July 1855 - 1858 (File 5)
8 itemsSir Charles Hotham (Melbourne) to T. Baring, 20 July 1855 - 21 July 1855 (Item (i))
Invites Barings to negotiate loan for railway construction in Victoria and act as agent in payment of dividends; encloses official papers on railway construction and memorandum by W.C. Haines on financial state of colony.
Sir Henry Barkly (Melbourne) to T. Baring, December 1857 - June 1858 (Item (ii))
Negotiation of loan of £7m; progress of Victoria; arrival of H.C.E. Childers in Melbourne; failure of his negotiations; selection of local banks to negotiate loan.
C. Ebden (Melbourne) to Baring Brothers, December 1857 - May 1858 (Item (iii))
Invites Barings to negotiate loan and act as agents for supply of railway material; encloses Acts and Parliamentary Papers on railway construction, loans for public under takings, and revenue and expenditure of Victoria; change of Ministry and Ebden's departure from Treasury. (2 letters).
J. Goodman (Melbourne) to Baring Brothers, September 1857 - June 1858 (Item (iv))
Winding up of wine business; account with Barings; railway construction in Victoria; meeting with H.C.E. Childers; failure of Childers' mission; state of goldfields. (4 letters).
Also includes letter from W.C. Haines regretting that Barings did not commission Goodman to negotiate with Government.
H.C.E. Childers (London, Melbourne) to Baring Brothers, February 1858 - November 1858 (Item (v))
Draft instructions; power of attorney; correspondence with H. Ebden on negotiation of loan; voyage to Australia; negotiations; failure of mission; return to England; expenses; New Zealand securities; banks in Victoria. (22 papers).
Subseries HC. 8. Netherlands, 1830 - 1869
9 itemsSubseries HC. 8. 1. Hope & Co., bankers and merchants of Amsterdam, 1830 - 1866
5 itemsPart 2, October 1830 - June 1831 (File HC. 8. 1)
7 itemsHope & Co to Baring Brothers, 16 October 1830 (Item)
Commercial Society shipments to Batavia; offers to charter Dutch ship; no decision on reduction of duties in Java.
Hope & Co to Baring Brothers, 23 October 1830 (Item)
Application to Minister of Colonies on Java duties.
Part 5, 1834 - June 1847 (File HC. 8. 1)
6 itemsSubseries HC. 8. 14. Nederlandsche Handel Maatschappij (Netherlands Trading Society), March 1864
1 itemSubseries HC. 17. 29. Proposals for commercial credit and for other business, 1832 - 1859
13 itemsSubseries HC. 17. 232. Correspondence, June 1859 - July 1859
2 itemsA. Goldsmith (Paris) to Baring Brothers, 6 July 1859 (File)
Interest in subscribing to loan for Victorian Government.
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-806823283
Subseries HC. 18. Ships Papers, 1871 - 1879
6 itemsFinancial papers of ships owned by Baring Brothers.
Subseries HC. 18. 1. Black Prince, June 1871 - July 1871
3 itemsVoyage 8 (Capt. W. Inglis), June 1871 - July 1871 (File HC. 18. 1. 12)
2 itemsLondon-Java-Hong Kong-Yokohama-New York-Melbourne-Newcastle-Yokohama-New York-London, 1869-1872.
Voyage 12 (Capt. W. Inglis), May 1876 - July 1876 (File HC. 18. 1. 16)
2 itemsLondon-Adelaide-Sydney-Shanghai-London, 1876-1877
Subseries HC. 18. 2. Norman Court, 1876 - 1879
3 itemsVoyage 7 (Capt. A. Shewan), June 1876 - July 1876 (File HC. 18. 2. 19)
1 itemLondon-Sydney-Shanghai-Foochow-Shanghai-London
Voyage 8 (Capt. A. Shewan), 1877 - 1879 (File HC. 18. 2. 20)
2 itemsLondon-Sydney-Shanghai-Nagasaki-Shanghai-Hong Kong-Capetown-London
Sydney, October 1877 - December 1877 (Item (v))
Account of Young and Lark and bills of Pt. Jackson Steam-boat Company, Thomas Playfair, F. Allerding & Company, S.S. Sustenance, Parbury Lamb & Company, John Fairfax and Sons, H.S. Bird & Company, Archibald Wright, Powell and Wall, Learmonth, Dickinson & Company, and other businesses. (41ff.)
Voyage 9, June 1879 - July 1879 (File HC. 18. 2. 21)
3 itemsLondon-Sydney-Hong Kong-Foochow-London
Series MS. 18322. Letterbooks (45 vols), 1831 - 1870
24 itemsFilmed selectively.
Archival History
Originally filmed on AJCP reel M1975.
Correspondence, November 1832 - December 1832 (File LB.3)
2 itemsCorrespondence, December 1835 (File LB.5A)
2 itemsCorrespondence, February 1836 (File LB.5C)
2 itemsCorrespondence, April 1836 - October 1836 (File LB.5D)
4 itemsJ. Bates to A. Forestier (Batavia), 7 October 1836 (Item ff.466-68)
Unable to suggest a partner; emigration of H.C. Mair to Singapore; markets for coffee, tin, sugar, rice.
Baring Brothers to Russell and Sturgis (Manila), 15 October 1836 (Item ff.504-5)
Money crisis; order for rice.
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-806824122
Correspondence, May 1837 - November 1837 (File LB.7)
3 itemsBaring Brothers to Capt. N. de St. Croix, 25 May 1837 (Item ff.337-38)
Instructions for voyage of Alexander Baring to China, Philippines, East Indies.
Correspondence, July 1853 - November 1853 (File LB.25)
3 itemsBaring Brothers to E. Horsman, 2 July 1853 (Item ff.191v-92v)
Arrangements for management of sugar consignments from Penang estates; commission of Revesby & Company.
Correspondence, January 1855 - December 1855 (File LB.27)
11 itemsBaring Brothers to Revesby & Company (Penang), 24 January 1855 (Item f.24r-v)
Horsman's sugar estates; seeks views on importing guano and purchase of swamp land.
Baring Brothers to Revesby & Company, 25 June 1855 (Item f.118r-v)
Introduces J. White, agent for Horsman; allowance for W. Taylor.
Baring Brothers to Revesby & Company, 9 October 1855 (Item f.197r-v)
Rum and sugar prices; guano; claims of W. Taylor on E. Horsman.
Correspondence, January 1856 - July 1856 (File LB.28)
7 itemsT. Baring to Sir Charles Hotham (Melbourne), 5 January 1856 (Item ff.19-20)
Disposal of Colonial Bonds; relations with Glyn & Company.
Baring Brothers to Russell and Sturgis (Manila), 9 February 1856 (Item ff.66-67)
Bills drawn against cargo; Crimean War.
Baring Brothers to E. Horsman, 11 April 1856 (Item ff.167-68)
Financial affairs; sugar consignments.
Correspondence, January 1857 - November 1857 (File LB.29)
6 itemsBaring Brothers to E. Horsman (Dublin), 8 January 1857 (Item ff.8-9)
Declines to advance £14,000 against profits of sugar estates.
Baring Brothers to Goodman and Umphelby (Melbourne), 11 August 1857 (Item ff.344-46)
Bond to be issued by Victorian Government; conditions under which Barings would accept it.
Correspondence, February 1858 - September 1858 (File LB.30)
8 itemsBaring Brothers to H. Ebden (Melbourne), 16 February 1858 (Item ff.84-85)
Loan to Victorian Government for railway purposes; intends to send representative to Melbourne.