Keith Mitchell, Volunteer Projects Officer, November 2024
In this recorded presentation, Keith Mitchell explains about the Foreign Messenger Service records of the early 19th century and the project to catalogue the Bills and Accounts from 1795–1852. This highlights the cost of travel, places travelled and issues faced by the Messenger Service.
Keith is the Volunteer Project Officer at The National Archives.
Transcript
In 1801 a 13 year old Lewis Hertslet was appointed as a sub Foreign Office librarian, and by 1810 he was promoted to Librarian and Keeper of the Papers. One role taken on was the Papers of the King’s Messenger Service, held by the Chief Clerk’s department. The Chief Clerk’s department had merged with the Library in 1824. Lewis was from then the Superintendent of Messengers.
Lewis retired in 1857, and his son took on the duties as Librarian and Chief Clerk.
The papers of Lewis remain in the Foreign Office records, now found mainly in the record series FO 366 and FO 351. The records date from 1795 to 20th century. Although the records are weeded or not retained from the latter part of the 19th century onwards, they are a great source to trace the history or career of a Messenger. They also give a bigger insight in to travel and costs for the early 19th century.
The Bills and Accounts date from 1795 to 1852, in the piece range FO 366/1-55B. The are bound in, to be honest, rather tatty red leather. Beware of the dust if you have respiratory issues. Some of the Foreign Office rebinding hasn’t tested time very well.
Our volunteers are cataloguing the files by name, quarter of claim, date of reimbursement and the amount claimed. They also list some of the places visited, and any other comments made in the claim.
The Bills and Accounts for the Messengers are the quarterly accounts for each Messenger. They state the journeys and costs for each trip. The Messengers are split between Home and Foreign, with a Messenger alternating between the two. The accounts show that if a messenger went abroad for a long period of time then they would be on Home duty for the next quarter.
Lewis Hertslet already had connections to the Messenger service, his father was a former Messenger himself who died in 1802. The accounts for Louis (Senior) show his journeys were mainly Home, including trips to Roehampton, found between Putney and Richmond. This was home to some of the countries influential people at the time. The journeys were probably more to Mount Clare, the home of Sir John Dick, a diplomat with connections to Russia.
The King’s Messengers are one of the most experienced and respected courier services in the world, dating back over 800 years. They’re responsible for the secure and effective delivery of the UK’s classified diplomatic material to British embassies, high commissions and consulates worldwide
Although there are other messengers around Whitehall, the King’s or Queen’s Messengers are possibly the most prostegous. They are awarded a Silver Greyhound as their ‘emblem’ and they travelled mainly across Europe but occasionally to Washington and the US.
During the early 19th century there were usually a maximum of 30 messengers employed on foreign duty. They were generally ex army officers who could fire a pistol, speak languages and ride a horse.
Lewis Hertslet was Swiss born. Settled in London, aound Richmond, he would have spoken at least two languages, but probably three. His journeys took around London and across Europe.
He died in 1802, and his will can be found by searching Discovery. Hannah, his wife revieved an allowance of £75 a year following his death. This is recorded in the Bills and Accounts.
Their son and then grandson went on to have a successful career in the Foreign Office
Travelling around Europe during the early 19th century wasn’t without it’s perils.
These records start in 1797, and England are at war with Napoleon is in France. The journeys usually were from Dover to Calais, then Paris and off to their final destination.
Messengers could be caught, and one story tells that a Messenger, possibly Andrew Basilico, was captured. The French though found no evidence of any notes or messages. Apparently the note was written on a corner of a blank sheet. Andrew ate the paper corner, knowing he was going to be apprehended.
In 1803 John Dressins appears to have had a little bad luck, he received £25 in lieu of injuries during a trip top Denmark.
Examples will be William Timms, who travelled to St Petersburg in 1797. He was taken ill and claimed for the Doctors bill.
The same year Thomas East travelled to Vienna between April and July. He was ill due to the intense heat.
All the messengers spent some time on Home duties travelling mainly around London and the Home Counties. Regular trips included Richmond, Kew, Windsor, Dropmore Hill, Fulham, and Battersea. Some did travel further, Weymouth, Poole and Brighthelmstone (now Brighton) were all on the travels of the Home Messenger.
Regular visits to Stately homes such Dropmore Hill, the home of Lord Grenville, and Knowsley Park the home of the 14th Earl of Derby, now a safari park!
Other Stately Homes included Stanmore, Claremont, Park Place, and Mont Clare. Castle Bear Hill was a large house and lands owned by the Duke of Kent, it is now part of Ealing.
Following the death of Louis, his wife Hannah Hertslet received an allowance of £75 per year.
The main duties were the Foreign service. Trips overseas included St Petersburg, Constantinople, Berlin, The Hague, Vienna, Madrid and Copenhagen.
Journeys during the war with France indicate the effort to make and retain Allies against Napoleon.
John Dressins in 1807 remained in attendance of His Excellency the Honourable Henry Pierrepont. Pierrepont was the envoy to the Court of Sweden. Sweden and Britain were allies during the war with France, albeit for a brief period between 1810 and 1812.
Andrew Basilico also remained for a while in attendance of the Earl of Lauderdale in 1806. Lauderdale was invested with powers to conclude peace with Napoleon. This failed and an account can be found in the London Gazette, 18 October 1806
During the 1st quarter of 1814 John Schaw claimed £426 for journeys to Gottenberg, Berlin, Brandenburg, Weimar, the Imperial Head Quarters Frankfurt, and the Hague. This followed a few months of Home journeys to locations such as North Cray, Windsor, Lambeth and Richmond. This is the equivalent today of about £20,000.
By the 1820s the messengers were being paid in advance of their journeys. Payments ranged between £250-£650 in advances.
If the Messenger wasn’t required, or did not take any journeys, then he was paid a standard Board Wages, of £22 6s 0d.
Our volunteers are finding plenty of interesting comments and claims in the records. As well as records of deaths and allowances to their wife, there are comments on their travels. The messengers were not above being robbed or threatened by highwaymen. Richard Johnson, in 1814, claimed £80 following a robbery at Chaumont. This was possibly on his travels between Troyes and the Imperial Headquarters at Frankfurt
Nathaniel Vick, in 1800, required guards whilst on a journey. His journeys that quarter included St Petersburg, Berlin and Heligoland.
There were up to 30 Messengers between Home and Foreign service, and a list of names can be found in the annual Royal Kalendar.
What is next, well that depends on whether this prompts someone to digitise the records. That would really open up the full collection. There are further records, including a box of Oaths sworn, Bills, and Memorandum. This would be ideal to catalogue if it wasn’t all loosely bound in a rough date order.
The Hertslet Papers in FO 351 contain drafts, allowances and registers relating to the Messenger service. The service wasn’t without the odd bump, as there are a number of volumes of complaints against them in FO 366. One complaint was the use of their two seater Chaise. The standard two seater carriage used by the service. The Secretary of State reported the ‘sale or rent’ of the extra seat as income. He recommended the Chaise should be a single seater, but Hertslet argued the silver greyhound messengers needed two seats when escorting people back to England.
There are bills where the messenger has escorted people back to London.
This wasn’t the only occasion of a complaint against the Chaise. In 1834 William Cookes was accused of having two carriages.
We are making these 56 pieces searchable by name, date of claim and reimbursement, the amount of the claim, and a summary of places visited.
We will also add additional notes, such as ill health, retirement, death, and issues with the journeys.
These can be a great resource for historians, not just those interested in the names, but travel in the early 19th century. The accounts give details of how they crossed Europe, putting their Chaise and horse on a flat bed train, or quarantine before entering Constantinople. They also give an insight in to the cost of travel.
Hopefully we may find further records to catalogue, such as the memorandum, oaths and accounts of the messengers, or perhaps the complaints volumes. There is always more records to look at.
Thank you.