Malta, England & elsewhere.- Wollen (James, manservant to Sir George Elliot, of 88 Eaton Place, London, of Elm, Somerset, d. 1899) Diary of a servant in the service of Admiral Sir George Elliot and family, including travel to Malta, Italy, Switzerland, France and across England, Scotland and Ireland, autograph manuscript, 261pp., presentation inscription from Cecilia Mary Elliot to James Wollen on first f., last f. loose and edges with tears slightly affecting a few letters (no loss of legibility), some ff. excised at end, slightly browned, lower endpaper torn with small loss, inner hinges strengthened, original half calf, covers slightly rubbed, sm. 4to, 1848-58.

⁂ James Wollen, servant to Admiral Sir George Elliot, of whom Nelson wrote that he was one of the best officers in the navy.

Malta. In 1852 and 1853 Admiral Elliot and family make visits to Malta, "I like Malta much the Royal Hotel Strada Fumia [Valletta] what with the bells by dozzens [sic] and all the people walking on up the Pavements... the Houses have fine plans in them"; the fleet sailing from the harbour, the Bishop of Jerusalem's sermon, a visit to the Capuchin church at Floriana, "... I will never forget the dress of the men and the places underground a sort of passages or cellars full of the dead bodies of all who has ever died there, all put in a sort of cupboard upright looking fastly some others just like life only asleep the same as you see them out in the streets..."; religious charity, "its quite a sight in Malta the Churches the priest with these Cauposhins [Capuchins] who go out all over the island to beg with a sort of sack or large bag across the shoulder..."; religious practices, "... I feel horrified to see the fearful superstition... one thing amuses me much is the Host to visit the dying about 20 go in procession all with torches... man and boys all dressed alike first a boy with a bell to ring to warn all the people who come out by hundreds to the windows and doors and kneel down while the procession pass all at the same time humming a tune of some Psalm with the priest under a sort of canopy... they carry him in an old sedan chair - the sight altogether looks very ridiculous lord only knows if it is right but to us at first sight it seems perfectly disgusting"; a cricket match at Floriana, Carnival, "... Men in Womans close and Women in mens..."; visiting Sir Henry Kellett (1806-1875), naval officer, commenting on Admiral Elliot's health, "the Admiral still very poorly" etc.

George Elliot, second son of Gilbert, first earl of Minto (1751-1814); entered the navy in 1794 on the St George with Captain Foley, whom he followed to the Britannia, Goliath, and Elephant; he was present at Hotham's actions off Toulon, and at the battles of Cape St Vincent and the Nile; promoted lieutenant on 12 August 1800; in 1801 he served in the San Josef and St George, under Nelson; April 1802 promoted commander, and in May 1803 went to the Mediterranean as a volunteer with Nelson in the Victory; on 10 July Nelson appointed him to the sloop Termagant and on 1 August posted him to the frigate Maidstone; afterwards attached to the squadron off Cadiz, under Sir Richard Strachan; Nelson then wrote that he was one of the best officers in the navy. "An officer of solid merits, Elliot made a notable contribution to naval policy between 1830 and 1837." - Oxford DNB.