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This volume contains copies of, or extracts from, letters sent to the Royal Asiatic Society between 1846 and 1852. They are written into a leather-bound volume with the title 'Extracts' on its front cover. Besides the letters which cover 93 pages, there are subsequently some rough pencil notes and a diagram in a different hand (possibly a child's) followed by blank pages and an index at the end of the manuscript.

'Report to the Bombay Government accompanying Specimens of Copper ore from the Island of Maseerai (Masirah) by Asst. Surgeon H.J. Carter' in which he describes his visit to the Island and how he had been helped by the inhabitants to find the sites where copper could be found; specimens of which accompany his report.

'Note by Dr. (George) Buist, of Bombay, on the Specimens of lithographic Stone mentioned above' in which he describes the tests he made upon the specimens and their suitability for use in lithography.

'Copy of a letter from the Reverend Dr. Stevenson, addressed to Colonel Sykes, dated Poona (Pune), 14 October 1846, on [Samashtian] Coins'. Stevenson explains how the coins were found in an uncultivated field and brought to auction in Pune. He bought 100. He is sending some of the them to Sykes. He describes the coins and transcribes some of the inscriptions.

'Copy of a letter by the Rev. C. Gutzlaff, dated Victoria, Hong Kong, 24 August 1846, on the subject of Buddhist literature'. Gutzlaff is replying to Colonel Sykes' enquiry about Buddhist literature and explains that the largest collection he has seen is on the 'Golden Island' and consists of 'beautifully bound volumes in yellow covers'. These were a present more than a century ago and the inscriptions he has seen are in Sanskrit. Gutzlaff then explains that collections in China are superseded by those in Siam (Thailand). He also informs that 'the land where Pali books are most valued is Cambodia'.

'Extracts from letters of Major Rawlinson addressed to Mr Norris'. Extracts from letters dated 25 February, 28 March, 28 April and 15 July 1848, in which he writes firstly of how his indisposition has interrupted his explorations but he is working on the translations from the copies of the inscriptions he has made. In March he writes of making the most of learning about Babylonian knowledge whilst in the desert and of the discoveries he made. In April he had concluded that the roots of Babylonian are biblical and monosyllabic. He has found Babylonian words in the Rabbinical Chaldee. He has also found what he believes to be a description of Nebuchadnezzar's buildings. In July he remarks that his Assyrian progress is satisfactory. He has made good progress on a translation from the Nimrud obelisk and in his understanding of the different grammatical parts of the language.

'Extract of a letter of Dr. Atchison addressed to Colonel Sykes, dated Peshawar, 24 February 1850' in which he writes how he left Aurangabad to carry out Sykes' wishes for information about the Sulphur Range and the mineral hills around Peshawar. He has become well acquainted with the locality but cannot visit the range because of snow. He writes of the minerals that he has found and what would be necessary to mine and refine them. The letter describes also the geography and the inhabitants of the region.

'Extract of a letter from Matthew Herring Esq, dated 4 Dec 1847' in which he writes of his discoveries in Assam of various types of clay useful in pottery. He has also found useful geology specimens and potential medicinal components.

'Extract of a letter from Lt. Pollock addressed to Colonel Sykes, dated Kohut, 30 March 1850' in which he writes about the salt mines of 'Malgeen'. These are one day's march from a place called Nakbund where sulphur ore can be obtained. Pollock describes his journey to the area and how the mine is not regularly worked. He has sent specimens to Peshawar for further analysis as his geological knowledge is not sufficient.

'Extract of a letter from Dr Atchison, addressed to Colonel Sykes, dated Peshawar, 26 February 1850' in which he supplements his previous letter (RAS GOV7/30) with information about the 'Koree' and Khyber passes, the Jhelum river, the area around Rawal Pindee, and other geographical features on his journey.