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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.

'Extract of a letter addressed to Colonel Sykes, dated 30 September, 1846, announcing the discovery of Bilingual Coins in India'. Written by [N.] Graham he writes of the discovery of coins with both Roman and Greek inscriptions which he will send to Colonel Sykes.

'Extract from a letter addressed to Mr(Edwin) Norris by Major Rawlinson, dated Baghdad, 27 November 1846' in which he writes of inscriptions - that he thinks they may be relatively easy to interpret but that the language seems to be a compound of Turkish and Armenian and the names are apparently historical Kings of Armenia. He also writes of the progress of the excavations at Nineveh.

'Extract from a letter from Major Rawlinson to Mr (Edwin) Norris, dated Baghdad, 7 December 1846' in which he writes of his discovered inscriptions that their language is different to Babylonian though written in Babylonian characters. He thinks Assyrian is a connecting link and that old Egyptian may aid in deciphering. He is waiting for mail to come from Syria and hopes there will be something from Norris on the Babylonian excavations.

'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.

'Extract from a letter of Capt. T. J. Newbold, dated Alexandria, 10 January 1847' in which he writes of inscriptions recently found in the excavations. He transcribes the inscriptions and gives a description of the temple in which they were found.

'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.

'Copy of a Letter addressed to Col. Sykes by Hugo James Esq., dated Lahore, 20 Oct. 1849' in which he writes to send information about the Dera Ghat. He writes of the taking of the fort of Lukkee. He and others had accompanied the force and sends this letter to write of their discoveries concerning the area and its inhabitants.

'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.

'Copy of a letter addressed to Col. Sykes by Walter Elliot Esq. of the Madras Civil Service, dated at [Maltari] Vizagapatam, 5 Sept. 1850' in which he writes to send the inscriptions he has received from Captain Gill from Ajanta. He writes concerning these inscriptions and of others that can be found in Madras.