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A series of letters sent from Mauritius concerning the setting up of an astronomy observatory. Dated from 1829-1831. Also a copy of the Mauritius Gazette, Saturday 20th June 1829 containing an article on astronomy.

Letter from Charles Colville to Alexander Johnston in which he thanks Johnston for sending various communications and copies of the Transactions of the Royal Asiatic Society. He encloses other letters regarding astronomy and further Madagascan literature for the Translation Committee. He hopes that he may become a member of the Royal Asiatic Society and enclose a Bank order for his subscription. Handwritten, 3 sides.

Letter from Charles Colville, Governor of Mauritius, to Alexander Johnston, Vice-President of Royal Asiatic Society, to enclose a copy of the letter from the Professor of Mathematics at the Royal College of St Louis which had accompanied other letters sent to Colville by Johnston. He has had the Papers translated and circulated to several European establishments in order to encourage astronomical observations. He writes that he has appointed to the Chair of Physical Sciences, the French gentleman who took the observations on the voyage of Discovery of the "Astrolabe". He wishes to pursue options for raising finance for an observatory in Mauritius and the instruments need to equip it. He believes the conditions in Mauritius are particularly good for observations. Handwritten letter, 5 sides, dated 20 June 1829.

With this letter are five further letters.. These are:

• Copy of a circular addressed to the surrounding Governors, signed by Charles Colville, in which he writes concerning the collection of astronomical data. Handwritten, 3 sides, dated 20 June 1829.
• Letter from Signé Dabadie, Professor of Mathematics, to The Honorable Colonel Barry, Secretary to Chief of Government, concerning astronomical observations and instruments. Handwritten in French, 5 sides , undated.
• Letter from Charles Colville to Alexander Johnston. This is a personal note to send a copy of the letter from Baron D'umienville, the archivist of the Government, concerning papers concerned with variation of the compass. Handwritten, 2 sides, dated 21 June 1829.
• Letter from Signé D'umienville to Monsieur Viret concerning archives taken by Monsieur Farquhar and Sir Alexander Johnston in 1817 and 1818. Handwritten in French, 3 sides, dated 20 March 1829.
• Letter from Signé Lislet Geoffroy concerning marine journals of 1784 to 1787. Handwritten in French, 1 side, dated 21 March 1829.

Letter from Charles Colville to Alexander Johnson, to thank him for his letters and to write that he had circulated its contents in the Mauritius Gazette, of which he sends a copy. He writes concerning others who have contacted regarding astronomical observations, of funding astronomical instruments and of setting up a Museum of Natural History on Mauritius. He also sends some more books after Johnston and Baron Humboldt's reception of the Madagascan New Testament. Handwritten, 4 pieces, 15 sides, dated 10 February 1830.

With this letter is a copy of the Mauritius Gazette containing the Notice: "The subjoined Observations are extracted from a Correspondence with the Secretary of the Royal Astronomical Society of London, addressed to His Excellency the Governor by the Vice-President of the Royal Asiatic Society, with a view of obtaining the co-operation of Scientific Observers in this hemisphere, in furtherance of the progress of science, and are, therefore, published for this purpose. Port-Louis, 13 June 1829. G.A. Barry, President of the Commission Public Instruction". The subsequent article is printed in both English and French.

An English translation of "Entwurf einer Grammatik der Herero Sprache", the work by Karl Hugo Hahn, that was supposed to be undertaken with the linguist Wilhelm Bleek. As this was not possible, due to circumstances, Hahn delivered his own version of the book to Riga in 1854. It is the first grammar of the Herero language spoken by the Herero people in Southern Africa.

The manuscript of 208 pages is heavily corrected and the translator is not identified. There is a note on a torn piece of paper which states "Presented ... Sir Bartle Frere K.G.C.B., C.S.I. by the Translator, Cape Town, January 19th 1880.