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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.

'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 Gutzlaff then explains that collections in China are superseded by those in Siam (Thailand).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'.

'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 Colonel Sykes by District Surgeon Elijah Impey, dated Ahmednuggur (Ahmednagar), 28 September 1846 on the discovery of a Colossal Buddhist Figure on the face of a hill in the Satpoorah (Satpura) range.' He describes his discovery of Buddhist remains and the finding of the figure.

'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.

'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.

'Extract from a letter addressed to Col. Sykes by Captn. M. Kittoe dated Sherghatti (Sherghati), 3 December 1846' in which he writes of his exploring in 'Gaya' and finding antiquities with inscriptions which he believes relate to gifts from rich people and the building of Hindu temples. He has copied the inscriptions and hopes to interpret them.

He has only found four or five fragments of Buddhist architecture but many small sculptural stones. He has sketched one find (copy of sketch is present) and describes others. He asks Sykes to compare with his notes on the caves at Ellora. At Bodh Gaya he has found many fragments of Buddhist sculptures which he also describes and compares with others. He has also discovered another Asoka pillar at 'Bakremee', the site of an ancient city. It is broken into pieces but describes it and its connections with other excavations and objects.

'Copy of a Report to the Bombay Government on Lithographic Limestone from the South-East Coast of Arabia', written by H.J. Carter, Assistant Surgeon, in which he describes the limestone ridge on the eastern coast which runs in a north-east direction as they approached the south-western half of the Kuria Muria Bay. This forms mountains near the coast with a tableland inland. Carter writes his description to send with some specimens and describes from where he took the specimens. He also writes about the people who inhabit the region.

'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.