The series consists of 38 letters from Joseph Dalton Hooker to Brian Houghton Hodgson. They have been organised mainly according to a previous listing made of the material, approximately by date.

Letter from Joseph Hooker to Brian Houghton Hodgson in which he writes that being "horridly hard up for somebody to talk to I take up my pen…" The weather has been indifferent with mist and snow and though he has ventured into Tibet twice has little further to add to his previous descriptions. Hooker continues to describe both the climate and the geography in which he finds himself and writes about possible future plans. Handwritten, 9 sides, with accompanying envelope, dated 23 September, 1849.

Letter from Joseph Hooker to Brian Houghton Hodgson in which he writes of his pleasure in receiving Hodgson's letters and how he is now hastening to reply to Hodgson's of the 22nd. He writes concerning his and others' impressions of Tibet and its accessibility; of the geography that he has encountered. He includes a sketch to show the true bearing of two ridges he has explored. Handwritten, 12 sides, with accompanying envelope, dated 4 October 1849.

This series covers all the other correspondence with the Papers of Brian Houghton Hodgson, It ranges in date from 1843 to 1880 and covers personal, political and research interests.

Correspondence from Sir Henry Yule. Two letters from Yule to Brian Houghton Hodgson regarding the political situation in Tibet. Both date to July 1873.

Letter from Sir Henry Yule to Brian Houghton Hodgson in which he writes that Lieutenant Garnier of the French Navy is in China preparing to penetrate Tibet and has written to Yule to ask for questions of interest about the area. Yule is therefore asking Hodgson's advice. He writes how little is known from the Europeans who have been to Lhasa and mentions Thomas Manning and Vanderput, a Dutchman. The Asiatic Society have sent Yule some copies of Hodgson's letter on Buddhism and Yule sends some to Hodgson. Handwritten, 3 sides, dated 1 July 1873. Also accompanying envelope with Hodgson's annotations.

Letter from Henry Yule to Brian Houghton Hodgson in which he apologises for causing Hodgson so much writing and that he has been waiting for Montgomerie to be at home. He states that the papers Hodgson suggests will be very suitable and asks, if not too heavy, to send them via book post. Handwritten, 2 sides, dated 23 July 1873. Also accompanying envelope with Hodgson's annotations.

A series of manuscripts in which Hodgson explores some of his interests concerning the Indian sub-continent.

"Memorandum of Literary Topics in hand". Handbound notebook in which Hodgson has noted all the different areas of research in which he is interested. These include History of Nepal proper, History of the kingdom of Nepal, Religion - Buddhism - its origin - diffusion & decay, Extent & boundaries of Nepal, the Government, the Army of Nepal, the Law & Police, Church or Religious Body, Topography, Finances, Land tenures, Commerce, Letters, Literature and Languages, Population, Thibet, Economic substances, Agriculture, Manufactures, Rent - profit- wages, Zoology especially ornithology, Mines of Nepal, Tibet - extent and boundaries, Narrative of the relations of the British Govt with that of Nepal from the earliest times to the present. On the front cover of the notebook in addition to the title is a crossed out list of boxes continued to be stored at 157 [Teachurch] St. Handwritten, undated.

"Commerce with the countries north of India". A paper written in reply to one given at the Society of Arts by Sir Douglas Forsyth on the possibilities of commerce with Sikkim, Nepal and Tibet, in which Hodgson points out his previous attempts to raise this issue and his opinions on the subject. Handwritten, 2 pieces, 7 sides, undated [1877, see BHH/5/41/1].