Volumes I and II of the Miscellaneous Papers date from 1775, except for an extract from a 1770 letter concerning grants of lands in Virginia and an undated document purporting to give the facts about the "first settlement and granting Charters to the American Provinces" during the period 1584 - 1732. Among the papers are credentials for State delegates to Congress; lists of officers and pay tables; resolutions of the New York Assembly; a description of and detailed drawings for a ceremonial sword to be presented to Lafayette; keys to ciphers, apparently used by Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, and C. W. F. Dumas, and communications in cipher; a census report from Connecticut for 1782; and a paper titled "Prisoners of War" summarizing the regulations issued and the action taken from 1775 to 1782. Other documents relate to the examination of and accusations against Captain John Folger; the plight of Americans captured by Barbary pirates; commercial treaties with foreign powers; and payments made by the Indian Department.
Volume III, 1777 - 1789, contains affidavits about the New Hampshire Grants; a schedule of the sales of land in the Western Territory; resolutions of Congress about coinage; and drafts of ordinances. Among the letters are one from Count d'Estaing to General George Washington; a letter to President Washington enclosing letters and petitions from Richard O'Brien, prisoner in Algiers; and letters complaining about the postal service.
Volume IV, 1776 - 1789, contains records relating to foreign commercial companies; the dispute between Captain Gillon and the Prince of Luxembourg over the vessel "Indienne"; the accounts of M. Schweighauser, commercial agent in France; Captain Gustavus Conyngham; and the capture and condemnation of prizes taken by American privateers.
