The collection includes correspondence with several of Lingard's colleagues from Douai and Ushaw, Roman Catholic Vicars-Apostolic (bishops), religious historians, antiquaries, archivists, publishers and editors, both British and French. The correspondence includes that of Charles Butler, the Catholic layman and advocate of emancipation, including Lingard's letters, which were returned to him by Butler's daughter after the death of her father in 1842. There are also twenty-five letters between third parties and a small selection of miscellaneous papers.