A folder labelled 'Despatches addressed to Mr Parkes January 22. 1858 to December 6. 1861' containing a table of contents and 19 despatches and related enclosures from James Bruce (Lord Elgin) and Sir Frederick Bruce to Parkes sewn inside, 74 folios (including blanks and cover). The table of contents includes details of the subject matter, as well as remarks.

The despatches are as follows:

Lord Elgin, H.M.S. 'Furious', 22 January 1858.

Sir Frederick Bruce, Hong Kong, 26 February 1858.

Lord Elgin, H.M.S. 'Furious', Gulf of Pechelee (Chihli), 15 May 1858.

Lord Elgin, Shanghai, 13 July 1858, with an extract from a memorandum by Horatio Nelson Lay of an interview between Bruce and the Imperial Commissioners Kweiliang [Kuei-liang] and Hwashana [Huang Tsung-han?] on 6 July 1858.

Lord Elgin, Shanghai, 20 January 1859, with an extract from an English translation of a letter from the Chinese Imperial Commissioners [Kuei-liang, Huang Tsung-han?, 'Mingsheu' and 'Twau'] to Bruce [13 January 1859].

Sir Frederick Bruce, Victoria, Hong Kong, 16 May 1859.

Sir Frederick Bruce, Victoria, Hong Kong, 18 May 1859.

Sir Frederick Bruce, Victoria, Hong Kong, 31 May 1859. A copy certified by Robert Kennaway Douglas.

Sir Frederick Bruce, Shanghai, 1 September 1859. A copy certified by Robert Kennaway Douglas.

Sir Frederick Bruce, Shanghai, 1 September 1859.

Sir Frederick Bruce, Shanghai, 24 October 1859.

Sir Frederick Bruce, Shanghai, 4 November 1859.

Sir Frederick Bruce, Shanghai, 28 November 1859.

Sir Frederick Bruce, Shanghai, 2 December 1859.

Sir Frederick Bruce, Shanghai, 5 December 1859.

Sir Frederick Bruce, Shanghai, 27 August 1860.

Sir Frederick Bruce, Tientsin, 7 January 1861.

Lord Elgin, Hong Kong, 19 January 1861.

Sir Frederick Bruce, Peking, 6 December 1861.