A folder labelled 'Despatches Mr Parkes to Lord Elgin From No. 96 to No. 109 Omitting Nos 103, 105 & 107' containing copies of 11 despatches from Parkes in Canton to James Bruce, Earl of Elgin and Kincardine, and related enclosures, 4 folios and 77 bifolios (excluding the cover). The despatches are as follows:

Despatch of 7 January 1859, with copies of a letter from Sir Charles Van Straubenzee, Monsieur D'Aboville and James McCleverty, Canton, to the Allied Commissioners in Canton [Parkes, Henri des Chesnez (?) and Thomas Holloway], 5 January; a letter from Thomas Holloway, Canton, to the Honourable St George Foley, 5 January; a letter from Thomas Lemon, Canton, to Thomas Holloway, 5 January; a letter from the Allied Commissioners in Canton to Sir Charles Van Straubenzee, 6 January; and a memorandum by Parkes concerning reports received from Chinese officials, dated Canton, 6 January.

Despatch of 11 January 1859, with copies of a memorandum by Parkes concerning an expedition to Shektsing, dated Canton, 11 January, and two proclamations issued by the Allied Commanders in Canton, 9 and 12 January.

Despatch of 13 January 1859, with a copy of a memorandum by Parkes concerning reports and information relating to the expedition to Shektsing, dated Canton, 13 January.

Despatch of 15 January [1859], with a copy of a memorandum by Parkes concerning an interview between the Allied Commissioners in Canton and Pih Kwei [Po-kuei], dated Canton, 15 January, and a copy of a memorandum by Parkes concerning an expedition to distribute proclamations, dated Canton, 15 January.

Despatch of 15 January 1859.

Despatch of 27 January 1859, with a copy of an English translation by Parkes of an undated memorial of the Fayuen commissioners in reply to a secret imperial edict of 7 November [1858].

Despatch of 27 January 1859, with copies of a letter from Sir Michael Seymour, Sir Charles Van Straubenzee and Monsieur D'Aboville, Canton, to the Allied Commissioners at Canton, 18 January; a letter from Parkes, Canton, to Sir Michael Seymour, 19 January; a letter from Parkes, Canton, to Sir Charles Van Straubenzee, 19 January; a memorandum by Parkes concerning an interview between the Allied Commissioners at Canton and Po-kuei, 22 January; a memorandum by Parkes concerning a proposed visit by the Allied Commanders to the village of Tai Liek, 24 January; and a memorandum by Parkes concerning an interview between the Allied Commissioners at Canton and Po-kuei, 24 January.

Despatch of 4 February 1859, with a copy of an English translation of a circular letter from Lo, Lung and Soo, Fayuen Commissioners, to the various authorities in Kwangtung, 27 January.

Despatch of 13 February 1859, with a memorandum by Parkes concerning an expedition to Fayuen, dated Canton, 12 February.

Despatch of 12 March 1859, with a corrected copy of a report by Parkes on an expedition to the West River, dated Canton, 12 March.

Despatch of 13 March 1859, with copies of an English translation of a letter from Hwang [Huang Tsung-han] to the Allied Commanders at Canton, 10 March; an English translation of a proclamation by Huang concerning the punishment of fabricators of an imperial edict, 9 March; and a letter from Parkes, Canton, to Sir Charles Van Straubenzee, 13 March.