Papers in these bundles relate mainly to Mayo's non-administrative official business and to his social activities as Viceroy, such as receipt of formal addresses or personal applications for patronage. There is a small amount of material concerning regular government business, includig policy on Burma and murder in Bengal, amongst the miscellaneous papers, and a bundle concerning the death of Sir Henry Durand in an accident.

These bundles contain papers concerning the diplomatic relations of the government of India with foreign states, especially Afghanistan, intelligence gathering for foreign relations and domestic security purposes, security on the north-west frontier, and the government of India's relations with native Indian states. Most of these subjects were the responsibility of the Foreign Department.