The papers were acquired in two parts. The first consists of 110 letters from Belcher to Sir John Phillipart (1784-1874) between 1850 and 1863. The second consists of letter and order books, 1843 to 1847 and 1852 to 1854. There is a watch and signal book, undated, and some official service documents.

Administrative / biographical background
Sir Edward Admiral Belcher entered the Navy in 1812, became a lieutenant in 1818 and a commander in 1829. He was also a scientist, navigator, and marine surveyor in the mid 19th century. After early experiences surveying in Arctic regions and a lengthy survey of the Pacific, he was given post-rank and a knighthood in 1841. From 1842 to 1847 he commanded the Samarang, in which he surveyed the coasts of Borneo, the Philippines and Formosa [Taiwan]. In 1841 at the peak of the First Opium War, Belcher landed at Possession Point on board the bombing and surveying vessel H.M.S. Sulphur. He produced the first British survey or sea chart of Hong Kong Island and Harbour. Being the first Naval force to land there, he played a significant role in Britain’s taking possession of Hong Kong as a Crown colony. In 1852 he was appointed to the Assistance to search for Sir John Franklin (q.v.). He was court-martialled for abandoning his ships but acquitted; one, however, was recovered the following year. Belcher saw no further active service and reached the rank of admiral in 1872.