The papers consist of letters received from naval officers, 1788 to 1828. The main section comprises those from Prince William Henry for the above dates. Other correspondents include Lord Nelson (q.v.) 1803, Earl St. Vincent (q.v.), 1800 to 1809, Sir James Saumarez (1757-1836), 1807-1809, Sir Edward Pellew (q.v.), 1811 to 1812, and Sir Richard Strachan (1760-1828), 1809. There are also official service documents and some relating to Greenwich Hospital and the Chatham Chest; some of these are retrospective, dating back as far as 1696.

Administrative / biographical background
Keats entered the Navy in 1770 and was promoted to lieutenant in 1777. He was made a captain in 1789. After service in the SOUTHAMPTON and NIGER, he was appointed in 1794 to the GALATEA and during his service in her was put ashore by the mutineers of 1797. He was appointed to the SUPERB in 1801 under Sir James, later Lord, Saumarez (1757-1836). After the resumption of hostilities with France, he served in the Mediterranean under Nelson, and took part in the chase to the West Indies; the SUPERB, however, was refitting when Trafalgar was fought. Until 1807 Keats took part in the blockade of Brest, being promoted to rear-admiral also in that year. He was with Saumarez again during the blockade of the Baltic. In 1811 Keats became a vice-admiral and while again in the Mediterranean in 1812, was forced to resign his command through ill-health. He was appointed Governor and Commander-in-Chief, Newfoundland, in 1813, returning to England at the peace in 1815. In 1821 he was appointed Governor of Greenwich Hospital and given the rank of admiral in 1825.