The first two sections consists of letters from Earl St. Vincent, 1793 to 1803. There are also two series from agents, one of fifty-four letters, 1796 to 1801, which include some from Sir Sidney Smith (q.v.) and the second of seventy-one letters from William May, 1797 to 1798. There is also a secret account book kept by Charles Wright, Chief Clerk to the Admiralty, between 1795 and 1804. In the Gosse collection of papers relating to piracy there are letters received by Nepean, 1817 to 1819.

Administrative / biographical background
Nepean entered the Navy as a clerk and, after serving in several ships, became secretary to Sir John Jervis (later Earl St. Vincent, q.v.) in 1780. He then turned to politics and held various government appointments, becoming Secretary to the Admiralty in 1795. He was created a baronet in 1802. In 1804 he was Chief Secretary for Ireland for some months before joining the Board of Admiralty. He went out of office in 1806. Nepean was Member of Parliament for Queenborough 1796 to 1802, and Bridport, 1802 to 1812. Between 1812 and 1819 he was Governor of Bombay.