The papers consist of logs and admiral's journals for the years 1761 to 1763, 1778 to 1783 and 1793 to 1810, letter and order books, 1781 to 1783 and 1793 to 1810, and correspondence and loose papers, including some letters with the Spanish authorities, mostly 1806 to 1810. There is also an autobiographical essay. The letters to Purvis from Collingwood were extracted from the collection and sold separately in 1955 and were not purchased by the Museum. There are also some papers relating to Purvis's son, Lieutenant Richard Fortescue Purvis, 1806 to 1817.

Administrative / biographical background
Purvis served as able seaman and midshipman in the Arrogant on the coast of Spain from 1761 to 1763. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1778, serving in the Invincible on the North American Station. In 1779 he was appointed to the Britannic in the Channel. From 1781 to 1783 he commanded the Duc de Chantres on the North American Station and in 1782 captured the French ship L'Aigle, for which he was promoted to captain. After being on half-pay during the years of peace, Purvis was given command in 1793 of the Amphitrite and then of the Princess Royal in the Mediterranean, where he remained until 1796. From 1797 to 1801 he commanded the London in the Channel, followed by the Royal George, 1801 to 1802, and the Dreadnought, 1803 to 1804, on the same station. He was promoted to rear-admiral in 1804. In 1806 he was sent out to the blockade of Cadiz and remained in command there until 1810. He was promoted to vice-admiral in 1809 and admiral in 1819