The correspondence in this series was not kept in a consistent form by the Private Secretary, nor was it registered. In the first part of the series the papers tend to be of greater value relatively than in the second. In many cases they are papers referred to the Governor by Departments, especially the Colonial Secretary's Office and, for one or another reason, not returned. Others are stray copies and originals of despatches from London, including several despatches from the Secretary of State and Under-Secretary to Lieutenant-Governor Sorell, and some from other British Departments to Arthur. There is much correspondence from those officers who claimed the right of direct communication with the Governor, and a few despatches from other Colonial Governors. Also included are petitions and memorials sent direct to the Governor, a few letters from settlers with whom the Governor was on terms of personal acquaintance. Some of the correspondence is addressed to the Private Secretary. The seventh volume (1826-47) overlaps the first six, and contains many formal documents such as Governors' Instructions and Oaths of Office; it is contemporaneously entitled "Papers without Date" and its contents are completely miscellaneous. The two bundles of unbound correspondence (1861-1926) contain petitions and memorials seeking the Governor's interference on behalf of individuals and groups, invitations to attend functions or soliciting his patronage, communications from other parts of the world addressed to him as the representative of the Colony, letters on public questions from private persons claiming the right of direct access, loyal addresses, enquiries about convicts and others. In this period there are far more letters arising out of the ceremonial and social aspects of the Governor's position. From 1882 to 1907 the inward correspondence is registered in GO51, and for copies of some of the corresponding outward letters see GO52 and GO53; some of the latter are registered in GO57 (1878-1902). An index to the first part of this series (1821-48) has been prepared.

These records are part of the holdings of the Tasmanian Archives