The main bulk of the manuscripts is made up of some fifteen hundred pieces from the Townshend papers relating chiefly to the period 1688 to 1753. Apart from the principal group the collection includes Gregory King's Observations and conclusions natural and political, upon the state and condition of England etc.. some letters of John Stuart Mill, a number of letters from Robert Owen, (a small group written mainly by Chartists to J.A. Roebuck), (and a considerable group of letters and other material of W.J. Linton).