Letters were written by Captain Richard Brown whilst at Sydney Mines, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Summarised by Lyell as:
1) Cape Breton Coal beds with roots of Stigmaria. Brown apologises for delay in response, but he has been busy and often away from home. Talks of survey work at Cape Dauphin - and his study on coal fields, conglomerate and gypsum. He has sent coal plants and fossils found there, and which he has written about, to Charles Bunbury. "the only leisure time I have is in the winter, when the deep snow effectually stops all geological resarch'".
2) Cape Breton Stigmaria and [?] [? with] small trunk to show Dr. Hooker. Brown apologise for not being able to meet Lyell, and hopes he's managed to meet Dawon and go to Joggins. Invites the Lyell to travel to see him in November.
3) New Raindrops from Nova Scotia. Brown has sent boxes of specimesn to Professor Silliman to exhibit in New York, and he asks Lyell to identify them. Has found better rain drop specimens from the ones he's alrady sent to England. They were found in a shale about 180 feet under the main coal. If his health improves he hopes to see the Exhibition in New York.
4) On Sigillaria and Stigmaria. Has been hoping to devote a day to observing the cliffs, to see if the winter frosts have exposed any more stumps. Lyell has asked his opinion on Brongniart's paper and Brown goes over his find and thinking. Finally refers to there being 'no chance of my friend' Dawson's chance of the professorship at Edinburgh.