This collection of documents covers the years 1789 to 1792, apart from one document dated 1795, and relates to the American part of the voyage as far as California.

The collection provides much detailed information on the diverse scientific activities of the Malaspina expedition. A major objective was to chart geographical areas considered to be of importance but not properly surveyed, such as the Straits of Magellan (see document 25). There are also several references to the necessity of verifying the existence of the supposed Maldonado Strait, or northwest passage linking the Pacific to the Atlantic, which was proved by the expedition to be a chimera (see documents 2, 178, 183, 197, 222, 224).

There is documentation of inland exploration, for example in Ecuador (document 177), Argentina (document 166), and Mexico (document 208). The inland explorations were wide-ranging. The most copiously documented here are the activities of the naturalists Pineda, Haencke and Née, who studied and collected a wide variety of birds, fishes, animals, minerals, plants and seeds. These were placed in boxes and sent to Spain accompanied by lists to identify each item (see document 30). Mines were visited and fishing methods were tested (see document 62). Another aspect of this work was the study of the indigenous tribes (see document 166).

There is also information concerning the proposed establishment of an ambitious network of scientific stations throughout the Spanish Empire. Its purpose was to compile an "American Meteorological Journal" covering a wide range of scientific statistics, not only relating to meteorological conditions but also to mortality rates and outbreaks of disease in humans and domestic animals (see documents 4 and 67).

Workings of the government in Spain and the colonies are revealed in these papers. There is evidence of occasional bureaucratic muddle: for example, mining instruments intended for Andalucia are sent to Mexico (see documents 34 and 35). Such documents provide an insight into the complex and hierarchical nature of the Empire's bureaucracy.

There are important references to instruments used and their makers, notably Dollond, la Lande and Arnold (see documents 19, 45 and 50), with details of scientific instruments required (see document 67). There is also mention of the writings which assisted the scientists' studies, such as the French Natural History Encyclopaedia by Valmont de Bomare (see document 51) or the account of Villarino's voyages kept in the library at Buenos Aires (see document 3).

Special note can be made of two of the longer documents. The first relates to California and is a copy of an exchange of correspondence between Malaspina and Bustamante and Friar Lasuén who was Junipero Serra's deputy (see document 211). It provides information on the first Christian settlements in California and the conversion and civilization of these "Naciones Bárbaras." Apart from comments relating to daily life at the mission the letters describe assistance given to the naturalists by the friars, neophytes and Indians. The second is a dramatic account of the exploration to the high peaks of Chimborazo by Pineda and Née, in almost impossible conditions, which describes volcanic eruptions and the discovery of gigantic pre-historic bones (see document 177).

A large group of the documents relate specifically to the administration and organization of the expedition. These include: orders and changes of instructions (e.g. documents 178 and 190); covering letters (e.g. document 10); statements and accounts (e.g. document 84); permits from foreign governments (e.g. document 21); documents concerning problems such as infestation of bread (e.g. document 16) and deserters and discipline (e.g. documents 58 and 201). All give an insight into the practical problems of organizing an expedition on this scale.

There are in all 240 documents including two maps. Most were sent to or from the office of the Naval Minister, Antonio Valdés. Some are documents or copies of documents sent to him, others are drafts of letters sent by him or his secretary. Nine bear his signature; some of the letters sent to him are receipted by him. There are five documents by Malaspina covering a variety of administrative matters but including an important extract of a letter emphasizing the aims of the expedition and the peaceful means by which these should be achieved (document 25).

The authors and intended recipients of these letters range from high-ranking ministers such as the Conde de Floridablanca to others who had less formal contact with the expedition, such as Friar Lasuén from the mission in Monterey, who played host to Malaspina and Bustamante. The documents also demonstrate that the Viceroys of Peru, La Plata and New Spain assisted the expedition throughout, as is apparent from the number of papers from their offices.

Others whose involvement in the expedition is documented by these papers are Luis de Cordoba (Captain General of the Navy), Tagle Isasaga (Comisario de Guerra y Ministro de Real Hacienda y de Marina), José de Mazarredo (Comandante General del Departamento de Cádiz), and the historians Fernandez de Navarrete and Padre Manuel Gil, the last of whom was originally commissioned to compile a history of the expedition.

These papers provide a fascinating insight into numerous facets of this ambitious enterprise. They provide not only valuable details of its scientific and organizational aspects, but also a mass of information on the myriad of matters involved in the execution of the last official Spanish exploring expedition to be planned on the grand scale.