These manuscripts are in the hand of various unknown authors, and concern research and observations on the torpedo fish, which was of much interest to those studying electricity at the time. Included are copies of letters from John Walsh to Benjamin Franklin, and a copy of a Walsh and Thomas Pennant letter, read before the Royal Society (1774), concerning a torpedo fish found off the coast of England.

The first volume contains mathematical problems, which appear to be college exercises (1814); the second volume is an essay on the projection of the sphere and spherical trigonometry, including an appendix on astronomy (1812); and the third volume is a lecture on natural philosophy, apparently prepared for delivery [n.d.].

This account of Thomas Godfrey was prepared "with a view of having it inserted in Rees Cyclopedia," and is preceded by an essay concerning Godfrey and his quadrant taken from the "American Magazine" (1758). Also included in this volume is a copy of James Logan's communication to the Royal Society, and a letter from Spencer to Alexander Wilson, editor of the "Cyclopedia" (1809), which discusses Godfrey and the sources for this account.

The correspondence is principally to Zaccheus Collins (1810-1840), with bills, receipts, and notes on Rafinesque vs. Parker; letters from Collins, L.A. Tarascon, Lewis C. Beck, John Torrey, and Charles W. Short (1817-1835); and miscellaneous correspondence and documents relating to Rafinesque vs. Parker, with an account of the Felician Society of Feliciana County, Illinois (1820). The writings are chiefly on botanical topics, and include notes and essays on Indians, Blacks, grapes and wine-making, banking, and speculation. Rafinesque's growing interest in Indian antiquities, linguistics, and history is apparent in letters after 1820. There is an account of Rafinesque's scientific travels in North America and southern Europe (1800-1832), and a bibliography. The botanical notes include descriptions of specimens collected by Lewis and Clark, Patrick Gass, and Henry Muhlenberg.

Personal and professional correspondence of the chemist Robert Hare, including drafts of letters to editors of journals on such varied topics as fish guano, slaughterhouses, paper money, and the meaning of the term "Yankee annexations." The collection originally contained over 300 scrolls, since disbound, which contained drafts of letters, essays, and lectures, composed by Hare on ordinary sheets of paper, then pasted end to end, and rolled up. The essay and lecture topics include: chemistry, storms, slavery, currency, fire-fighting, capital punishment, railroads, the Smithsonian Institution, Michael Faraday, religion and Spiritualism, riots in Philadelphia, epidemics, underwater blasting, and Ralph W. Emerson; there is some verse. The collection also contains an account book of Hare and his wife, 1806-1829 (180 pp.; B/H22#3); a volume by Hare on Cyclones (tornadoes), n.d. (ca. 60 pp.; B/H22#4); and Samuel Powel, Jr.'s "Short notes on a course of antiquities at Rome... under M. Byre Antiquarian," 1764. (60 pp.).