The dating is based on the first letters received after van Riebeeck arrived at the Cape.

This volume also contains records prior to this date, such as the "remonstrantie" of L Jansz and M Proot dated 26 Jul 1649 and van Riebeeck's commentary of Jun 1651; also extracts from letters, instructions, etc.

The volume also contains a register on vols. C274 - C279 which was apparently compiled by Leibbrandt. See also Precis of Leibbrandt.

Letter no 54 is incomplete.

This volume commences with an extract from a letter dated 12 Apr 1656, presumably sent to the Cape for the information of van Riebeeck. Since the covering letter could not be traced, it was decided to leave it here.

This record which was numbered 158 originally, forms part of no 156 and was placed correctly. No 158 could not be traced.

This volume contains a register which pertains to vols. C280 - C288.

No 24 is a copy of a record which was originally dated 21 Aug 1660. It was copied on 18 Jan 1661 and filed under the latter date, for practical reasons.

Includes two letters dated 22 Aug 1668 and 3 Oct 1665, respectively.

The original p.146 could not be traced.

Contains unnumbered duplicates which were placed directly after the letters from which they were copied.

The first two pages of the last letter in this volume dated 26 Oct 1673, could not be traced.

The internal order of vols C298 - C347 was restored. The letters were placed in chronological order, according to their dates and the annexures were placed with the relevant letters. Where uncertainty occurred, an annexure was placed with the letter to which it had relevance. Annexures which could not be placed with applicable letters are in chronological order at the back of the volume.

The following records were placed in their correct chronological order in vol. C315: three petitions of free burghers of Mauritius to the chief thereat, two undated and one dated 23 Jul 1678; one letter of the captain of the Bode to the chief of Mauritius dated 21 Sept 1678 and one letter of Captain Frederik Janse Swart to the Chamber Amsterdam dated 18 Dec 1678.

See note under No 314.

Contains lists of navigational instruments and maps which were provided to ships in the Netherlands.

The register and annexures dated 9 Jan 1682, have been removed from vol. C414 (old number), since it was dated incorrectly 9 Jan 1681 by the author.

An annexure dated 12 Dec 1683 and which bears no relevance to the last letter, was placed at the back of the volume, since it was received from the same ship.

The register and two annexures of 11 Dec 1864 were removed from vol. C416 (old number) and placed correctly in this volume. See also the second part of note under No. 335.

See note under No. 334.

Nos. 18 and 19, annexures to no. 17, were removed from vol. C415 (old number) and correctly placed in this volume.

The first letter in this volume is undated, but since it is a duplicate of the last letter in the previous volume, it was dated 14 Dec 1686.

A memorial dated January 1688 was removed from this volume and placed correctly in vol. C342.

See second part of note under No. 342 and paragraph 2 of note under No. 344.

See note under No. 341.

An annexure dated 1 Nov 1687, to a letter dated 12 Mar 1688 was removed from vol. C416 (old number) and placed correctly in this volume.

Contains a list of records dated 22 Oct 1688 which were sent to the Cape with the ship Tuymelaar.

Contains a copy of a record dated 25 Oct 1688 at the beginning of the volume.

A letter dated 22 Dec 1687, was removed and placed correctly in vol. C341.

Vols. C348 - C406 could not be arranged internally, since the volumes were not rebound.

Since the letters were not always arranged chronologically, the beginning and end dates of some of the volumes overlap.

Contains two letters received on 28 Oct 1697 and 27 May 1698, respectively.

Contains an annexure dated 11 Oct 1713, which was delivered on 20 Mar 1714 by the Bergh, from Ceylon.

Also contains an extract from a resolution of the Council XVII dated 30 Oct 1713, which was delivered by the Rijksdorf on 18 May 1714.

From January 1716 the annexures form a separate series and are no longer lodged with the letters received. A few annexures remained with the latter, since the volumes up to C406 were not rebound.

All the letters in this volume are duplicates, except for one.

From this volume onwards, the volumes have been arranged internally and the letters have been placed chronologically according to the date received. Letters on which the date of receipt was not indicated, have been placed chronologically according to the date of the letter. In some cases the date of receipt was traced in other sources such as the journal and placed correctly. Undated letters were placed at the back of the relevant volumes.

Annexures and registers of annexures traced in various volumes were removed and placed chronologically in the series Annexures to Letters Received.

A letter from the chief and secunde of Rio de la Goa to the Governor and Council of the Cape, dated 10 Mar 1723 and received on 11 Jul 1723 was removed from vol. C124 (old number) and placed correctly in this volume.

An undated letter from the chief of Rio de la Goa was removed from vol. C125 (old number) and placed chronologically in this volume.

Contains a letter of the captain of the Steenhoven to Mr Muller dated 31 Jan 1729.

Contains a list of the deceased of the Pallas, which is an annexure to the letter of the ship's council of the Pallas dated 22 Mar 1729.

Letters received from the Delft Chamber and from the chief and council, Canton dated 8 Nov 1741 and 24 Dec 1741, respectively were removed from vol. C461 (old number C448) and placed chronologically in this volume.

Contains a secret letter from the Council XVII dated 13 Dec 1741 and received on 13 Apr 1742.

Letters received from the Delft Chamber and from the chief and council, Canton dated 8 Nov 1741 and 24 Dec 1741, respectively were removed from this volume and placed chronologically in vol. C459.

This volume contains only two letters for 1743, both dated 7 Dec 1743.

Contains a secret letter from the Council XVII dated 17 Jan 1744 and received on 26 May 1744.

A letter from the governor - general, Batavia dated 23 Jan 1744 and received on 27 Apr 1744 was removed from vol. C145 (old number) and placed chronologically in this volume.

A letter received from the Prince of Orange dated 30 Aug 1749, was removed from vol. C477 (old number C452) and placed chronologically in vol. C476.

See note under 476.

Contains an annexure to a letter from the minister of Drakenstein dated 1 Aug 1751.

Contains a letter from the magistrate of Swellendam dated 12 Dec 1753, which was removed from vol. C488 (old number C454).

See note under 487.

A report of the magistrate of Swellendam to governor Ryk Tulbagh dated 27 Mar 1755 was removed from vol. C156 (old number) and placed chronologically in this volume.

Contains a secret letter from the governor - general and council, Batavia dated 29 Oct 1756 and delivered by the Leijden on 17 Jan 1757.

Vols. C499 - C504 have not been rebound and are therefore not arranged internally.

The dates of the volumes overlap and annexures are included.

Contains letters dated 20 Nov 1735; 14 Mar 1742; 19 Jan 1744; 17 Jan 1761 and 21 Jan 1761.

Letters dated 1 - 13 Jan 1764 were removed from this volume and placed correctly in vol. C510.

See note under 509.

Also contains letters between governor Ryk Tulbagh and secunde Pieter van Reede van Oudtshoorn whilst Tulbagh was on a journey into the interior between Jun - Jul 1764.

Vols. C516 - C517 have not been rebound and therefore were not arranged internally. The two volumes contain a few annexures.

Contains two French letters dated 20 and 24 Dec 1795 at the back of the volume.

A French letter dated 30 Nov 1771 was removed from vol. C527 (old number C463) and placed chronologically in this volume.

See note under 526.

Contains a letter from heemraad Cloete of Stellenbosch to Hoffman dated 23 Aug 1772, in which he reports a shipping disaster.

A letter from the church council of Swartland dated 31 Dec 1773, was removed from vol. C533 (old number C464) and placed correctly in this volume.

Also contains an undated French letter at the back of the volume.

See second paragraph of note under 532.

Contains an undated Arabic letter with a Dutch translation at the back of the volume.

Contains a circular received on 27 Dec 1778 which was removed from vol. C179 (old number).

Contains a circular received on 2 Jan 1780 which was removed from vol. C181 (old number).

Contains a letter from the skipper of the Zon dated 12 May 1781, which was received as an annexure to a letter from the post - holder in False Bay also dated 12 May 1781.

A letter from the Council XVII dated 30 Oct 1781 and two letters from the Chamber Amsterdam dated 2 May 1782, of which the exact dates of receipt during 1782 could not be established, were placed at the end of the Letters Received for 1782.

Volumes C557 - C559 have not been rebound and therefore not arranged internally.

Volumes C560 - C561 contain letters from the interior only, mostly from the post - holder in False Bay.

Volumes C562 - C564 have not been rebound and therefore not arranged internally.

The letters of 1787 are mostly foreign letters.

Also contains letters from N Goodale and B Carpenter dated 12 and 17 Aug 1786, respectively.

Contains a letter received on 21 Apr 1788 and which was removed from vol. C189 (old number).

Contains a letter from the Chamber Delft dated 17 Oct 1787 and received on 12 Jul 1788 which was removed from vol. C189 (old number).

Letter no 1 received with the Wirstlust on 5 Feb 1789 was removed from vol. C190 (old number).

Letter no 1 received with the Faam on 18 Aug 1789 and letters no 1 - 2 received with the Luchtbol were removed from vol. C190 (old number).

Contains an original letter received on 19 Apr 1790 with the Meerwijk and which was removed from vol. C191 (old number).

Contains the following records which were removed from vol. C191 (old number):

• Original letter received on 11 Jun 1790 with the Zeenimph.
• Original letter received from Houghly on 28 Jul 1790 with the Haasje.
• Original letter from the Chamber Seeland dated 31 May 1790 and received with the Vlijt on 5 Sept 1790.
• Original letter from the Chamber Rotterdam dated 17 May 1790 and received with the Geregtigheijd on 12 Oct 1790.
• Original letter no 1 received on 16 Oct 1790 with the Meermin.

Contains an original letter from the governor - general and council, Batavia dated 15 Jul 1791 and received on 12 Dec 1791 with the Texelstroom. This letter was removed from vol. C192 (old number).

Contains an original letter received on 19 Feb 1791 with the Maria Louisa and which was removed from vol. C192 (old number).

Also contains letters which were received during 1788 and 1789.

Contains a letter received on 31Mar 1793 with the Roosenburg and a letter from the governor of Ceylon received on 7 Apr 1793 with the Sibella Anthonetta. Both letters were removed from vol. C213 (old number).

Two letters from the Chamber Amsterdam dated 2 Oct 1792 and 8 Dec 1789, but without date of receipt, have been placed at the back of the volume.

This volume has not been rebound and therefore not arranged internally.

Contains mostly letters from the post - holder in False Bay.

Also contains an extract from a letter from the Chamber Seeland to the governor of Ceylon dated 11 Jan 1794 and received on 6 May 1795.

A letter received from A de Neys dated 25 Mar 1783 was removed from vol. C771 (old number) and placed correctly in this volume.

Contains a few undated letters received at the back of the volume.

This volume contains undated letters received; petitions for the period May - Dec 1741; a memorial from TS and D Malan; a copy from the "Oude Wildschutte Boek" (Old Hunting Licence Book) dated 13 Feb 1741, an extract from the resolution of the Council XVII dated 29 Mar 1791; cash accounts for the period Aug 1794 - Feb 1795 and an undated record pertaining to the loan farm Verschefontein of D Malan.

Volumes C607 - C612 contain secret letters received, duplicate letters received and annexures. Annexures without covering letters have been placed chronologically according to the date.

Vol. C607 also contains a petition from the Societeit der Bergwerken dated 19 May 1744 and a memorial from the Wurtemburg Regiment.

A letter from prof van Roijen to governor Tulbagh dated 1 Aug 1770, was removed from vol. C607 and placed chronologically in vol. C653.

This volume contains the following records: an invoice of the cargo of the Zilvere Leeuw dated 22 Dec 1768; list of coaches, horses, etc 1773; a current account of the fiscal WC Boers, Jan 1781; a title deed issued to JJ Meyer, 1786; a copy letter of the Council of State of Holland, 1786; list of naval stores, 31 Aug 1788 - 31 Aug 1789; secret report pertaining to the fortifications at the Cape, Sept 1789 and an undated memorial of Francois du Pré.

The following records were placed at the back of the volume: enquiry regarding JEG Funcke dated 3 Sept 1793; report to the governor regarding experiments with heated shot, 1793; letter to the court of justice in Batavia dated Amsterdam, Apr 1794; financial statement of C van Citters, Dec 1794; diverse letters to various persons, Sept 1789 - Aug 1795; a debenture of JF du Toit to J Hoffman, Sept 1827; the surrender of the Cape, Sept 1795; letter to the governor - general and council, Batavia dated 10 Oct 1796.

In front of this volume is part of a letter which was donated to the Cape Town Archives Repository by the Drostdy Museum, Swellendam.

Contains two undated annexures at the back of the volume.

Contains an undated annexure at the back of the volume.

This volume has not been rebound and therefore not arranged internally. The volume also contains annexures. Annexures without covering letters were placed chronologically according to the date of the annexure.

Contains secret letters pertaining to East - Indian affairs.

Vols. C631 - C634 contain a secret circular from the governor - general and council, Batavia, regarding the establishment of the government at the Cape and further correspondence thereto relating.

Contains regulations regarding the keeping of commercial books at the back of the volume.

Contains a letter of J de Marre to Jacob Möller, harbour master at the Cape dated 9 Oct 1747.

This letter from D van Roÿen to R Tulbagh dated 1 Aug 1770, pertaining to plants, has been removed from vol. C792 (old number).

Also contains an undated annexure at the back of the volume.

Contains an undated annexure at the back of the volume.