The loose papers are almost entirely military, and deal predominantly with the period after 1792. There is much on the 1793-4 expedition to the West Indies, where Grey captured Martinique, St Lucia and Guadeloupe, particularly on the temporary arrangements which had to be made for the civil government of the islands, and on prize money. From Grey's appointment to command the Southern District of England in 1796 until his retirement in 1800, the papers provide detailed information about defence tactics against invasion, plans of attack on the enemy coast, and day to day army administration.
The volumes include letter-books, maps (manuscript and printed), military order-books, and journals of Viscount Cantelupe (William Augustus West, later 3rd Earl De La Warr) and Lieut.-Col. Thomas Grey.