In these letters the author writes to the 3rd Duke in his capacity as Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire concerning: the meeting of justices of the town and country at The George; the threat of the Jacobite rebels; the comission of the peace; and two old comissions in 1715; Francis Molley of bad character; a meeting of a council [relating to the Jacobite rising]; arms available in Derby; subscriptions to the association for the defence of the county; proposals agreed upon by Sir Nathaniel Curzon and Mr Vernon in connection with the county force raised to resist the rebels; general news and current affairs; the by-election in Derby 1748; matters arising in Gisborne's role as magistrate and mayor of Derby.
Also included in this group of letters is one to Sir Robert Wilmot, in which Thomas Gisborne as mayor of Derby writes concerning trouble with the aldermen of Derby and dissenters (CS1/319/5).