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This collection is made up of five letters from James Colquhoun at St. James's Place, London, to William Auriol Drummond-Hay between May and September 1834. At the time, Colquhoun served as British Consul-General for the Hanseatic Cities of Hamburg, Bremen, and Lübeck, and Drummond-Hay was British consul at Tangier, Morocco. The correspondence relates to diplomacy and suppression of piracy in the Mediterranean, the danger to British capital in case of Neapolitan or Hanseatic depredations on foreign cargoes, Neapolitan vessels en route to Morocco, the state of Moroccan ships, and the appropriateness of the Hanseatic Senates' desire to express tangible appreciation to Drummond-Hay for protection of their commerce.

• May 29, 1834. A Neapolitan Frigate and several corsairs headed to Tangier with instructions to negotiate or, in the case of failure, to resort to force; at the same time a Neapolitan Brig of War has left England to join them there. "The large quantity of British Capital in Foreign Ports & consequently of shipments on British account, distributed in the ships of all nations expose British Interests to be affected indirectly by any depredations committed on Cargoes under the Hanseatic or Neapolitan flag & indeed under almost every flag. . . . The only security for British as well as foreign Commerce in the Mediterranean & on the European Coasts bordering on the Atlantic is via the dismantling of the Piratical Vessels which it is hoped will be enforced & immediately follow the settlement of the Neapolitan question."
• June 2, 1834. The Hamburgh Senate thinks it difficult or impossible to "abolish the piratical system and as Morocco in particular will probably not be brought for some time to alter her System, the Hanseatic negociation must be persevered in, with a view to a final settlement." The Senate is fully aware of the benefits Drummond-Hay's work has provided for the protection of "Hans. Towns" commerce. They are preparing further instructions and in the meantime trust entirely on Drummond-Hay's "Judgment & diplomatic tact still to shield them from any hostile Measures and trust that the piratical Vessels in question will be dismantled forthwith as the best earnest of Security."
• June 30, 1834. Believes the arrival of the Neapolitan fleet and apparent support by a French force will put to rest the risk of putting a Moroccan flotilla to sea. Discusses the state of Moroccan vessels.
• September 1, 1834. Spoke with Secretary of State Thomas Spring Rice regarding the Hanseatic Republics' Senates' desire to express esteem for Colquhoun's diplomatic talents. Rice wants to talk to Lord Palmerston [i.e. Foreign Secretary Henry Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston] about it, so that the two men act on the same principles. "I pointed out the distinction between a British Diplomatic Functionary receiving unlimited presents from Indian Princes or Barbary Pirates and his receiving a well earned Compliment from the States to whom he had rendered services under the auspices of his own Government."
• September 18, 1834. Pleased that Secretary Rice has approved of the Senates making an acknowledgment of Colquhoun's "services at Morocco to Hanseatic Commerce during the last 5 years."