These papers comprise one of the six series of instance papers. They continue two earlier series of instance papers, and are themselves continued in series III to V.
The papers include a wide variety of documents, such as affidavits, allegations, answers, decrees, petitions, etc, as well as accounts, bills of lading, ships' logs, etc. The proceedings to which they relate concern such matters as commercial disputes (e.g. in connection with bottomry), collision, salvage, wages, etc.
There are also appeals from Vice-Admiralty Courts, some of which relate to the slave trade and slavery. (Slave trade captures were heard in the wartime Prize Court before 1816.)
Progress of these cases can be found in the Instance Assignation Books in HCA 7.