The arrangement of this series follows closely the original ordering of the correspondence, which had already been listed, numbered and calendared in a printed volume, Index of Private Correspondence of the Earl of Selborne, 1900-1905, of which two copies accompany the collection (see MS. Selborne 47). The present arrangement differs in three respects only: (i) a few letters, which do not appear in the Index, but which are complementary to those listed there, have been inserted where appropriate; (ii) most of the correspondence with the royal family listed in the index has not survived, but a few additional royal letters have been inserted; (iii) letters from Lord Selborne to his former private secretary at the Admiralty, Sir Vincent Baddeley, 1905-10, relating to naval affairs, are placed in the last volume in this section.