A keen observer, Edward Bushnan Rose in his notebook records everything of interest, including an interview with General Smuts when the Boer forces were about to surrender. He included a number of photographs, which he must have obtained from the Barnett's shop in Johannesburg, which was by then run by David Barnett after the death of his brother Joseph.
Rose gives an account of the exodus from Johannesburg prior to the outbreak of war on the 11 October 1899; the alarm in the town; the journey in coal and cattle trucks; the effect in Johannesburg of the declaration of war and under martial law; looting; formation of the Uitlander corps; manufacture of ammunition; commandeering of horses and gold; government proclamations affecting rents and foodstuffs; how the news of Stormberg, Scholtzuch and Colenso was received; Christmas at Johannesburg; cautioning of rumour mongers, relief and other funds; the ambulance corps; hospitals; President Kruger and the British; conduct of Uitlanders; behaviour of the Boers during the war; Boer withdrawals, and casualties up to the relief of Kimberley and Ladysmith; the great explosion at the Begbie's Foundry, which had been used for armaments production by Boer forces, on the 24 April 1900 ; restarting the mines; Smuts ultimatum; termination of the war; condition of British prison camps; surrender of Johannesburg; Dr. Krause's proclamation; hoisting the Union Jack and the surrender of Pretoria.

Minute-book and company record of No. 2 Company, Pretoria 8 March - 6 August 1879

Includes press clippings on rifle competitions and volunteer news and a list of those invited to a dance on 28 July 1879. The Commandant was Colonel Lanyon.

Also in the volume is the provisional share register of the Henry Nourse Prospecting Syndicate. The Syndicate held three blocks of claims on Doornfontein, Witwatersrand Gold Fields.

'The tour of Europe, Asia, Africa, America, England' 1823. A geographic guide to these countries.

Assistant Surgeon on H.M.S. 'Melville'

Describes a stay in Cape Town when the 'Melville' went to St. Helena and Tracey remained behind to look after the Admiral's family, the dockyard officers and men left behind from the 'Melville'. He comments on the social customs of Cape Town and the Malay Khalifah ceremony. Included are sketches of Farmer Peck's Inn, Muizenberg, called 'The Gentle Shepherd', Newlands House, Wynberg Church, Cape Flats and a water-colour of Simon's Town Martello Tower and Battery.

Wesleyan missionary

'A grammar and vocabulary of the Namaqua-Hottentot language'

A transcript of the published work, Cape Town, 1857.

Digest of report of the Commission of Enquiry into the Moroka Disturbances on the 30th of August 1947.

Memorandum by the District Commandant, South African Police, No.39 (Johannesburg) district.

Missionary at the London Missionary Society in Rhodesia

Describes his missionary work at Shiloh in Matabeleland and contains many references to Chief Lobengula. Includes copies of letter from Lobengula to the British Resident, Pretoria, 30 Mar. 1882 and to Commandant-General, Transvaal Republic, 21 Apr. 1882, together with a copy of the treaty between Lobengula and Hugh Dobbie, Daniel and William Francis and Samuel Dodds, ceding right to explore for gold, 2 Sep. 1881. Also copies of reviews of his Eleven years in Central South Africa, London, 1872.