The papers consist of nine volumes of official letterbooks, 1801 to 1838, most of which relate to Malcolm's years in the Indian Navy. There are further papers relating to Malcolm in the National Library of Scotland. See item level records for further details.

Administrative / biographical background
Charles Malcolm, younger brother of Admiral Sir Pulteney Malcolm (q.v.), entered the Navy in 1795 and served under his brother's command in the East Indies, being promoted to lieutenant in 1799. In 1801 he was appointed acting commander of the Albatross. This promotion was confirmed in 1802 and in the same year he was sent to command the Eurydice, in which ship he sailed home in 1803. He was promoted to captain in the same year. In 1804 Malcolm was in command of the Raisonnable in the North Sea and two years later was appointed to the Narcissus serving off the coasts of France and Portugal. Early in 1809 he was ordered to the West Indies where to took part in the capture of the Iles des Saintes. Later in 1809 he was appointed to the Rhin and from 1810 to 1812 was engaged in supporting Spanish guerrillas on the north coast of Spain. From 1812 to 1814 he was in the West Indies. Following his return and during the 'Hundred Days' he carried out a raid on the coast of Brittany in July 1815. After two years without employment Malcolm was appointed Flag-Captain to Sir Home Popham (1762-1820) in the Sybille on the West Indies Station in 1817. He was invalided home in 1819. His next commission, 1822 to 1827, was the command of the Royal Yachts William and Mary and Royal Charlotte, which were at the disposal of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. He was appointed Commissioner of Dublin Harbour in 1823. In 1827 Malcolm became Superintendent of the Bombay Marine, renamed the Indian Navy in 1830. He built up the surveying side of the work of the service and introduced steamships to the Red Sea. In 1837 he was promoted to rear-admiral and retired from his post the following year. He became a vice-admiral in 1847.