The letterbooks contain Bythesea's out-going letters and give a detailed account of his work in India. The letters are a combination of official and private correspondence. In one letter Bythesea reveals his fear that if he were to visit England on leave he would not be able to persuade his wife to return to India.

Administrative / biographical background
Admiral Bythesea was an early recipient of the Victoria Cross which was awarded in 1857 for his role in the capture of three Russian dispatch couriers. In 1872 the ship he was commanding, the HMS LORD CLYDE, ran aground and he was not given another post at sea. In 1874 he was appointed as Consulting Naval Officer to the Indian Government. He held this post for six years during which time the Indian navy was restructured. Bythesea retired in 1877 and was promoted to Rear-Admiral on the retirement list.