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Original 'country correspondence' .The letters cover both Clive's first (1756-1760) and second (1765-1766) governorships of Bengal. In terms of content, a significant proportion is concerned with political and military affairs principally in Bengal, but also across the Mughal Empire more generally. In addition there are numerous references to regional trade and taxation, as well as letters entreating Clive to grant pardons or preferment. Much of this correspondence was translated at the time and then recorded, together with the text of Clive's replies, surviving either in original (CR8/1, 1756-1758) and transcribed letter books (CC2/1-CC4/6, 1758-1760), or else organised as 'minutes'(CR11/1, 1765-1766).

Letter books containing general letters (mostly public but some private) from Clive to correspondents in Europe but mainly to officers of the East India Company in India. They derive from his second period of residence in India, 1756-1760, when he returned as a lieutenant-colonel and held the positions of deputy-governor of Fort St David, and governor, for the first time, of Bengal. There are also some letters from Clive's aides and associates. -- The letters relate to military and naval operations in Bengal, the restoration of the East India Company's interests there, the East India Company's financial affairs, the capture and recapture of Calcutta, relations with the French and the capture of their settlement at Chandernagore, the political and military situation prevailing from the aftermath of the capture of Chandernagore to the march on Plassey, including relations with Siraj-ud-daula and Mir Jafar, and the battle of Plassey.

Papers acquired by Robert Clive, 1739-1772, some deliberately, others it seems by accident.

Miscellaneous papers, comprising bills and bonds, 1742-1773, subscription lists, 1762-1771, and papers relating to the Order of the Bath, 1764-[1772].

Personal and domestic correspondence comprising letters from Clive to his cousin George Clive, 1760-1761; letters to Clive in India from his wife, Margaret, Lady Clive, and his son Edward, 1765-1767; and letters from Lady Clive in Europe to Clive in England, 1768.

Poems, plays and manuscripts from Clive’s private collection.

Catalogues/lists, 1769-1775, of the private and official papers that Clive kept at his various residences.

Catalogues of Clive’s libraries at Walcot and Berkeley Square, 1774, with loose papers, 1775-1776.

Inventories, 1769-1781, of livestock, household furniture and personal belongings of Clive drawn up by or for his executors.

Estimate of monthly receipts and disbursements, Jan. –July 1775, mainly interest payments and annuities.

Ledgers of Clive’s executors, 1775-1796, giving summary balances due from, and received to, Clive’s estate

Journals of Clive’s executors, 1775-1795, recording details of monies received and due to named individuals, value of investments and jewellery, expenditure on estate repairs and improvements, payments to annuitants, and members of the family, estate income, rent arrears, etc.

A cash ledger containing accounts relating inter alia to funeral charges, servants’ mourning, wages and allowances (names and positions given), tradesmen’s bills (names and trades given), expenses of executing Clive’s will, household insurance and taxes in London.

An account book, 1774-1786, with Messrs. Gosling, Clive and Gosling, bankers, relating to the payment of legacies, annuities, etc.

The series consists of rough proceedings/minute books of the executors’ meetings from 1774 to 1791. Amongst matters dealt with are the payment of funeral and mourning expenses, the probate of Clive’s will, the payment of legacies, annuities, and tradesmen’s bills, the maintenance and education of his children, the recovery of debts, the sale and purchase of estate properties and claims against the estate. The subjects of Indian interest include bills on the East India Company, the expiration of Clive’s jagir (5 May 1784), and the payment of his attorneys’ bills in Bengal with the closure of his concerns there (11 December 1785). The proceedings give the names of the executors together with those of other persons whose attendance was required at the meetings including on occasions Lady Clive and Edward, Lord Clive.

Miscellaneous papers, [c. 1765]-1767, relating to the attorneys’ dealings with regard to Clive’s assignations (bills) on the Dutch East India Company, his East India stock and repairs at Styche Hall.

Letter books, 1764-1768, containing outgoing correspondence of Clive’s attorneys’ in pursuance of the business transacted in their meetings.

Original and copy proceedings, 1764-1768, of the attorneys’ meetings held for the most part during Clive’s third and final stay in India but also covering a short period following his return to England in 1767. The range of business transacted relates inter alia to estate matters (building work, mortgages, purchase and sale and household insurance), the payment of bills, annuities, the transfer of Clive’s East India stock (giving the holders’ names), his interest in diamonds including that bought of Mr Pybus, letters from India and local events. The attorneys are M. Clive (i.e. Margaret, Lady Clive), Richard Clive, John Walsh, George Clive, Henry Clive and John Kelsall.

Miscellaneous papers relating to the passing of a local turnpike Act, 1764, the ‘weight’ of estate royalties for electoral purposes, [c. 1768], and the Pontefract election of 1768, which was fought by Henry Strachey, Clive’s secretary, who eventually won on appeal.

Original documents and near-contemporary copies of Clive’s papers assembled and prepared in 1772-1773 for his defence before the select committee. They include his speech to Parliament, minutes of interrogatories of witnesses, copies of his official correspondence, and memoranda and notes, etc., looking back to events and aspects of his service over a ten year period from his victory at Plassey (1757) to his final return to England (1767).