Thomas John Newbold was born in Macclesfield in 1807. He joined the Madras Light Infantry in 1828. Arriving in India in that year, he undertook further study and passed an examination in Hindustani in 1830, and in Persian in 1831. From 1830 to 1835 Newbold was Quartermaster and interpreter to his regiment. He moved to Malacca in 1832, where he actively pursued an interest in the region collecting manuscripts and artefacts. Arriving at the Presidency with a detachment of his corps in August 1835, he was approved as aide-de-camp to Brigadier-General E.W. Wilson and commanded the ceded districts, an appointment he held until 1840. He was appointed Deputy Assistant Quartermaster-General for the Division in 1838, and Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General and Postmaster to the Field Force in the ceded districts in 1839.
Newbold left India on leave of absence early in 1840, and visited Gebel Nákas in the peninsula of Mount Sinai in June of that year. He was elected a member of the Royal Asiatic Society in 1841 and a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1842. Newbold was promoted to the rank of Captain on 12 April 1842, and recalled to India in the following May. Arriving at Madras, he was appointed Assistant to the Commission at Kurnool. He was Assistant to the Agent to the Governor of Fort St. George at Kurnool and Bunganahilly from 1843 to 1848, when he was appointed Assistant to the Resident at Hyderabad. He was permitted to go to Egypt for two years in June 1845. He died at Mahabuleshwar on 29 May 1850.
Correspondence and Papers written by Captain Thomas John Newbold between 1842 and 1849. The majority of the correspondence is from Newbold to Richard Clarke, the Secretary of the Royal Asiatic Society. The Papers were mainly sent by Newbold to be read at the Society or published in its Journal.
The material was divided into two series for correspondence and papers, and arranged chronologically.
The Papers were catalogued by Nancy Charley, RAS Archivist, in 2019.
The majority of the letters were sent to Richard Clarke, Secretary of the Royal Asiatic Society. Therefore they would have been in his custody. The Papers were generally sent by Newbold to be read at the Society.
It is assumed the correspondence was kept at the Society by Richard Clarke and became part of the Society's records. Similarly the Papers were sent to the Society and remained in its custody.
Within our Library Collections are two editions of Newbold's book: "Political and statistical account of the British settlements in the Straits of Malacca". We also have a manuscript, "Tuzuk-i Timuri", supposedly translated from Eastern Turkish by Mir Abu Talib Husaini presented by Newbold.
We also have a lithograph of Newbold dating to c.1845, of unknown artist. This can be seen in our Lecture Theatre.
Full details can be found in our
Also within our Special Collections, within our Maratha documents is a Persian taqwim of the town of Alpoor, S. India (Kunnol District?) by Sayyid Ibrahim 'urf Barc Miyan, A.H. 1200/1844-1845, together with a Persian letter from him to Captain Thomas John Newbold, and an English paper by the latter on this subject, entitled "The Indo-Mahommedan Ephemeris of Alpoor S. India, Lat. 15° 54'N, Long. 78° 12' E for 1260 & 61. A, Hegira and 1766 era of Salwishawa, 1844 & 1845 A.D. with remarks by Capt. Newbold of RS". Read at the Royal Asiatic Society, 7 March, 1846.
Newbold contributed articles to the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society - some of which were the purpose of his correspondence with Clarke. The Journals are all available within our Collections.
Open. Please contact the archivist.
Digital photography (without flash) for research purposes may be permitted upon completion of a copyright declaration form, and with respect to current UK copyright law.
Twenty-six items of correspondence plus a further label. The majority of the correspondence is from Thomas Newbold to Richard Clarke. There is a single letter from Newbold to George Thomas Staunton; and a single letter from Richard Wood to Newbold.
Letter from Captain Thomas John Newbold to Richard Clarke, Secretary of the Royal Asiatic Society, to enclose numbers 4, 5, 6 and 7 of his "Mineral Resources of India". He asks if Clarke will read and proof them for grammar and punctuation. He hopes they may be published to give a better idea of the geophysical position. Newbold comments about the ordering of the papers. In a postscript he adds that he has retained number 7.
Letter from Captain Thomas John Newbold to Richard Clarke, Secretary of the Royal Asiatic Society, to enclose number 7 of his "Mineral Resources of India". He writes that the bulk of the Paper has already been read before the Royal Asiatic Society but not published. He asks that Clarke will proof the Paper. He also sends a manuscript concerning the "mundane system of the Farsis". He writes that Mr Norris had sent 3 copies of one of Newbold's Papers that had recently been published but that he will require about 10 further copies and asks if Clarke will send copies with the Author's respects to the Foreign Societies, a list of which he has left with Mr Reid. He will also require 50 copies of his Mineral Resources and asks Clarke to manage this for him.
Letter from Captain Thomas John Newbold to Richard Clarke, Secretary of the Royal Asiatic Society, to enclose a note on the Mountain of the Bell by Sir John Herschel and asks if the note could be appended to the Paper or the Journal in which the Mountain has been referred. He asks that the note also be returned to him.
Letter from Captain Thomas John Newbold to Richard Clarke, Secretary of the Royal Asiatic Society, with which he sends a paper intended for the Royal Asiatic Society and asks Clarke to ensures it gets to the Society. The Paper is a preliminary sketch of the Geology of South India. He asks if Clarke could send a list of the Malay manuscripts that Newbold had given to the Society to Professor Dalamrier in Paris. He also asks regarding the binding of a Persian manuscript which he presented to the Society. Newbold has not yet received the copies of the Papers he authored.
Letter from Captain Thomas John Newbold to Richard Clarke, Secretary of the Royal Asiatic Society, submitting no.2 of his Summary of the Geology of South India and asking Clarke to forward it to Colonel Sykes for his perusal and correction before it is read at the Society or published in the Journal. Newbold will further more Papers in due time. He asks Clarke whether he likes the new President of the Society, Lord Auckland. Newbold writes that Walter Elliot at Madras is trying to revive their Journal and that he has been sent a copy of the Bombay Journal. He also writes about further work in which he is employed.
Letter from Captain Thomas John Newbold to Richard Clarke, Secretary of the Royal Asiatic Society, to send number 6 of his Summary of the Geology of South India. He also enclose a geological Sketch Map. Newbold asks Clarke if he would forward to him the Proceedings of the Geological Society for 1841 and 1842. He also writes that he has a copy of the "Ajaib al Mukhlookat - the Wonders of the Garden - in Persian". He asks Clarke whether he knows if it has been translated. He also writes about the "Mayina al Inhikhah in Hindustani by Shah Kernal" presented by him. He has forwarded a copy of the late Nawab's library and has received a flattering letter on the subject from M. Garcin the Sapoy. In a postscript Newbold writes that he encloses a sketch of one of the mammals he discussed in number XIII of the Journal.
Letter from Captain Thomas John Newbold to Richard Clarke, Secretary of the Royal Asiatic Society, to submit number 7 of his Geological Summary of South India asking him to forward it to Colonel Sykes for his editing before it gets published. Newbold also sends portraits of the Nizam of Hyderabad and from Colebrooke Chandoo. He writes that he is busy and has little time to himself. Please note that part of this letter is over-written by Newbold - the writing being both horizontally and vertically on the page.
Letter from Captain Thomas John Newbold to Richard Clarke, Secretary of the Royal Asiatic Society, in which he writes that he hopes that the Chandoo and Nizam portraits reached Clarke safely. He encloses 3 papers which he has had an official copy made for him but not very legibly. He therefore asks if Clarke will be his editor.
Letter from Captain Thomas John Newbold to Richard Clarke, Secretary of the Royal Asiatic Society, to ask him to send numbers 8 and 9 of the Geology of South India to Colonel Sykes. He also sends several Papers to present to the Society. He writes these are the last papers in the first folio and the last he will be able to present to the Society for some time as his time is completely taken up with the work of his situation. He remarks that his health has also suffered. Newbold asks to be remembered to George Staunton and Alexander Johnston, and he thanks Clarke for his encouragement.
Letter from Captain Thomas John Newbold to Richard Clarke, Secretary of the Royal Asiatic Society, concerning manuscripts at the Madras Society. He writes that there are a large number of manuscripts in the southern dialects but that none of the Mackenzie Collection are in the Library. He writes that Walter Elliot has promised to look into the matter as Newbold is away from Madras at present. He writes that he has received the last two copies of the Journal and wonders whether they have any spare copies of the Anniversary report. Please note that part of this letter is over-written by Newbold - the writing being both horizontally and vertically on the page.
Letter from Captain Thomas John Newbold to Richard Clarke, Secretary of the Royal Asiatic Society, enclosing number 10 of his Summary of the Geology of South India and promising to send the final numbers 11 and 12 in the next two months. He proposes General Cullen as a candidate for the Royal Asiatic Society. He thanks Clarke for his work on Newbold's Papers. He writes of Walter Elliot's progress with the manuscripts of South India.
Letter from Captain Thomas John Newbold to Richard Clarke, Secretary of the Royal Asiatic Society, to enclose some illustrations for his Geology of South India. He expects that he will send the twelfth part next month. This letter is difficult to read because of fading of its ink. Photocopies of its pages are with the letter to help aid reading.
Letter from Captain Thomas John Newbold to Richard Clarke, Secretary of the Royal Asiatic Society, enclosing the final part (12) of the Summary of the Geology of South India. He continues with a discussion about rocks. He writes that he is also enclosing illustrations. He writes that he presumes that the manuscript sent to the Royal Society has been translated. Please note that part of this letter is over-written by Newbold - the writing being both horizontally and vertically on the page. Also the ink is faded adding to the difficulty in reading it. Photocopies of the letter are with it to aid in the reading,
Letter from Captain Thomas John Newbold to Richard Clarke, Secretary of the Royal Asiatic Society, enclosing an addendum to his Summary of the Geology of S India, with various other matters. He writes he is making a collection of fossils to send for examination to Mr Sowerby. He hopes Clarke has received his Bill of Exchange. He has also sent specimens of microscopic organic looking bodies to Carlo Sowerby. He notes that the East India Company have placed at Clarke's disposal papers connected with South India. Please note that part of this letter is over-written by Newbold - the writing being both horizontally and diagonally on the page.
Letter from Captain Thomas John Newbold to Richard Clarke, Secretary of the Royal Asiatic Society, regarding primitive burials found near Chittoor. He is sending some specimens from the sarcophagus and asks Clarke to forward them to Professor Owen.
Letter from Captain Thomas John Newbold to Richard Clarke, Secretary of the Royal Asiatic Society, explaining that his work has been interrupted by illness and that he will be staying at Beyroot (Beirut) for the winter. He writes that he sent by the last steamer an Arab newspaper and a list of the Arabic books printed at Cairo. Newbold writes to say he is happy to do anything for the Society.
Letter from Richard Wood to Captain Thomas John Newbold, sent from Damascus, in which he writes that he is gratified to hear that Newbold is safely housed with the monks in Jerusalem, as the extreme weather after Newbold's departure had given him much concern. He writes of Newbold's exploration of Southern Syria. Wood regrets his failure to trace a parcel which Newbold had sent.
Letter from Captain Thomas John Newbold to Richard Clarke, Secretary of the Royal Asiatic Society, to enclose a facsimile of the sun-dial of the Mosque of Jebel-Gheyushi near Cairo and a copy of an inscription from the Hippicus or Tower of David at Jerusalem. These are with the letter. He describes the dial and the positioning of the inscription. He writes that he has just returned from Petra. With the letter is a transcription.
Letter from Captain Thomas John Newbold to Richard Clarke, Secretary of the Royal Asiatic Society, enclosing a paper on the present state of the sites of the seven churches of Asia referred to in the Book of Revelation.
Letter from Captain Thomas John Newbold to Sir George Thomas Staunton in which he writes that he is returning to India after two years in Syria, Palestine and Asia Minor. The fine climate of Syria has improved his health. He intends returning to India through Persia. He sends with the letter copies of inscriptions to be presented to the Royal Asiatic Society. He writes to warn that a parcel of his had been lost last December. He writes of his thoughts on archaeology after the success of Messrs Layard and Botha at Nineveh. Please note that part of this letter is over-written by Newbold - the writing being both horizontally and vertically on the page.
Letter from Captain Thomas John Newbold to Richard Clarke, Secretary of the Royal Asiatic Society, enclosing a copy of "sort of Catechism of the Druses of Mt Lebanon", and a Paper on the Gypsies of Syria. The catechism is with the letter. There is also a transcript of the letter.
Letter from Captain Thomas John Newbold to Richard Clarke, Secretary of the Royal Asiatic Society, enclosing a paper for the Society on "the country between Tyre and Sidon and the Jordan" together with a note to be added to his paper on the Seven Churches of Asia. Newbold also encloses a Paper on the "Site at Bether" (see TJN/2/4). In a long postscript he writes about Rawlinson's mission in Persia and sends some inscriptions from the Syrian sites.
Letter from Captain Thomas John Newbold to Richard Clarke, Secretary of the Royal Asiatic Society, enclosing a paper on the site of Caranus and writes of his continuing exploration. This paper was published in the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, Vol. 16, 1856, pp.32-36. The letter is in poor condition with 2 small pieces separated from the letter.
Letter from Captain Thomas John Newbold to Richard Clarke, Secretary of the Royal Asiatic Society, enclosing "a drawing, by Mr Critchton the architect at Jerusalem of some curious tombs we discovered a few miles to the N.E of Jerusalem … called by the Arabs … Tombs of the Amalekites." Newbold hopes to also send an account of them to Clarke. He also asks Clarke to edit his paper on the country inland of the Coast of Tyre and Sidon. The drawing is included with the letter and has a picture of the tombs on one side, and an example of the stonework of the tombs on the reverse.
Letter from Captain Thomas John Newbold to Richard Clarke, Secretary of the Royal Asiatic Society, apologizing that official duties have prevented him from "doing anything in the literary way". He writes he has a good deal of information in journals on Syria, as yet untouched. He hopes to send some on his camel trip to Palmyra, and notes on the Gypsies of Egypt before too long. He asks that when his Syria Papers are printed would Clarke send the spare copies. He writes that he had offered his services as a volunteer on the scientific expedition over the mountains of Tibet but the expedition had already left Simla before his application reached Lord Hardinge. Newbold is still attending the Asiatic Society but is otherwise busy with official duties.
Letter from Captain Thomas John Newbold to Richard Clarke, Secretary of the Royal Asiatic Society, enquiring as to the fate of various papers which he had sent to the Society during the previous year. He offers to send copies of the work on names of the planets with which the Brahmins are conversant stating that he believes Mr Whish's text is accurate. He asks that if his papers on Syria and Asia are not to be printed then could they pleased be returned to him. He also writes that he has abundant more Syrian material. Newbold's list of papers has been annotated in pencil according to whether they had been read, published or neither.
Label with the words "Letters of Capt. Newbold from April 1842 to September 1848" written on it. Used as a sleeve to keep all the letters together.
Papers submitted by Newbold to be read at the Royal Asiatic Society or published in its Journal. Also a list of his Papers and a rubbing of an inscription.
"The Bhuga of Mahanundi" A Paper sent by Newbold to the Royal Asiatic Society on thermal springs in South India. He gives their location and a detailed description. A note at the head of the paper in pencil reads "Read Jan 14th 1843". With the Paper is also a label, "Thermal Springs of Mahamandi by Capt Newbold, Read 14 January 1843".
"Notes of Some Malayan MSS. by Capt. Newbold, F.R.S." Newbold writes on Malayan Manuscripts and of a letter he has received from Professor Dalamrier, l'Ecole Royale des L.L.O.O. Oriantes, of which he includes a copy. Pencil note on the outside reads, "Read 2 March 1844".
"The Tombs of the Amalekites by Capt. Newbold" containing information as to the description and the purpose of the tombs which he visited in April 1846. Note informs the paper was read at the Society on 21 April 1849.
Description of an archaeological site by Capt. Newbold, entitled "The Site of Bether, the Bittir of the Arabs" which he states is the site of the struggles of the Jews against the Romans in the reign of Adrian A.D. 135. Newbold records his journey to the site from Jerusalem and his discoveries. A note reads: "Recorded 16th June 1849". With the paper is a label stating "The Site of Bether".
"The Thermal Springs of Calna... S India by Capt Newbold F.R.S." in which Newbold writes of further discoveries of thermal springs other than those at Mahanundi (see TJN/2/1). A note states, "Recorded 16 June 1849".
"Ancient Inscriptions in Syria and Arabia Copied by Capt Newbold". A paper with copies of inscriptions and hieroglyphs from Newbold's expedition in Syria. This is undated but from the lists in TJN/2/7 it would appear that it was sent to, but not read at, the Royal Asiatic Society in 1849. With the papers is a label which states, "Ancient Inscriptions in Syria. Copied by Capt. Newbold."
"List of the Papers and Writings by the late Capt. T J Newbold 1851". A comprehensive list of Newbold's work published in both India and England.
Pencil rubbing of an Inscription, no identifiers.
"The Indo-Mahomedan Ephemeris of Alpoor, S. India, Lat. 15° 54'N. Long. 78° 12'E by Capt. Newbold". A paper presented at the Royal Asiatic Society on 7 March 1846 concerning a Persian taqwim for the town of Alpoor, written by Sayyid Ibrahīm 'urf Bare Miyān. With the paper is the taqwim and a letter from Sayyid Ibrahīm 'urf Bare Miyān to Newbold. The taqwim is dated A.H. 1200 (AD 1785/6).