Letter from Sir Charles Lyall to Secretary of Royal Asiatic Society to request that a representative of the Royal Asiatic Society attend the India Office to discuss the question of accommodation.

Correspondence and notes regarding the relinquishing of the premises at 22 Albemarle Street at the request of Asprey & Co. Ltd.

Letter from Michael Pollock, Librarian, Royal Asiatic Society, to Mrs Tania Foster-Brown, Archivist, Aspreys, to state that in preparation for the Society's 175 year anniversary, he is researching the Society's premises at Albemarle Street and wondered if Aspreys held any records of the building whilst the Society was a tenant. With this letter is a compliment slip from Tania Foster-Brown and a black and white photograph of 22 Albemarle Street, mounted on board, dating to the 1970s.

Letter from Royal Asiatic Society to Lord Reay to enclose a draft letter to the Secretary of State drawn up by Sir Raymond West in consultation with the Honorary Officers of the Society. This letter is a more accurate reflection of the Council's decision than that of Charles Lyall. With this letter is one addressed to the Under Secretary of State for India to invite the attention of the Secretary of State to the needs of the Society for better accommodation. This is signed by Lord Reay.

Three draft or copies of letters concerning the possibility of new accommodation for the Society. These are:

• Letter from Sir Raymond West
• Two drafts of a letter to the Under-Secretary of State for India

All are undated.

Letter from Richardson, Sadlers & Callard, on behalf of Asprey and Company Limited, to send notice of Asprey's intention to determine their lease on 20 September. Also initial correspondence from Royal Asiatic Society to understand the terms being offered for possible continuation at the premises at increased rent.

Correspondence and notes regarding the legality of the intention to determine the Lease as the original Lease included that the contract could not be terminated unless Asprey's needed the premises for their own business. Letters primarily between the Royal Asiatic Society, their solicitors T.L. Wilson & Co., and Asprey's solicitors, Richardson, Sadlers and Callard.

Correspondence and notes regarding the negotiations for leaving the premises. Letters between the Royal Asiatic Society, their solicitors, and those of Asprey and Co. Ltd. regarding the deal to be struck for the Society to vacate the premises. Also notes of decisions made by the Society.

The Royal Asiatic Society leased 74 Grosvenor Street from 1920 to 1947. These papers include those for the negotiation of taking up the lease, for possibility lease of different premises, for wartime damage insurance contributions, for the expediency of leaving the premises. There is also a photograph of 74 Grosvenor Street of unknown date.

It appears that in 1939 the Royal Asiatic Society were looking at different options for their premises. There are two items of correspondence:

• Letter from Col. D.M.F. Hoysted, RAS Secretary, to Sir Edward Maclagan to inform that the freeholder's Solicitors have approved of the Society leasing Farm House. He encloses a financial statement and will seek Mr Perowne's advice (RAS Treasurer). Dated 14 July 1939.
• Letter from Edward Maclagan to Col. Hoysted to discuss the figures and to suggest that it doesn't go before the Committee before he has heard from Mr Perowne. Dated 15 July 1939.