The contents of the volume are as follows:

(i) Letters to Patrick Lindsay, Member of Parliament, 1736-1737, concerning the Porteous Riots (folio 1).

(ii) Letters to Patrick Lindsay, Member of Parliament, 1735, 1739, chiefly concerning the licensing of a theatre in Edinburgh (folio 19).

(iii) Papers concerning the Jacobite Rising of 1745-1746, including a printed military pass of Prince Charles Edward to Patrick Lindsay, Lord George Murray`s releasement of Lindsay`s parole, a copy of the obligation signed by the officers captured at Prestonpans, a list of Jacobites to be attainted, and the order of march and battle of Sir John Cope`s army (folio 30).

(iv) Official warrants and instructions, 1679-1683, for George Haliburton of Eaglescarnie, Sheriff Depute of East Lothian (folio 39).

(v) Copies of letters of Patrick Lindsay, Member of Parliament, to Arthur Onslow, Speaker of the House of Commons, and letter of Onslow to Lindsay, 1736; letters to Lindsay of Thomas Gordon, 1732-1747, and others; memorial for John Spottiswoode of Spottiswoode, 1736, concerning the lands of Newabbey; and an Act of the Parliament of the Isle of Man, 1726, prohibiting the export of salt (folio 52).

(vi) Letters to and concerning Thomas Haliburton, 1639-1641, mostly from John, 1st Earl of Lauderdale, and Alexander Auchmoutie, while Haliburton was abroad as tutor to Lauderdale`s second son and Auchmoutie`s nephew; the letters relate mainly to financial and personal matters, with occasional references to public affairs (folio 80.)