The contents are as follows:

(i) Note, 1660, of the conditions agreed between the 1st Marquess of Tweeddale and William Knowles for draining the moss of Crombieside in the barony of Duncanlaw (folio 1);

(ii) Papers, 1681-1826, being chiefly contracts, memorials and petitions concerning Gifford village, including material relating to Gifford paper mill (folio 3);

(iii) Timber contracts and articles of roup, 1703-1773 (folio 47);

(iv) Articles of agreement between the 4th Marquess of Tweeddale and William Cole, labourer in the parish of Standon, Hertfordshire, for the latter to be employed on the Marquess of Tweeddale's estates in land drainage, 1746, and with Joshua Wade, London, to be farm manager in Scotland, 1748 (folio 71);

(v) Papers, 1753-1754, concerning the case against William Sanderson for cutting growing timber in Yester Park (folio 74);

(vi) 'Proposals concerning the management of the inclosures, house and policy of Yester', 1762 (folio 106);

(vii) Papers, 1784-1787, concerning Yester game shootings (folio 108);

(viii) Report, 1793, by Robert Punshon, coal master, Blackburn, concerning the possibilities of finding coal on Yester estate (folio 127);

(ix) Draft of a report by the 7th Marquess of Tweeddale to the Lord Lieutenant of East Lothian concerning the crop of 1795 (folio 132);

(x) Memorandum, 1822, by George Buchanan, Edinburgh, concerning the levels of Danskine Loch, with a survey plan, 1851, showing the depth of the moss in the loch (folio 134);

(xi) Papers, 1829, concerning Garvald church (folio 139);

(xii) Memorandum, [circa 1834], headed 'Duties of a factor' (folio 144).