The contents are as follows. (i) Letters, communications, and drafts for ‘The Edinburgh Magazine’ and ‘Literary Miscellany’, 1785-1787, undated, ‘The Auditor’, and other periodicals. Also a draft letter from the Advocates' Library acknowledging the donation of a book by the King of Naples, undated (folio 1); (ii) Drafts for ‘Ancient Scottish poems published from the MS Of George Bannatyne, 1568’ (Edinburgh, 1770), consisting of poems by Robert Henderson and William Dunbar (folio 66); (iii) Miscellaneous verse in several hands including that of Lord Hailes, 1709-1791, undated (folio 103); (iv) Miscellaneous papers of and relating to Lord Hailes, 1745, undated, including essays on 'To settle the peace of Europe' (folio 157), 'The overgrown power of France' (folio 161), and the silk industry in Perth (folio 168).