Much of the material in the collection was printed in book I, chapter I of his ‘Caledonia’, volume I of which was published in 1807. The leaves on which the notes are written are watermarked between 1796 and 1801 (with some blank leaves watermarked 1794), and the dated or datable references are to works published mostly between 1790 and 1802.

The collection consists of:

(i) etymological notes relating mainly to the Celtic languages of Great Britain (folio 1);

(ii) etymological notes on the Teutonic Languages (folio 188);

(iii) `Icelandic Chorography` consisting of etymologies of roots of Icelandic place-names (folio 229);

(iv) comparative lists of Celtic and Teutonic roots (folio 245).

Leaves after folio 255, and several single and small groups of leaves throughout the volume are blank.