The principle items are as follows.

Letter, undated, of Alexander Alesius, Professor of Theology at Leipzig, to a patron, thanking him for favours. (Folio 1.)

'A briefe relacon of all such passages as happened dureing the Seidge of the Castle of Edinburgh' (of 1640), written by one of the garrison in reply to ‘A True representation of the proceedings of the Kingdome of Scotland’ by the Estates of Scotland (Edinburgh, 1640). An item torn from a manuscript book. (Folio 2.)

Protest of Robert Elliot, Deacon of the Wrights of Edinburgh, against the re-election of Sir Andrew Ramsay as Lord Provost, 1672, with an autograph note of Sir George Mackenzie, 'I did advyse this protest as both lawfull & necessar'. (Folio 21.)

'Epistle, William Hamilton to Allan Ramsay, concerning a wig', dated Gilbertfield, 9 November 1719, with pages 9-16 of a printed work containing it with other poems. Apparently not otherwise known. (Folio 23.)

Poems in the hand of Allan Ramsay: “To the Right Honourable Susana, Countes of Eglintoun, The Muses' Salutation after the late bad weather preceeding this New-year's Day MDCCXXXIII”, beginning, “The sun with a' his haelsome rays”; birthday ode, beginning, “Hail to the Chief of Ramsay's name” (draft); stanza in Burns metre, beginning, “They'l soon lay by his summer--“; and a portion of Montrose's lines on false friends, beginning, 'Some friends are like the shadows made'. (Folio 28.)

Drafts written by David Hume, then secretary to the Earl of Hertford, of a memoir to be presented to the Court of France on the paper money of Canada, and of two letters relating to it, 1765. (Folio 53.)

Letters, 1781, 1785, of the Honourable James Stuart Mackenzie to Sir William Hamilton at Naples, the latter describing ridiculous conduct of Lord George Gordon towards the Dutch Minister. (Folio 59.)

Memoranda of Flora Macdonald of Kingsburgh, describing her dealings with Prince Charles Edward and her later career, with a covering letter, 1789, to Sir John Macpherson, Baronet, Governor-General of India. All documents were written at Mrs Macdonald's dictation, and two are signed by her. Printed by Henrietta Tayler in ‘A Jacobite miscellany’ (Roxburghe Club, 1948). (Folio 79.)

Letters, 1824-1839, and poems, undated, of Thomas Campbell. The letters are chiefly to Richard Bentley, on literary and domestic matters. The poems are: 'On finishing an account of the planetary system' (a school exercise); 'The Friars of Dijon' – see William Beattie, ‘Life and letters of Thomas Campbell’ (London, 1849), volume iii, page 156; 'The Cherubs'; “Hymen's Ball”; and a song beginning, “’Tis now the hour”. (Folio 89.)

Letter, 1825, of Lord Melville to Admiral Sir George Martin on the predicament created by the arrival of a Brazilian frigate with Lord Cochrane's flag on board. (Folio 223.)

Letter, 1844, of Dr Robert Knox proposing a scheme for the colonization of South Africa. (Folio 228.)

Letter, 1858, of David Livingstone on his private affairs and the evangelization of the Makololo. (Folio 239.)

Correspondence, 1858-1866, undated, of and relating to Richard Thornton chiefly in connection with Livingstone's expeditions. (Folio 243.)