The contents are as follows.

(i) The first part of David Macbeth Moir's ‘Biographical memoir of John Galt’, 1841, covering the published pages i-ix (folio 1), probably a fair copy for publication. Alterations found in it appear in the printed text.

(ii) Manuscript of John Galt's novel, ‘The last of the lairds’, chapter XIX to the end (folio 10). Galt left this manuscript with Moir on his departure for Canada in 1826 with 'the Charge of editing it', according to Moir's unpublished postscript (folio 225 verso). The book was published in the same year, having been finished and in part emended by Moir. The most important of these changes are the addition of chapters XXXVIII and XXXIX, which are entirely Moir's work (folios 207-220). Chapter XL is Moir's greatly expanded version of Galt's original concluding summary at the end of chapter XXXVII. Where Moir's work amounts to a page or more, it is inserted where appropriate (folios 60, 160-162, 207-225), so that his version follows Galt's, the latter being left intact. Elsewhere Moir has made his alterations on the verso of the relevant folio. A few minor corrections have been made in Galt's text itself.

(iii) Postscript by Moir to ‘The last of the Lairds’ explaining the circumstances of the novel's publication (folio 225 verso). This is signed 'Δ' and dated 1826. It was not published.

(iv) "Copy of the Rev. Mr. Gilmour's account of the last Illness of Mr. Galt", in an unidentified hand (folio 226). The right-hand edges of the sheets have been trimmed to facilitate binding, and the text has been slightly impaired.