The contents are as follows:
(i) Two 'Descriptive Letters' probably intended for publication and signed 'M--r', concerning a visit to Edinburgh in 1824 (folio 1);
(ii) Fragmentary notebooks, 1819-1820, undated, mainly containing poems, some of which were published with many alterations in ‘Poems written in the leisure hours of a journeyman mason’ (Edinburgh, 1829) (folio 10);
(iii) Description of the parish of Cromarty: basically the text of the description of the parish prepared by Hugh Miller for ‘The new statistical account of Scotland’ (Edinburgh, 1845), volume xiv: 'Ross and Cromarty', pages 1-18, where it is dated September 1836 (folio 70);
(iv) Manuscript of the opening paragraph of ‘My schools and schoolmasters’ (Edinburgh, 1852) (folio 78);
(v) An essay on the study of Nature entitled 'The Trifler, no.7'; see also MS.7524 (folio 79);
(vi) Letter written to the editor of 'The Inverness Courier', concerning Miller's experiences when working at Gairloch (folio 81);
(vii) Miscellaneous fragmentary manuscripts (folio 83);
(viii) Seven essays on Highland legends, most of which were incorporated in ‘Scenes and Legends of the North of Scotland' (Edinburgh, 1835) (folio 103);
(ix) Drafts of Chapters 4-7 of ‘Scenes and legends of the north of Scotland’ (Edinburgh, 1835) (folio 229);
(x) Fragment of a letter on church affairs, apparently for publication in answer to an opponent (folio 268);
(xi) Two notebooks containing geometrical drawings and exercises (folio 262);
(xii) Eight drawings, one a sketch of Cromarty bay and the remainder diagrams of fossils, three of which are identifiable with plates in ‘The old red sandstone' (Edinburgh, 1841) (folio 286).
