Among the writers are: Hugh Blair, writing of Ossian and of University matters, 1762 (folio 1); Robert Burns, part of a letter to Mrs McLehose (Clarinda) (published), 1787 (folio 3); 'An American gentleman', probably the Reverend Heman Humphrey, on the field of Waterloo, 1835 (folio 36); Principal Alexander John Scott, a sonnet, 'Harold complains that mountain-climbers find', ?1844 (folio 58); Lord Dufferin, commending Ebenezer Wyse, who navigated the ‘Foam’ to Iceland, etc., on the voyage described in ‘Letters from High Latitudes’ (London, 1857) (folio 113); William Howitt, remarking on Charles Dickens's proficiency as an actor and quoting Thackeray on the same subject, 1857 (folio 117); Sir James Murray, on the admission of foreign words to his Dictionary, 1900 (folio 158).

The writers of undated letters include: Count D'Orsay, concerning an accident to the Earl of Lichfield (folio 169); Mrs Glover, refusing to appear in the rȏle of Falstaff (folio 173); William Motherwell, 'A Solemn Concert', a version of the poem differing considerably from that printed (folio 186); Caroline Norton, dealing at length with attacks on her character (folio 187); Mungo Park, leaf of a notebook containing a philosophical argument (folio 191); D G Rossetti, poems beginning, 'Lord Love stood by me' and 'Christmas night and the snow is spread' (folio 195); Alexander Smith, the poet, auto-biographical notes (folio 197); Joseph Mallord William Turner, note to George Cooke about the engraving of a plate for Robert Surtees' ‘History and antiquities... of Durham' (London, 1816-1840) (folio 206).

The collection also includes a subscription-list, 1837, promoted by the town and university authorities of St Andrews, in aid of John Falchoni, an Italian exile (folio 41); a fragment of a Greek religious work from the Monastery of Iberon on Mount Athos (folio 209); and fragments of King Robert Bruce's shroud and of a garment worn by Grace Darling when she rowed to the wreck of the Forfarshire (folio 210).